When competing in sport it is pretty important for the muscular system to be working efficiently. An inhibited muscle can lead to the development of compensation patterns, which can ultimately lead to reduced performance and injury. Since athletes train at an extremely high level, any pre-existing muscular imbalances can get magnified. Once they exceed their tolerance levels, injuries tend to develop. MAT can help athletes in that it enables us to:
Since MAT helps to balance the muscular system, it improves the environment for healing, which can ultimately enable athletes to return to the field sooner. Once an athlete has recovered from injury, MAT can then be used on a regular basis to ensure they remain strong. This is where MAT has possibly the most benefit - Ensuring the muscular system is working at a high level and facilitating optimal performance. Hit the "book now" button and try it out for yourself.
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Ever had a niggling injury you can't seem to recover from? Ever had joint pain despite no real structural issues? Have you tried stretching, massage and other forms of therapy but not seen any improvement?
In many cases this can be attributed to a lack of contractile efficiency of muscle. When a muscle cannot efficiently contract, load is picked up by either:
The above situations are not ideal as they essentially lead to excessive load being placed on these passive structures. In the long run this can lead to joint deterioration, tendinitis or arthritis. These situations can possibly be remedied/prevented by improving the contractile efficiency of muscle. Muscle is the stuff that supports these passive structures. Through MAT® we can identify which muscles are weak and then take action to strengthen these weaknesses. A MAT® session involves a full assessment of range of motion followed by manual muscle testing, where precise forces are applied to restore the contractile efficiency of muscle. Once an inhibited muscle is able to contract again, it has the potential to take load off passive structures and reduce compensation... which may ultimately restore normal function and reduce pain as a result. Muscle Activation Techniques is all about assessing and correcting muscular imbalances, joint instability and limitations in range of motion in the human body. It is beneficial for:
- Injury rehabilitation - Maximising athletic performance, and - Enabling participation in exercise MAT® Practitioners assess active range of motion in order to determine which muscles are potentially weak. They then look to activate and strengthen muscles that may be weak or inhibited due to stress, trauma or overuse. Often this opens up range of motion and can reduce feelings of tightness, pain or instability. MAT® is based on the principle that flexibility is a derivative of strength and muscle "tightness" is secondary to muscle weakness. A limitation in motion is an indicator that one or more of the muscles that cross that axis cannot contract efficiently. MAT® seeks to identify these limitations and then restore and/or improve the contractile efficiency of muscle. MAT® Sessions are non-invasive in the sense that they do not push people past active ranges of motion. The sessions may involve palpating/massaging the attachment sites of muscle, however this is largely a painless process. MAT® is not about passively "stretching", rather it is about activating and strengthening muscle. If you've got a niggling injury or are experiencing joint pain or muscle tightness, book in a session and see how Muscle Activation Techniques can benefit you. |
AuthorAlex is a Muscle Activation Techniques Practitioner and Resistance Training Specialist. Focused on Injury Rehab and Maximising Performance. Archives
November 2018
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