AbstractPurpose of the study is to investigate whether the application of muscle energy technique on bilateral ankle plantarfl exors infl uence the balance scores of the elderly subjects. Secondary aim is to determine the effect of practice of muscle energy technique on bilateral ankle plantarfl exors compared to self stretching for performance on balance tests in elderly subjects.Materials and Method : A sample of convenience of 60 healthy elderly subjects were taken. All the subjects (N=60) who were fullfi lling the inclusion and exclusion criteria were recruited for the study and randomly assigned into two groups. Results From the result t-test and its signifi cance in the pre and post intervention collected from the subjects the following has been inferred In group-1 (MET group): The TUG was signifi cantly decreased by 7.4%. FRT scores were signifi cantly increased by 9.5% along with 31% increase in ankle passive range of dorsifl exion after the intervention. In group-2 (self stretching): The TUG was signifi cantly decreased by 5.4%, FRT scores were signifi cantly increased by 7.9% along with 15% increase in ankle passive range of dorsifl exion after the intervention The average mean increase in the group-1 was greater then group-2 but the difference was not statistically signifi cant. Conclusion This appears to be a positive effect of MET which in the fi rst place is considered to be and is applied as a method for improving fl exibility and range of motion as well as precarious balance or stability of the elderly, but a less signifi cant change was also found by self stretching but further comparative investigation was done to determine the performance by MET and self stretching maneuver was found not to be signifi cant.
Keywords: Muscle energy technique; Plantar fl exors.