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Muscle Activation Techniques (MAT) in Toronto

 

Muscle Activation Techniques (MAT) is a unique approach to the assessment and correction of muscular imbalances, joint instability and limitations in range of motion within the human body. It is a non-invasive table-based technique, designed to balance the muscular system of people of all ages. 

Key Principles:

  1. Muscle tightness is an indication of muscle weakness

  2. The body is only as strong as the function of its isolated parts

 
 

MAT® focuses on the cause of pain by testing, correcting, and maintaining muscle contractile efficiency. 

The Benefits can include:

  1. Improved performance

  2. Reduced pain and/or dysfunction

  3. Enhanced mind/muscle connection

  4. Improved body awareness

  5. Greater muscle growth

  6. Reduced chance of injury

Our MAT specialists in Toronto can help with:

  • Lower back pain

  • Plantar fasciitis

  • Shin splints

  • Patella-femoral syndrome

  • Tennis elbow

  • Carpal tunnel syndrome

FAQ

  • MAT is for anyone who is interested in optimizing their body for performance, longevity and to reduce injury risks. Due to stress, trauma or overuse, muscles can become “less optimal” leading to muscle imbalances. Muscles control the positions of bones, so when your body is in a less optimal position, you are more likely to experience pain and/or dysfunction. Everyone can benefit from MAT, however, if you have tried traditional modalities such as physiotherapy and chiropractic treatments and had no luck seeing improvements, MAT could be what you are looking for.

  • Each session begins with the client lying supine on a treatment table and the MAT specialist will perform a range of motion assessment. The practitioner is looking for any limitations in range of motion between the left and right sides. The range of motion assessment may include the whole body, or part of the body, depending on the symptoms of the client.

    Any limitation in range of motion, between the left and right sides, is an indication that one or more of the muscles crossing that joint are not contracting efficiently. For a chosen range of motion, each muscle is assessed through manual muscle testing. Any muscles that are not optimal, are “activated” through either palpation of the muscle attachments to the bone or through specific positional isometric contractions. Once all muscles are assessed and treated, a partial or full body range of motion will be checked again, and the process will be repeated. Typically, two ranges of motion are treated in one session. The client will often experience improved range of motion, a reduction or elimination in symptoms, and improved function.

  • The first session typically lasts for 90 minutes. Each follow up session lasts for one hour. The majority of the session is conducted on the treatment table.

  • This depends on the issues. Some clients see improvements in the first session, however multiple sessions are required to create lasting results.

  • Because MAT is a relatively new technique, unfortunately it is not covered under most insurance plans. MAT practitioners are currently not considered health care practitioners in Ontario.

  • A single one hour session is either $120 or $150+HST depending on the practitioner. If you purchase a package of 5 or 10 sessions the price reduces slightly.

  • If the Body Engineers is not close to your location you can visit www.muscleactivation.com for the world wide practitioner list.