What Is Muscle Activation techniques ?
Muscle Activation Techniques (MAT)® is a powerful muscular assessment tool that analyzes and corrects muscular imbalances. At MAT we focus on the cause of the imblance by testing, correcting, and maintaining muscle contractile efficiency. We believe that flexibility is a derivative of strength, and that muscle tightness is secondary to muscle weakness.
Our 77 Range of Motion Exams and 214 Muscle Tests help practitioners identify which muscles are not “firing” . Once the cause for the discomfort and impaired mobility is identified, practitioners begin a series of muscle tests in an established process and work to “reactivate” the affected muscles.
Who Does Muscle Activation Help ?
Muscle Activation Techniques is for anyone who works with the muscle system. We need not be a world class athlete to know how life takes a toll on our bodies. Whether you are a client looking for MAT treatment or a health professional looking for MAT education, we have options for you. Clients with chronic pain and restricted movement as well as practitioners have been using MAT in clinics for over 20 years.
Our Foundational Courses & Degrees
We are the only muscle treatment program in the USA that offers accredited degree program opportunities. In fact, we offer various pathways to learn Muscle Activation Techniques education based on student goals and desired outcomes. Initially students can choose from three education options depending on their time and budget. The three options are as follows: Single Subject 12 week MAT Specialist module, 4 quarter 36 degree Credit MAT Specialist Certificate program or an Associate’s Degree in Muscle Activation Techniques.
Conditions That MAT Can Help
- Back & Hip Pain
- Knee Pain
- Shoulder Pain
- Rheumatoid Arthritis
- Tendonitis
- Sprains & Strains
- Sciatica
- Patellofemoral Syndrome
- Tennis Elbow
- Pre & Post Operation Recovery
MAT® is designed to re-establish the communication pathways between the nervous system and the muscular system in order to restore muscle contractile capabilities. The main indicator of muscle(s) losing their contractile efficiency is limitations in range of motion (ROM). Through the MAT assessment, we begin with a muscle-specific joint ROM assessment. This allows the MAT practitioner to precisely determine which muscles potentially have altered communication from the nervous system.
MAT differentiates itself from other techniques because it never attempts to directly lengthen or change the muscle by stretching, heating, kneading, or foam rolling. MAT is not trying to “relax” muscle, but instead tries to “activate” the muscle, so that your body is better prepared to handle the forces that come from exercise and every day movements.
The goal is to find your limitations in Range of Motion(ROM). Wherever we find a limitation in ROM, we know that one or more of the muscles that cross that axis are not receiving proper communication from the Central Nervous System. We will test and treat each muscle that is causing the limitation(s) in ROM. We then use a stimulation technique to reestablish proper communication channels so your muscles can contract properly. Once communication is working properly, the first stage of muscle dysfunction is tightness. The second stage is pain. When tightness is resolved, pain is dramatically reduced if not eliminated.
Practitioners That Use MAT
- Physical Therapists
- Personal & Athletic Trainers
- Massage Therapists
- Exercise Professionals
- Chiropractors
- Kinesio-Therapists
- Exercise Physiologist
- Rehabilitation Nurses
- Cardiac Rehabilitation
- Doctor of Osteopathic Medicine
- MAT is a process that allows the practitioner to identify muscle dysfunction in their client’s body.
- MAT recognizes that whenever there is stress, trauma or overuse to the muscular system, the resultant inflammation alters the communication between the nervous system and the muscular system which alters the ability to contract efficiently
- MAT can help you determine whether or not the nervous system is properly signaling to your client’s muscles in order that they can contract efficiently to stabilize joints and protect the body from injury
87% of MAT clients have their musculoskeletal injuries successfully resolved in 1-6 treatments! We’re able to get these jaw-dropping results through an innovative and powerful approach for assessing, testing and treating muscle dysfunction across 216 different muscles.
Prospective Specialist students are encouraged but are not required to have any background or secondary degree in the exercise, sport science, biology, and anatomy fields. MAT encourages but does not require professional or academic experience in various fields within the exercise continuum.