title: Muscle energy technique in patients with acute low back pain: a pilot clinical trial.
abstract: METHODS
  A prospective, pilot clinical trial.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  Examining the outcomes of Muscle Energy Technique (MET) in patients with acute low back pain.
  
  
  BACKGROUND
  MET is commonly used to treat patients with acute low back pain. No randomized controlled trials examining the outcomes of this treatment in symptomatic populations has been reported in the literature.
  
  
  METHODS
  Ten men and 9 women diagnosed with acute low back pain were randomly assigned with stratification to 1 of 2 treatment groups. Patients were matched according to age, gender, and initial Oswestry score. The control group received supervised neuromuscular re-education and resistance training while the experimental group received the same exercises coupled with MET. Both groups received the selected treatment 8 times over a 4-week period (2 times per week). Patients completed an Oswestry Disability Index on their first and eighth visits and change scores were calculated.
  
  
  RESULTS
  A 2-tailed t test (P < .05) demonstrated a statistically significant difference with the experimental group showing greater improvement in the Oswestry Disability Index score than the control group.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  MET combined with supervised motor control and resistance exercises may be superior to neuromuscular re-education and resistance training for decreasing disability and improving function in patients with acute low back pain.
authors.affiliation: Cadet Physical Therapy Clinic, 10th Medical Group, United States Air Force Academy, CO 80840-2502, USA. jdjewilson@adelphia.net
authors.forename: Eric
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Wilson
authors.forename: Otto
authors.initials: O
authors.lastname: Payton
authors.forename: Lisa
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Donegan-Shoaf
authors.forename: Katherine
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Dec
mesh_terms: D000208:Acute Disease; D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D006233:Persons with Disabilities / Q000145:classification*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D017116:Low Back Pain / Q000534:rehabilitation*; D008297:Male; D008349:Manipulation, Orthopedic; D008875:Middle Aged; D009048:Motor Skills; D018482:Muscle, Skeletal / Q000502:physiology; D011446:Prospective Studies; D016896:Treatment Outcome