In MET, how is the patient instructed to perform contractions?

• A. The patient performs a brief isometric contraction against the physician's counterforce and then relaxes to allow tissue lengthening.
• B. The patient performs rapid isotonic contractions through range.
• C. The patient remains completely relaxed.
• D. The patient exerts a continuous maximal contraction for several minutes.

Answer: (A)

MET uses post-isometric relaxation. The patient performs a brief isometric contraction against the physician's counterforce for a few seconds, then relaxes to allow the tissue to lengthen. That short contraction activates the Golgi tendon organs, producing autogenic inhibition and reducing muscle tone, so the muscle can lengthen to a greater range when passively stretched. Rapid isotonic contractions through the range won’t produce this targeted neuromuscular relaxation, remaining completely relaxed won’t initiate the needed neuromuscular shift, and a continuous maximal contraction for several minutes isn’t how MET is performed and would be unsafe.