What is Muscle Activation Techniques (MAT)?

Have you ever wondered what Muscle Activation Techniques (MAT) is and how it works? Many of our clients come to us after hearing about the incredible results their friends or family have experienced, asking:

"I’ve heard MAT can really help, but what exactly is it?"

Simply put, MAT is a groundbreaking approach designed to identify and strengthen weak or inhibited muscles, allowing your body to function at its best.

Analogy for Explaining Muscle Activation Techniques (MAT):

"Your Body is Like a Symphony Orchestra"

Imagine your body is a symphony orchestra, with each instrument representing a specific muscle. The nervous system is the conductor, responsible for ensuring all the instruments play in harmony.

When one instrument (muscle) plays out of tune or stops working altogether, the other instruments (muscles) have to compensate, creating tension and imbalance in the music. Over time, this leads to stress on the conductor (nervous system) and makes the entire performance (your body) less effective.

Muscle Activation Techniques is like tuning the instruments and retraining the conductor. MAT identifies the “out-of-tune” muscles, restores their function, and ensures the entire orchestra is playing in perfect harmony again. The result? A body that moves efficiently, performs beautifully, and feels pain-free.

Who Can Benefit from MAT?

MAT is for anyone looking to improve their movement, reduce pain, or enhance physical performance. Whether you’re an athlete, an older adult, or someone managing a chronic condition, MAT can help.

For Athletes:

  • Enhanced Performance: Improve strength, speed, and flexibility.

  • Injury Prevention: Address muscle imbalances before they lead to injuries.

  • Faster Recovery: Reduce recovery time and maximize efficiency.

For Golfers:

  • Improve Your Swing: MAT enhances muscle balance and stability, giving you a smoother, more consistent golf swing.

  • Increase Power: Re-activating weak muscles helps you generate more force, adding distance to your drives.

  • Prevent Common Injuries: Many golfers experience back pain, elbow strain, or shoulder issues. MAT addresses these vulnerabilities before they impact your game.

For Older Adults:

  • Improved Mobility: Restore flexibility and range of motion.

  • Pain Relief: Reduce joint discomfort and muscle tightness.

  • Injury Prevention: Strengthen weak muscles to support aging joints and prevent falls.

For Chronic Conditions (EDS, CMT, and More):

  • Ehlers-Danlos Syndrome (EDS): Increase joint stability and reduce dislocations.

  • Charcot-Marie-Tooth (CMT): Reconnect inhibited muscles to support balance and mobility.

  • Inflammatory Disorders: Reduce compensatory stress caused by inhibited muscles to ease symptoms.

For the General Public:

  • Pain Management: Address issues such as joint, tendon, or muscular pain.

  • Everyday Functionality: Feel stronger and more capable in daily activities.

  • Flexibility and Strength: Enjoy increased physical capability and confidence.

What Are the Benefits of MAT?

When muscles stop working properly (muscle inhibition), the body compensates, which can lead to:

  • Muscle tightness and limited flexibility.

  • Joint, tendon, and muscular pain.

  • Chronic conditions like arthritis and plantar fasciitis.

  • Poor coordination and increased injury risk.

By addressing these issues, MAT helps you achieve:

  • Pain relief and improved movement.

  • Enhanced athletic performance, especially in golf and other sports.

  • Increased flexibility and stability.

  • Long-term prevention of compensatory injuries.

What Can You Expect from MAT?

Results vary by individual, but many clients notice significant improvements after 6–11 weekly sessions. Some choose to continue with MAT on a maintenance schedule, while others transition to independent exercise with improved function.

At Muscle Activation Techniques Bend, we integrate state-of-the-art equipment and exercises into your MAT sessions to help you prepare for daily activities, fitness goals, or athletic performance.

Why Choose MAT?

Whether you're managing chronic conditions, optimizing athletic performance, or just looking to move pain-free, MAT is for you. It’s a proven, science-backed method designed to restore your body’s natural ability to move, stabilize, and thrive.

Contact Grant today to book a consultation and learn how MAT can help you!