Objective: The aim of this study was to compare the effects of Muscle Energy Technique (MET) with other treatments on pain and disability levels in individuals with sacroiliac joint dysfunction.
Methods: This study systematically searched 11 databases to identify relevant trials (March 2023). The Cochrane risk of bias tool was used to assess the methodological quality of studies. The quality of the evidence for comparisons was evaluated with the Grades of Recommendation, Assessment, Development, and Evaluation approach. MET was compared with other treatments regarding reducing pain as a primary outcome and disability as a secondary outcome.
Results: Seventeen randomised controlled trials involving 665 people with sacroiliac joint dysfunction were included. The results showed that MET was not statistically more effective than other treatments in reducing pain (standard mean difference [SMD]: 0.63, 95% confidence interval [CI] -0.06 to 1.31, I2: 87%, P = .07). Likewise, a meta-analysis of studies comparing MET plus any intervention with other therapies found a statistically nonsignificant difference between the 2 treatments (SMD: -0.91, 95% CI -1.83 to 0.01; I2: 87%, P = .05). Pooled data from 2 studies reported that MET was more effective than other treatments in reducing disability (SMD: 1.56, 95% CI 0.59-2.53; I2: 93%, P = .002). Nevertheless, the combination of MET with any treatment was not found to be more effective in reducing disability than the combination of other treatments with any treatment (SMD: -0.24, 95% CI -1.18 to 0.71; I2: 89%, P = .62).
Conclusion: This review found that MET reduced pain and disability, similar to other therapies.
Author keywords: Muscle Energy Technique; Muscles; Musculoskeletal Manipulations; Sacroiliac Joint; Systematic Reviews as Topic.
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