The effect of hydrotherapy on a MET
Item
- Title
- The effect of hydrotherapy on a MET
- Author(s)
- Wilson Augusta
- Abstract
-
The Effect of Hydrotherapy on a METAugusta Wilson
ABSTRACT
Hydrotherapy and Muscle Energy Techniques (METs) are successful modalities used by Naturopathic Osteopaths in the treatment of musculo-skeletal disorders. The hamstring muscle group is particularly susceptible to shortening, even in the absence of evident trauma or pathology. This study provides further empirical evidence for hydrotherapy and MET, which has to date been limited.
The aim of this study was to assess if the therapeutic outcome of a MET could be enhanced by its combination with a prior application of alternate hot and cold compresses. It was hypothesised that combining both these techniques would have a cumulative therapeutic effect.
Twenty assymptomatic male subjects, all of whom were students at the British College of Osteopathic Medicine and were aged between 20 and 30, took part in the investigation. Subjects were randomly divided into two groups and required to attend two experimental procedures spaced two weeks apart. The range of motion, into extension, of the left knee was recorded as an indicator of hamstring flexibility. This was assessed prior to an initial MET, again after it and then two further times pre- and post a second MET. A 12-minute application of alternate hot and cold compresses was performed on each subject and took place after the completion of the first MET. Subjects acted as their own control which involving the same procedure as above only differing in that during the 12-minute period between METs the patient received no treatment. This took place either two weeks after or prior to the hydrotherapy intervention depending on which group the subject had been assigned to. The experimental design leant itself to greater validity than previous studies, as the researcher was not directly involved in the MET procedure. Results showed that there was a significant increase in knee joint range of motion following the combination of the two modalities (p= 0.0428).
This study concluded that the increased range of motion of the knee achieved though a MET to the hamstring muscle group was enhanced by the prior application of hot and cold compresses. - presented at
- British College of Osteopathic Medicine
- Date Accepted
- 0
- Date Submitted
- 1.1.1970 00:00:00
- Type
- osteo_thesis
- Language
- English
- Submitted by:
- 62
- Pub-Identifier
- 13614
- Inst-Identifier
- 1076
- Recommended
- 0
- Item sets
- Thesis
Wilson Augusta, “The effect of hydrotherapy on a MET”, Osteopathic Research Web, accessed May 4, 2025, https://www.osteopathic-research.org/s/orw/item/1143