---
title: "Muscle Energy Technique For SI Joint Physical Therapy"
url: https://alsuprun.com/blog/energy-therapy/muscle-energy-technique-for-si-joint-physical-therapy/
author: Editorial
date: 2026-09-04T20:46:04+00:00
categories: [energy therapy]
tags: []
---

# Muscle Energy Technique For SI Joint Physical Therapy

The Sacroiliac (SI) joint allows you to shift weight and transfer force between legs. Unfortunately, however, SIJ dysfunction can cause pain and prevent pelvic movement.

 Gillet’s test, used with the Prone Press-Up technique, can accurately diagnose SI joint dysfunction. When realigned and gapped open, symptoms should usually disappear instantly.

 

## The therapist’s role

 A physical therapist’s role is to assist their client in moving their body properly by applying pressure and direction in the form of joint mobilisations, muscle energy technique and myofascial dry needling. Their goal is to identify and correct any source of pain by assessing pelvic and leg muscles to detect any differences between both sides.

 [![Rejuvenate your whole body & balance your health without medications - now remotely!](https://alsuprun.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/BioresonanceTopAd.png)](https://www.bioresonance.rent) At times, SI joints may become dysfunctional for various reasons. One of the main factors contributing to their malfunction is trauma or injury – whether that be something as minor as accidentally stepping off a step thinking there was another below it, tripping down stairs accidentally while trying to depress brake pedal or being involved in motor vehicle accident where right foot was depressing brake pedal. These injuries can result in either hypermobility or hypomobility of SI joint; hypermobility means excessive joint movement while hypomobility means insufficient joint movement; both conditions may lead to pain and inflammation within its vicinity and surrounding structures.

 Alternatively, contract relax is a muscle energy technique used by therapists to address underlying problems. They start by applying gentle but firm pressure onto an affected muscle before asking their client to contract this muscle against an unyielding counterforce and create tension by contracting against this counterforce; the tension created forces your nervous system to reset resting tone; this phenomenon is known as Golgi tendon organ (GTO) reflex or autogenic inhibition and key in relieving deep spinal restrictions.

 Muscle energy techniques, joint manipulations, myofascial dry needling and specific exercises targeting lower extremities and hips may all be utilized by therapists as effective therapies to aid their patient in improving symptoms. Patient participation must be willing as input is crucial in order to properly identify underlying problems; in addition, following home exercise programs is recommended in order to keep gains made at clinic and speed recovery process.

 [![](https://alsuprun.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/ForeverYoungYouWannaBe.png)](https://alsuprun.com/services.html#Contact) 

## The patient’s role

 The Sacroiliac Joint (SIJ) is a complex region composed of multiple bones, cartilages, muscles and ligaments that play a significant role in normal pelvic biomechanics. Specifically it transfers weight from the trunk to lower limbs during gait and running, with dysfunction leading to poor biomechanical loading patterns as well as pain in this part of the pelvis.

 Even though there is no consensus on the most effective management strategies for SIJ pain, various physiotherapy interventions have been shown to significantly improve outcomes. These include mobilization, manipulation, exercise therapy, acupuncture, dry needling and myofascial release techniques as well as adjunctive treatments such as electrical stimulation traction or extracorporeal shock wave therapy (fESWT).

 Muscle energy technique (MET) is a manual physiotherapy approach involving isometric contractions performed by the therapist to increase SIJ range of motion and decrease iliotibial band friction. Studies have proven MET’s effectiveness at decreasing this friction as well as improving biomechanical load transfer of the hip joint, as well as helping people suffering from SIJ dysfunction reduce pain while improving gait performance.

 Numerous RCTs have examined the efficacy of muscle energy technique as an intervention to treat SIJ pain. Garcia-Penalver et al. [30] discovered that both MET and osteopathic manipulation effectively managed SIJ-related dysfunction in athletes; however, the latter proved more successful at improving it at one-month follow-up than MET. Alkady et al. and Sivakumar et al. both compared Mulligan mobilization with MET; both produced improvements in SIJ function; however mobilization was more successful at treating SIJ function improvements than MET alone.

