Gain That Elusive Edge!

A dynamic approach to addressing muscular imbalances that can reduce or eliminate pain and fatigue as well as speed muscle recovery, Muscle Activation Techniques™ (MAT™) isn’t as much therapy as it is exercise. Essentially, MAT™ reestablishes the proper neuromuscular function in our bodies by getting muscles to fire properly again.

Think of it as a circuit board … you could have a brand new bulb, but if the electricity is somehow blocked and doesn’t get to it, nothing happens.

Instead of getting muscles to relax, MAT™ is about getting muscles to contract properly while improving stability and strength. It’s about trying to release tension, increase range of motion and retrain the neuromuscular system to work properly and harmoniously. The idea is that in doing so, these muscles provide stability.

What it is:

The principals and effectiveness of Muscle Activation Techniques™ (MAT™) is not new. As a matter of fact, elite athletes around the world have been embracing its benefits in addressing muscular weakness, tightness, and injury to improve their performance, proving the method is becoming more prominent in the strength and fitness field as well as improving everyday activities for all age groups and body types.

The Roskopf Principle, on which MAT™ is based follows the notion that flexibility is a derivative of strength. 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.

When a muscle or group of muscles cannot effectively shorten, the muscles on the opposite side of the axis cannot fully lengthen. This inefficiency in muscle contraction is expressed as muscle tightness.

MAT™ allows the body the ability to achieve optimal levels of function, without further discomfort or injury by increasing the body's range of motion, restoring muscular alignment and eliminating compensation patterns. It leverages a checks-and-balances system designed to identify and address the causes of discomfort and range of motion limitations.

Who can benefit?

MAT™ is effective for EVERYONE from elite athletes to rehabilitation patients, and anyone in between. MAT™ has been successfully implemented with professional athletes (NFL, NBA, NHL, CFL, PGA, etc.) in clinical rehabilitative, personal training environments, and countless other settings.

“The benefit of MAT™ is that the changes can be immediate” says Greg Roskopf, the founder and developer of MAT™. “A professional baseball pitcher increased his throwing velocity by 10 mph, immediately following a MAT™ session. This was due to improved mechanics combined with pain free motion. We see these types of changes every day.”

What are the typical results?
  • Increased Range of Motion
  • Increased Strength, Speed, Power, and Endurance
  • Enhanced athletic performance
  • Decreased incidence of injury
  • Quicker reaction time
  • Heightened sense of Balance, and Stability
  • Career Longevity
  • Maximized results from you training program
  • Faster recovery from injuries
What to expect from a MAT™ Session?

Step 1 Compare Mobility Assessment Test (CMAT)
We start out by identifying asymmetrical and limitations in your range of motion. Muscle Activation Techniques™ addresses the muscles that lack the signal strength to move the bones into the position.

Step 2 Active & Sustain Muscle Assessment Test (ASMAT)
The MAT Specialist then evaluates each muscle to determine if there is proper neurological input. This testing is an indicator to see the muscle’s ability to react to the resistance applied by the practitioner. It lets the practitioner know if the muscles can respond to forces applied in everyday situations.

Step 3 Two Methods of Treatment
Isometric Contraction involves light contractions by the individual with very specific force and positioning. The MAT™ Practitioner applies a specific force perpendicular to the individual’s muscular attachment for a few seconds. This stimulates sensory receptors that in turn increase motor neuronal activation to the muscle associated with that attachment.

Step 4 – Reassessment Test (RT)
This is the checks and balances system of MAT™. The practitioner reassesses the Active & Sustain Assessment Tests. Once all muscles involved in Step 1 have been treated, we then retest the Range of Motion.

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