Abstract
Background and purpose: Pelvic dysfunction is frequently reported in patients with low back pain. The purpose of this case report is to identify the potential benefits of performing a Muscle Energy Technique (MET) for a patient with pelvic dysfunction, specifically a left anteriorly rotated innominate. MET's have been widely used by manual therapists over the years, but still have limited research validating its use and limited evidence to substantiate the theories to explain its effects. Case Description: The patient is a 15-year old female tennis player who reported having low back pain following several tennis practices. Her primary pain symptoms were left pelvis. The patient described having 7/10 pain following her tennis practices. Physical therapy evaluation revealed that the patient had an anteriorly rotated innominate on her left side. She received outpatient physical therapy two times a week for 3 weeks. Her plan of care included manual therapy, MET, therapeutic activities, manual stretching, flexibility, and stabilization exercises. Outcomes: Outcome measures included the Numeric Pain Rating Scale (NPRS) and the Oswestry Disability Index (ODI). Improvements were noted in all measured outcomes at discharge. Pain intensity decreased on a numeric pain scale from 7/10 following activities to a 0/10 following activities. Her lumbosacral range of motion improved from 50 to 100%. Her Oswestry disability score decreased from 21% disability to 0% disability. Discussion: The combination of MET's and other standard therapy treatments may be beneficial for the treatment of low back pain associated with pelvic dysfunction for decreasing pain and improving functional mobility. The patient appears to have benefited from the MET followed by soft tissue normalization and core strengthening exercises.