Muscle Activation Techniques (MAT)

For athletes, dancers, fitness enthusiast, active or sedentary individuals rehabilitating from an orthopedic injury, efficient joint motion is essential to recovery and optimal performance. Muscle Activation Techniques (MAT*) is a revolutionary manual therapy and form of bodywork that prepares the body for all types of exercise (including physical therapy, Pilates, Yoga, etc) and optimal performance. No matter what the type of motion - isolated or integrated - the MAT procedure addresses the weak links; thereby allowing the body to function most efficiently while eliminating pain.

How is MAT Different?

While most treatment modalities look for and treat muscular tension, MAT looks for and treats muscular weakness, viewing muscular weakness the top priority and viewing tightness as secondary. From this perspective, tight muscles are a protective mechanism that the body utilizes to protect from positions of instability. So, to forcibly take away the body's innate defenses without resolving the underlying causes would be irresponsible, to say the least. MAT restores the neuromuscular control that the body needs to stabilize the affected joints, re-establishing mobility and stability.

Another hallmark of MAT is that it is a reproducible system of checks and balances design to reveal and correct the compensation patterns. From a biomechanics perspective, MAT looks at how all joints are interrelated and how abnormal mechanics in one joint may affect motion at another joint.  e.g. the effect of foot mechanics on hip, shoulder and cervical function.

How and why does MAT work?

MAT works to increase the 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 inhibitory interneuron activity. Therefore, activation of a muscle will increase the stabilizing characteristics of a muscle while allowing the opposite, tight muscles to relax.

MAT detects and treats muscular imbalances by exploiting the following principals 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; and
• Orderly recruitment principle.

The MAT Process

Step One: MAT uses specific arthrokinematic relationships to determine neuromuscular deficits** 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. Therefore, limitations in range of motion indicate positions of weakness or neuromuscular deficits.

Step Two: Once positional limitations in range of motion have been identified, the plane or planes of weakness must be uncovered. To accomplish this, joint and position -specific muscle testing (neuroproprioceptive response testing) is applied , through precise the specific 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 make sure that the ROM and strength have been restored.

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

* This technique was developed by Greg Roskopf, MS. Greg has worked as a Biomechanics consultant for various professional organizations including the Utah Jazz, the Denver Nuggets and the Denver Broncos.

**In this context, diminished muscle spindle sensitivity is referred to as a neuromuscular deficit.

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