 Recent research comparing thrust and MET revealed similar results in relieving SIJ dysfunction among middle-distance runners, but thrust was more effective at increasing iliotibial band rotation amplitude and decreasing counternutation at the SIJ joint.

 The authors of the study suggest that therapists use two cycles of the thrust technique, with the second cycle occurring one month following initial sessions. Furthermore, they advise using Gillet test, standing lumbopelvic flexion test and the seated forward flexion test in their assessment of SIJ dysfunction.

 [![](https://alsuprun.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/RadionicMerch.png)](https://alsuprun.com/merch.html) 

## The therapist’s technique

 Fred Mitchell first developed MET in 1948 as an alternative to passive joint mobilization and high-velocity bone cracking, to provide precise yet gentle treatment of hypertonic muscles through forceful contraction instead of trying to overpower them by forceful contract. By harnessing the body’s own nervous system MET is highly versatile; from treating joints in hips and pelvis to tiny facet joints of cervical spine.

 Muscle energy technique when applied by an experienced physical therapist can be extremely effective in relieving SIJ dysfunction. Patients typically perform resisted active movements while the therapist holds and supports the leg during movement; this allows initiating and supporting muscle contractile force, or “energy,” of which is then used to move restricted joints back into alignment.

 The therapist may apply gentle, controlled traction and extension of the hips to facilitate movement. Their goal is to rotate the hips in an opposite direction to sacral torsions to help ease hypermobility or hypomobility issues, thus relieving sacral torsions. Once they achieve that result, they ask their client to perform four contractions held for 7-10 seconds each until knee flexion results resulting in anterior rotation of ilium and thus resolution of sacral torsions.

 Physical therapists recently performed a study that compared the effectiveness of manual engagement technique (MET) and high-velocity thrust manipulation (HVLA) and found both techniques can significantly improve SIJ function and reduce pain for patients suffering from dysfunction, though neither offer superior long-term results or recurrence prevention. While HVLA may provide short-term relief, many patients find its use unpleasant; thus MET offers an alternative that is less painful while still producing short-term benefits comparable to HVLA results.

 

## The patient’s response

 Muscle energy technique requires identifying and treating specific muscles and joints that are not functioning as they should, typically tight, tender, and painful due to long term imbalance and poor movement patterns. Furthermore, an evaluation will take place of balance issues which may be contributing to symptoms exhibited.

 The therapist will employ manual (hands-on) techniques to increase mobility of muscles and connective tissues that surround, attach to or cover the SI joint. This may involve massage as well as eliminating trigger points – tender areas in tissue known as trigger points – through massage therapy or eliminating them entirely with trigger point work. They may also utilize modality such as heat, cold laser therapy or ultrasound treatments in order to reduce muscle and joint pain.

 Fred Mitchell Sr., DO created the muscle energy technique (MET), an approach to joint manipulation that draws upon osteopathic principles and works using GTO (“gluteal tonic oscillation”) reflex to release restrictions and restore proper movement patterns. Performed by physical therapists with active participation from patients.

 Research has proven the efficacy of manual electrotherapy (MET) for treating SI joint dysfunction and associated low back and gluteal pain. Participants participating in one clinical trial where participants underwent combined treatments of MET and kinesiotaping showed significant improvements compared to the control group in terms of Lumbopelvic angles and pain intensity levels in those suffering mechanical SIJD. The two-group pretest-posttest design allowed researchers to measure how effective this intervention was for treating mechanical SIJD patients.

 Though the results of this particular study were promising, further research will need to be completed in order to ascertain its true efficacy for SI joint pain relief. The basic principle behind it remains intact: muscle restoration and alignment within pelvic regions is key in alleviating SIJD pain. If you suffer from SIJD it is vitally important that medical treatment be sought immediately in order to start finding relief and avoid further damage to both spine and hips.

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