ISSN (Online): 2455-3662 EPRA International Journal of Multidisciplinary Research (IJMR) - Peer Reviewed Journal Volume: 10| Issue: 5| May 2024|| Journal DOI: 10.36713/epra2013 || SJIF Impact Factor 2024: 8.402 || ISI Value: 1.188 2024 EPRA IJMR | http://eprajournals.com/ | Journal DOI URL: https://doi.org/10.36713/epra2013 -------------------------------------------------------------401 A SCOPING REVIEW TO DETERMINE THE EFFICACY OF MUSCLE ENERGY TECHNIQUE ON LOW BACK PAIN Divya Kumari 1 , Pinky Dutta 2 , D. Arnold Nikhilesh 3 1 Master of Physiotherapy student, Garden City University, Bengaluru 2 Associate Professor, Garden City University, Bengaluru 3 Assistant Professor, Garden City University, Bengaluru Article DOI: https://doi.org/10.36713/epra16955 DOI No: 10.36713/epra16955 ABSTRACT Background: Low back pain has shown detoriation in patient health. Absenteeism has found to be increased in work place. There is a high need to find a effective treatment for the cause. Objective: The aim of the study is to find out whether muscle energy technique is effective in case of low back pain. Study design: Systemic review Method: Around 65 articles were screened for the study with the help of google scholar, PubMed and Cochrane. Out of which 10 articles were considered for the review on the basis of inclusion criteria. These articles were verified and read thoroughly. Results: Muscle energy technique came out to be effective in treatment of low back pain. As it aimed to decrease pain and improve functional disability. Conclusion: This study conclude that the muscle energy found to be effective in individual with low back pain. It helps in improving the joint range of motion, managing the pain, improves stability, strengthening weak muscles. MET has shown effect in LBP in chronic condition, involvement of SI joint, mechanical LBP and also non-specific low back pain. KEYWORDS: low back pain, muscle energy technique, non-specific back pain INTRODUCTION One of the most common musculoskeletal disabilities is low back pain. Acute low back pain is considered when the pain is of less than 4-6 weeks. Around 80% individual experience low back pain at some point of time. People with wide variety of profession like heavy labour, repetitive stress and other experience acute low back pain which include labours, teachers, computer professionals and students. There are many factors for low back pain which can be various risk factors such as age, lifestyle, gender, psychosocial profile, pain perception. [1] Mostly acute low back pain results from sprain, strains and mechanical loading in back. Low back pain varies it may be dull, sharp achy or stabbing. For identifying low back pain, we can use questionnaire to identify. It is one of the common reasons for patient to visit to a physiotherapist. [2[ The causes of low back pain can be mechanical, non-specific or can be due to trauma. Overuse of soft tissue is the most common cause of low back pain. Muscles which are associated are mainly quadratus lumborum, iliopsoas, erector spinae group. Piriformis, hamstring, quadriceps and iliotibial band. All these muscles could develop shortening which can be the cause for pain in lower back. Due to stiffness in some muscles also pain is felt while doing movements. Approaches use by physiotherapist to manage low back pain is to by using a variety of interventions such as various modalities, exercises like resistance training, manual therapy and neuromuscular re-education. [3] Many other techniques are found to be effective in low back pain like myofascial release and interferential modality and TENS but this treatment didn’t show a long-term effective improvement in the condition. In manual therapy we have many techniques that are considered to be beneficial in treating low back pain which include soft tissue manipulation, myofascial release technique, functional techniques and strain counterstain technique, muscle energy technique. [4] Muscle energy technique is a manual treatment that involves voluntary contraction of muscle in a controlled contraction at varying level of intensity against a distant counter force. This is an active technique in which patients also have to actively participate during the treatment unlike static stretching. Autogenic inhibition and reciprocal inhibition are the concepts on which muscle energy technique is based upon. This technique is useful for muscle which are shortened, contracted and spastic. Strengthening a physiologically weakened muscles in reducing localized edema and relieve passive congestion. And also, useful in mobilizing an articulation which has mobility restriction. MET has been found to be effective in lumbopelvic pain. [5] Muscle energy technique is found to be effective in low back pain but there is no strong study to prove its effectiveness so the study needs to be done to know which all parameter supports the effectiveness of MET in low back pain.