What is Reciprocal Inhibition?

One of my clients said that's just "reverse psychology" on muscles or coming through the back door to fix the front door. In order for the hand to be raised to the mouth the front muscle shortens and the back muscle relaxes and allows the hand to travel upward. When resisted the brain re-enforces the signals to relax the back muscle which uses no pressure or thumbs and is extremely effective since their brain is doing all of your work.

Theory of Reciprocal Inhibition

When the central nervous system sends a message for the agonist (muscle causing movement) to contract, the tension in the antagonist (muscle opposing movement) is inhibited by impulses from motor neurons, and thus MUST simultaneously relax.

This information can be used to ease the pain of an acute muscle spasm or cramp. Contract the muscle opposite of the muscle spasm and the spasm will let go!!! The contraction must be isometrically resisted.

Pg 161, "Massage Therapy, Principles & Practice", Susan G Salvo

What others Say

       Muscle energy technique (MET) is the single most profound method of treatment for soft tissue pain that I have ever come across. It accurately evaluates all of the bony landmarks, joint positions, and joint functions of the spine  and pelvis. It treats imbalances in the neuro-musculoskeletal mechanism more effectively and more thoroughly than anything else that falls into the massage therapist's scope of practice.
                                                                               "Hip Pain" by Rich Phaigh , Massage & Bodywork Summer 98 pg 25