Asha Shanthi L¹, R Jayabharathi², H Suriya³ and Najeeba Sherin K⁴*

¹MPT (Ortho), (Ph.D), Professor, Sree Abirami College of Physiotherapy, Affiliated to The Tamilnadu Dr. M.G.R Medical University, Chennai, India
²MPT (Ortho), Ph.D, Principal, Sree Abirami College of Physiotherapy, Affiliated to The Tamilnadu Dr. M.G.R Medical University, Chennai, India
³MPT (Sports), Assistant Professor, Sree Abirami College of Physiotherapy, Affiliated to The Tamilnadu Dr. M.G.R Medical University, Chennai, India
⁴BPT Intern, Sree Abirami College of Physiotherapy, Affiliated to The Tamil Nadu Dr. M.G.R Medical University, Chennai, India

*Corresponding Author: Najeeba Sherin K, BPT Intern, Sree Abirami College of Physiotherapy, The Tamil Nadu Dr. M.G.R Medical University, Tamil Nadu, India.

Received: May 21, 2026; Published: pdf

Abstract

Background: Sacroiliac joint dysfunction syndrome (SIJDS) is a common but often underdiagnosed cause of low back pain, leading to significant pain and functional limitation. Various physiotherapeutic interventions, including Muscle Energy Technique (MET), Proprioceptive Neuromuscular Facilitation (PNF), and core stability exercises, are commonly used in clinical practice.

Objective: To compare the effects of Muscle Energy Technique with core stability exercise and Proprioceptive Neuromuscular Facilitation technique on reducing pain and functional limitation in patients with sacroiliac joint dysfunction syndrome.

Methods: A comparative experimental study was conducted on 20 patients diagnosed with sacroiliac joint dysfunction syndrome. Participants were selected using convenient sampling and randomly allocated into two groups. Group A (n = 10) received muscle energy technique with core stability exercises, while group B (n = 10) received proprioceptive neuromuscular facilitation with core stability exercises. Interventions were administered for 40 minutes per session, four days per week for six weeks. Pain intensity was assessed using the visual analogue scale (VAS) and functional limitation was measured using the modified Oswestry disability index (MODI). Paired and unpaired t-tests were used for statistical analysis.

Results: Both groups showed statistically significant improvements in pain and functional limitation (p < 0.05). Group A demonstrated a greater reduction in VAS scores (pre-test mean: 8.0 ± 0.82; post-test mean: 6.20 ± 1.03) compared to group B (pre-test mean: 8.20 ± 0.79; post-test mean: 7.60 ± 0.70). Similarly, MODI scores showed greater improvement in Group A (pre-test mean: 49.10 ± 2.60; post-test mean: 38.10 ± 4.43) than Group B (pre-test mean: 47.70 ± 1.89; post-test mean: 45.90 ± 2.42). Unpaired t-test analysis revealed a statistically significant difference between groups in post-test scores for both VAS and MODI (p < 0.05).

Conclusion: Muscle Energy Technique combined with core stability exercises is more effective than Proprioceptive Neuromuscular Facilitation combined with core stability exercises on reducing pain and functional limitation in patients with sacroiliac joint dysfunction syndrome.

Keywords: Sacroiliac Joint Dysfunction; Muscle Energy Technique; Proprioceptive Neuromuscular Facilitation; Core Stability Exercises; Visual Analogue Scale; Oswestry Disability Index

References

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Citation

Citation: Najeeba Sherin K., et al. “Compare the Effects of Muscle Energy Technique with Core Stability Exercise and Proprioceptive Neuromuscular Facilitation Technique on Pain and Functional Limitation in Patients with Sacroiliac Joint Dysfunction Syndrome". Acta Scientific Orthopaedics 9.3 (2026): 46-51.

Copyright

Copyright: © 2026 Najeeba Sherin K., et al. This is an open-access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License, which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original author and source are credited.