Notes
Lower limbs
Lower limb muscle energy treatment
| LOWER LIMB MUSCLE ENERGY TECHNIQUES | ||||||
| REGION | SOMATIC DYSFUNCTION | TREATMENT POSITION | PATIENT INSTRUCTION | |||
| Fibular head | Posterior fibular head | Flex knee to 90º with plantar surface on table, externally rotate the leg into the barrier | Internally rotate the leg while you (physician) resist | |||
| Fibular head | Anterior fibular head | Flex knee to 90º with plantar surface on table, internally rotate the leg into the barrier | Externally rotate the lower leg while you resist | |||
| Tibia | External rotation dysfunction of the tibia | Dorsiflex ankle and internally rotate the distal tibia into the barrier | Externally rotate the tibia while you resist | |||
| Tibia | Internal rotation dysfunction of the tibia | Dorsiflex ankle and externally rotate the distal tibia into the barrier | Internally rotate the tibia while you resist | |||
Figure 1. Fibular head mechanics. Left image: pronation at the ankle causes the fibular head to move anteriorly. Right image: supination at the ankle causes the fibular head to move posteriorly.
Author: Arman Israelyan, OMS-III
Editor: Matt Lipinski, DO
Illustrator: Aileen Lin, MScBMC
Editor: Robyn Hughes, MScBMC
Summary
In osteopathic manipulative medicine (OMM), muscle energy technique (MET) uses muscles' own energy to relieve chronic and acute musculoskeletal pain, and to restore normal movement and function to joints.
There are specific muscle energy techniques designed for each region of the body. In the lower limb, there are two types of muscle energy treatments: passive and active. Passive lower-limb muscle energy treatment uses the therapist's hands to move the patient's limb into the desired position; whereas in active lower-limb, muscle energy treatment requires the patient to move their own limb.