Muscle Energy Technique for FRS Dysfunctions T6-10

For an FRS R from T6-10:

• The patient places their R hand on their L shoulder and the therapist reaches under the patient’s R arm and grasps the patient’s L shoulder.
• The therapist palpates the L side of the interspinous space monitoring the superior aspect of the inferior spinous process, ie., FRS R T8,9 the therapist monitors the superior aspect of the spinous process of T9 on the L side.
• Initially the patient is sitting with their spine flexed and the therapist asks the patient to slowly sit up by pushing the belly forward to introduce extension from below up to the palpated interspinous space.
• The therapist introduces slight L rotation down to the palpating finger.
• The therapist then translates the patient from L to R to introduce L side bending without closing down and pinching at the interspinous space.
• The patient attempts to R SB for 5-7 seconds which the therapist blocks.
• When the patient relaxes the therapist repositions the patient to the new motion barrier by first standing up to decompress the segment, then rotating the patient to the L and finally translating the patient from L to R to the new L side bending barrier.
• No pinching should be felt at the palpated segment by the therapist or the patient.
• This entire sequence is repeated 3 to 4 times then mobility is reassessed.