Myoskeletal Alignment Technique (MAT) What if you could recover from chronic pain without surgery*? •Neck,lower back and sacroiliac pain •Degenerative hip conditions •Tendinitis and muscle strain (Golf and Tennis) •Plantar Fasciitis and gait problems •Nerve impingement syndromes •Scoliosis
•Carpal tunnel syndrome •Headaches and TMJ syndrome •... [Read More]Rotator cuff and other joint injuries •Dowager’s hump •Hiatal hernias •Repetitive strain patterning
•Increases range of motion and fexibility for less energy expenditure •Decreases recovery time from injury and workouts •Reduces anxiety and mental and physical stress •Increases circulation – enhances healing •Eliminates chronic and acute orthopedic conditions in place of surgery.*
*MAT is not meant to be a replacement for situations that may indeed call for surgery. However, in those instances it has been shown to reduce or eliminate pain until surgery, allow the procedure to be less intensive, and assists in the rehabilitation process.
Myoskeletal Alignment Technique (MAT) is a type of bodywork which blends the principles of osteopathy and structural integration to relieve chronic pain, and to reduce the potential for the emergence of pain which could become chronic over time. This technique is often integrated into regular massage and bodywork sessions, and it can also be used alone to treat systemic problems. The focus of this technique is on back and neck pain in particular, since this type of pain is extremely common, but is also used effectively in other areas.
The basic idea behind myoskeletal alignment technique is that back and neck pain are caused by fundamental problems with the musculoskeletal system. Tight, stressed muscles contribute to pain by limiting freedom of movement, while weak muscles provide inadequate support for the body. This in turn leads to posture problems, stiffness, and other symptoms which create an endless cycle of pain. By addressing the fundamental issues in the muscles and fascia, I hope to eliminate the associated symptoms.
Structural integration and osteopathy both rely heavily on the manipulation of the muscles, fascia, and skeletal system with the goal of promoting general musculoskeletal health. The idea behind structural integration is that if someone's body can be aligned properly, his or her health problems can be dramatically reduced, because the body will work as a whole. Osteopathic practitioners share this idea, arguing that many chronic health conditions are related to musculoskeletal problems.
In a session of myoskeletal alignment technique, we works to lengthen tight, strained muscles with the goal of releasing tension and allowing those muscles to function more normally. At the same time, weak muscles are encouraged to grow stronger with the use of gentle, focused stretches which work those muscles. The muscles and fascia will also be manipulated to release pain and to encourage proper musculoskeletal alignment.
A session of myoskeletal alignment technique can sometimes alleviate neck and back pain considerably. Regular sessions can be used to address the early signs of pain, bringing the body back to a neutral state before it develops a vicious cycle of pain. This type of bodywork can be especially useful for people in stressful occupations, or for people with jobs which require repetitive motion, as these careers can place a great deal of strain on the musculoskeletal system.
MAT was developed by Erik Dalton, PhD., and is used as a structural treatment of the body through the muscular and skeletal system that brings the body into proper anatomical alignment. MAT is recognized as one of the most effective ways to treat many orthopedic and pathological disorder.[Close]
______________________________________________________________ Muscle Energy Techniques (MET) Muscles Energy Techniques (MET) are soft tissue manipulations, founded in osteopathic medicine, that use contractions originated by the client that are directed an controlled by the massage therapist. You will be guided during each ... [Read More]step to optimize the effectiveness of MET. Through isotonic or isometric contractions, our goal is to improve musculoskeletal function and reduce pain.
There are similarities between MET and MAT (see above) and yet they are also unique to themselves. MAT may often involve more pressure, whereas MET requires only 20% of effort on both the Massage Therapist and client. MET, when performed correctly should never cause the client pain or discomfort.
Many times clients will come in complaining that their muscles feel tired and their strength is diminished. This is very often caused by over-contracted or "knotted' muscles, which will feel weakened. MET gently stretches muscles back(or very close) to their original state, not only during the session, but sometimes over the following days.
Some therapist will tell the client that weak muscles need to be strengthened, but it has been clinically proven that it is better to stretch tight muscles first. (Vladimir Janda,1978)[Close]
