The Immediate Effects on Shoulder Internal Rotation Motion and External Rotation Strength Following a Muscle Energy Technique in a Young Overhead Thrower: A Case Report.
Vincent Ceasrine, Christine Ferraro, Jason K Grimes
PMID 40469645WHAT IT FOUND
In one asymptomatic pitcher, a single muscle energy technique immediately increased shoulder internal rotation motion and external rotation strength at 0 degrees of abduction.
This describes a response in one person, not proof that the technique works for others.
Key findings
01Shoulder internal rotation passive range of motion improved from 38 degrees to 76 degrees immediately after the intervention.
02External rotation strength at 0 degrees of abduction improved from 23.0 lb to 24.8 lb.
03External rotation strength at 90 degrees of abduction remained essentially unchanged.
STILL TO COME
How it was doneWhat they foundWhat it means for PTs
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What it does not show
This is a case report involving only one participant, so the results cannot be generalized. There was no control group or comparison intervention, so it is impossible to know if the MET caused the changes or if they occurred for other reasons. Only immediate effects were measured; the study did not assess whether the improvements lasted or reduced injury risk over time. The athlete was asymptomatic, so it is unclear if the same response would occur in patients with pain or existing injury.
The easy way to misread this
Do not interpret the immediate improvements in this single athlete as evidence that the muscle energy technique is an effective treatment for shoulder deficits in throwers. The lack of a control group and the small sample size mean these changes could be due to natural variation, measurement error, or other factors.