Muscle Activation Techniques

Muscle Activation Techniques  Prepares your Body for Exercise

Regardless of the type of physical activity… golf, tennis, yoga, running, weight training, or simply walking up stairs. The MAT procedure addresses the weak links, thereby allowing the body to function most efficiently as it was intended to function.

Muscle Activation Techniques  will dramatically reduce muscle and joint pain and increase range of motion, stability, strength and flexibility. MAT looks at tightness as secondary to muscle weakness.  By addressing muscle weakness, the body no longer has the need to protect or guard itself from instability and the tight muscles can be “reset” or released.

What is MAT?

MAT was founded by Greg Roskopf and is based on the principle that human movement and exercise are fundamental to human health and that a muscle’s ability to contract efficiently is important for normal movement. Any loss of muscle contraction efficiency may be demonstrated as a loss of motion and decreased physical performance, which may lead to pain and/or the loss of physical capabilities.

MAT is a specific and unique process for evaluating an individual’s ability to develop efficient muscle contraction(s) by first comparing left and right side range of motion, as the human body is designed to be symmetrical.

If a movement is determined to be asymmetrical (i.e. one limb has a greater range of motion than then opposite limb) as determined by the Comparative Assessment of Mobility or CAM, then we know that one or more muscles that moves the less mobile limb is potentially weak. The muscles that are responsible for moving the limb further are then assessed by the MAT Specialist to determine if they have lost the ability to contract efficiently.

When it has been determined through testing that a muscle has lost its ability to contract, then precise forces are applied to restore that muscle’s efficiency, re-activating that muscle. As muscles are restored to efficient contraction, MAT uses a system of accountability (checks and balances) to ensure that any increases in motion and symmetry are accompanied by improvements in a muscle’s contractile ability.

How is MAT Different from other therapies?

MAT does not diagnose or treat pathology, but works to improve a muscle’s contractile capabilities and the resulting range of motion and strength of that muscle/limb. By improving these aspects, a person will see an increased ability for exercise and physical performance.

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.

MAT can slow down or even reverse the aging process. If it is recognized that muscles are designed to stabilize and support the joints naturally; it must be understood that arthritic conditions and joint instability can be helped or prevented when muscles are prepared to function properly.

Fitness Integrated Science has two certified MAT Specialists able to treat you at the highest level. MAT-Rx Full Body, Lauren Eirk, MS and Cody Eubank, BS