Positional weaknesses. MAT identifies weak muscles based on the assessment of tight positions.

The reason is that tight muscles are a mechanism the body uses to protect itself from positions of instability. If you take away the body’s innate defenses without resolving the underlying causes, you not only leave the real cause untreated, you open the body up to injury.  MAT restores the neuromuscular control the body needs to stabilize affected joints, reestablishing mobility and stability.

Is MAT for you (or your patients)?

The simple answer is that MAT can work for anyone because efficient joint motion is essential to recovery - whether you are an athlete, dancer, fitness enthusiast, an active or sedentary individual rehabilitating from an orthopedic injury.

"You have to experience MAT to understand it." - Michael Schwartz.

MAT is a systematic process for identifying and treating muscular imbalances/weaknesses that lead to deleterious and inefficient orthopedic function, pain and impeded recovery.  MAT is designed to correct body alignment and prepare the body for what you are asking it to do.  No matter what type of motion – isolated or integrated – the MAT procedure addresses the weak links allowing the body to function most efficiently while eliminating pain.

How and why does MAT work?

MAT detects and treats muscular imbalances by exploiting the following principles of neurophysiology:

• Reciprocal inhibition
• Alpha and gamma motor neuron co-activation and the effect on the sensitivity of the muscle spindle
• Muscle spindle’s influence on alpha motor drive of homonymous, synergistic and antagonistic tissue
• Gamma biasing/orderly recruitment principle

Muscle Activation Techniques (MAT): Overview of the Process

 The foundation of the MAT thought process is that muscle tightness is secondary to muscle weakness. MAT recognizes that muscles tighten up as a protective measure that is secondary to the instability that results from muscle weakness.

The MAT evaluation is unique because it looks at the mechanical relationships that exist between the function of all joints. MAT recognizes that abnormal mechanics in one joint may affect motion at another joint, e.g., the effects of foot mechanics on hip, shoulder and cervical function.

 GOAL

To increase stability and mobility of the joints by restoring the proprioceptive sensitivity of the muscle spindles in the muscles being treated. This causes concomitant increase in the alpha motor drive in the homologous and synergistic muscles while reciprocally inhibiting the alpha motor drive in the antagonist via Ia interneuron activity. The activation of a muscle will increase the stabilizing characteristics of a muscle while allowing the opposite, tight muscles to relax.

 PROCESS

Step One

MAT uses specific arthrokinematic relationships to determine neuromuscular deficits (diminished muscle spindle sensitivity) that lead to compromised performance, joint instability and pain. These deficits are typically found in joint positions where muscles have the least biomechanical advantage and if there is dysfunction, diminished proprioceptive input as well. Limitations in range of motion indicate positions of weakness or neuromuscular deficits.

Step Two

Once positional limitations in range of motion (ROM) have been identified, the plane or planes of weakness must be uncovered. To accomplish this, join-specific muscle testing (neuroproprioceptive response testing) is applied through precise planes dictated by limited range of motion.

Step Three

Once the positions of instability have been identified, the neurological connection must be restored. To strengthen these positions of instability, specific, graded-intensity isometrics or precise palpation are used to restore proper proprioceptive input to the muscle spindle.

Step Four

Re-test to verify that the ROM and strength have been restored.

RESULT

Increased ROM and strength, decrease in or elimination of pain and creation of a mechanically and neurologically advantageous environment for healing.

Want more MAT science?  Go to www.muscleactivation.com