Effects of muscle energy technique on pain, range of motion and function in patients with post-surgical elbow stiffness: A randomized controlled trial.
Anood I Faqih, Nilima Bedekar, Ashok Shyam and 1 others
PMID 31156315WHAT IT FOUND
Starting muscle energy technique immediately after cast removal improved elbow stiffness more than waiting a week.
Patients in the early-start group had less pain, better movement, and improved arm function after three weeks of physiotherapy.
Key findings
01Patients who started muscle energy technique immediately after immobilization removal had significantly greater improvements in pain, range of motion, and function compared to those who waited one week.
02The difference in pain reduction between the groups was clinically significant, exceeding the minimum change needed for patients to notice a difference.
03No adverse reactions such as increased pain or discomfort were reported during the intervention in either group.
STILL TO COME
How it was doneWhat they foundWhat it means for PTsWhat it means for OTsWhat it means for SLPs
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What it does not show
The study was small, with only 27 patients analysed after three dropouts. The follow-up period was short at only three weeks, so it is unknown if the early-start group maintained their advantage over time. Both groups received a comprehensive exercise program, so the specific contribution of the muscle energy technique timing versus the exercises themselves is not entirely clear. The study used per-protocol analysis, excluding the three patients who dropped out, which may overestimate the treatment effect.
The easy way to misread this
Do not conclude that muscle energy technique alone is responsible for the improvements. Both groups received a full three-week rehabilitation program including active exercises and home programs. The study compares the timing of adding muscle energy technique, not its efficacy in isolation.