What Is MAT®?

Have you ever wondered, “What is Muscle Activation Techniques®?”

If so, you are not alone. In fact, the most common question we hear is, 

“I have heard from my friend that MAT® really helped them, but I have know idea what it is… can you explain it to me?”

Muscle Activation Techniques®, also known as MAT®, is a way to identify and strengthen weak and inhibited muscles within your body.

Think of your body as a car. Your muscles are the engine and your brain and spinal cord are the battery.

You can have a really big and powerful engine in your car, but if the battery cables are loose or disconnected, you won’t be able to start your engine.

The same thing happens in your body. Your muscles and nervous system can become metaphorically disconnected from each other; and as a result, your muscles can temporarily stop working properly.

Muscle Activation Techniques® is designed to help identify where that is happening within your body and address those issues, reconnecting your muscles and nervous system together so your muscles can work correctly.

When your muscles stop working properly, we call that muscle inhibition.

Left unaddressed, muscle inhibition can lead to a number of symptoms and issues, including:

  • Muscle tightness
  • Limited flexibility
  • Low strength
  • Poor coordination
  • Joint, muscle, and tendon pain
  • Arthritis
  • Bulging and herniated discs
  • Plantar fasciitis
  • Injury to ligaments, cartilage, tendons, fascia, and muscles

At Muscle Activation Schaumburg, we specialize in using Muscle Activation Techniques® to address these types of issues and more by improving the strength and function of your muscles through the MAT® process.

Muscle Activation Techniques® is a hands-on process done fully clothed on a massage table. It involves joint range of motion assessments, muscle testing, and manual stimulation of your muscles by pressing our fingers on where they attach to your bones.

Our clients are able to see immediate improvements in strength and flexibility.

The timeline for seeing changes in symptoms related to muscle inhibition is different for every client, but many clients are able to experience noticeable changes after six to eleven weekly sessions.

After those six to eleven sessions, many clients choose to continue with MAT® either on a weekly basis or on a less-frequent maintenance schedule.

At Muscle Activation Schaumburg, we have a full gym of exercise equipment that we are able to incorporate into the MAT® sessions to better prepare your body for exercising on your own and for whatever you are wanting to do in your life.

Julie Cates and Charlie Cates are certified in the highest levels of Muscle Activation Techniques®, including MATRx, MATRx Stim, and MAT® Athlete.

We have been studying and practicing MAT® since 2011 and have experience working with clients with a wide array of issues, symptoms, and abilities; from those who are unable to walk or stand on their own to Olympic athletes and everywhere in between.

Get started with your initial MAT® Consultation and Assessment at Muscle Activation Schaumburg by clicking here and scheduling the time that works best for you!