COMPARISON OF MUSCLE ENERGY TECHNIQUES VERSUS STATIC STRETCH FOR IMMEDIATE OUTCOMES IN IMPROVING FLEXIBILITY OF SHORTENED GASTROCNEMIUS MUSCLE IN OTHERWISE HEALTHY FEMALE

Introduction: Calf decreased range of motion is most common complaint of healthy subjects. The common factor of this decrease ankle range of motion is shortened gastrocnemius. With progression of physiotherapy profession trend of modality usage is replaced by new manual techniques for treating somatic dysfunction. This study basically focused on the effectiveness of Muscle Energy Technique in comparison of static stretching. Methodology: It is qusai experimental trial in which total 50 patients, by using convenient sampling patients were allocated into two groups. In-group-A patients were handled with Muscle Energy Technique and in group-B; the technique applied on patients were stretching. Every Patient was taken interventions according to her group allocation. Standardized Goniometer was used to check the pretreatment and after treatment range of motion of dorsiflexion.Pain was measured by using Numeric rating pain scale Results: Results regarding within group comparison of ROM (range of Motion) for MET (Muscle Energy Group) Group showed that there was mean of 14.72 with standard deviation of 2.44 in pre reading while the post treatment mean is 19.6 with standard deviation of 1.31. While those of for Static stretch group, mean, standard deviation were 15.2, 2.50 respectively for pre reading and 17.52 and 2.859 respectively for post treatment. Results regarding comparison of means at pre-intervention level between MET group and Static Stretch group for Pain of leg showed that assuming equal variances mean difference was 0.400 having p value 0.347.At post intervention level MET and Static stretching group the mean difference was 1.720 having p value .000.Conclusion: This study concludes that Muscle Energy Technique in individuals with shortened gastrocnemius will show more flexibility in gastrocnemius muscle as compared to static stretching. Key Words: Muscle Energy Technique, Slow sustained stretching, Gastrocnemius Muscl