What best describes muscle energy techniques (MET)?

Muscle energy techniques (MET) are best described as the active use of muscle contractions against resistance. This technique involves the client actively engaging their muscles to create a force, while the practitioner provides a counter-resistance. This method helps in improving the range of motion, reducing muscle tension, and promoting relaxation.

The fundamental principle behind MET is that the voluntary contraction of the muscle, followed by relaxation, allows for a more effective stretch of the muscle and associated soft tissues. This can lead to increased flexibility, pain relief, and enhanced muscle function, making MET a valuable tool in sports massage therapy.

The other options do not accurately capture the essence of MET. Static stretching procedures primarily involve lengthening a muscle without active engagement, massage strokes performed rhythmically refer to different massage techniques that do not specifically incorporate active muscle contraction, and passive manipulation concerns techniques where the therapist moves the client's body without any active participation from the client.