What causes muscle inhibition or weakness?  
Factors such as trauma, stress, or overuse can contribute to a muscle becoming inhibited. When you exercise, there is a period of exertion and then recovery. It is normal to feel fatigue. When there is trauma, stress or overuse, the muscle may not recover until properly rested. If this is habitual, (i.e. - sitting at the computer in an ergonomically unsound position for 12 hours per day – every day for many years) then the result can be muscle inhibition or neurological weakness. The brain detects trauma and basically puts a “dimmer switch” on the overused muscle, decreasing its capability to contract. A sudden trauma can also cause a muscle to become inhibited. A great example is whiplash. When the neck muscles are moved rapidly through their extreme ranges of motion, the body attempts to protect by inhibiting the muscles that are rapidly stretched. Due to the trauma, these muscles now become inhibited. The end result is chronic tightness and pain in the muscles of the neck as they attempt to protect from the instability.

What can I expect from MAT®?  
The first goal of MAT is to determine whether or not specific muscles that support a joint have the proper neurological input necessary to perform their function. Whether acting as a prime mover, synergist or stabilizer, each muscle must be capable of performing its function as forces are placed on a joint. If a muscle does not have proper neurological input, then it will not be able to perform its function efficiently, leading to positions of vulnerability. The goal of the MAT evaluation process is to find out where the body displays these positions of vulnerability by identifying muscle weakness. Since the body protects itself from positions of vulnerability by tightening other muscles, MAT uses a joint specific ROM (range of motion) exam to determine where potential muscle weaknesses exist. At this point, position specific, proprioceptive tests are performed on the muscles relating to the ROM limitation in order to identify specific weaknesses. After identifying these areas of weakness, the next goal is to improve the capability of the muscle to contract. This, in turn, will increase both the mobility and stability of the joint. It is a process of increasing the proprioceptive input and the ability of the muscles to contract on demand, allowing efficient muscle contraction for joint stabilization. By improving the contractile capabilities, joints become more stable. These results in improved patterns of wear on the joint surfaces and provide an environment for optimal function with pain free motion. For these reasons, MAT is a great adjunct to all other forms of therapy.

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