education for Your Healing Journey: MAT Therapy Resources

MAT is a non-invasive and hands-on approach to identifying and correcting muscle dysfunction caused by neuromuscular communication deficiencies, which are a result of inflammation from stress, trauma, and overuse.

MAT was founded on the principle that human movement and exercise are fundamental to human health, and that a muscle’s ability to contract efficiently is fundamental for normal movement. Any loss of muscle contraction efficiency may represent a loss of motion and decreased physical performance, which may lead to pain. 

MAT is a specific and unique process for evaluating an individual’s ability to develop efficient muscle contractions by comparing ranges of motion on both sides of the body, as the human body is designed to be symmetrical. If movement is determined to be asymmetrical, then we know that one or more of the muscles that move you into position is potentially weak. The muscles responsible for moving the limb are then individually assessed by the MAT® 

Specialist to determine if they have lost the ability to contract efficiently. When it has been determined through testing that a muscle has lost its ability to contract, precise forces are applied to restore muscle contractile efficiency, re-activating the muscle. As muscles are restored to efficient contractibility, MAT® uses a system of checks and balances to ensure there is an increase in range of motion and symmetry.

MAT practitioners are trained, certified professionals who have undergone extensive education to acquire the knowledge and skills necessary to provide hands-on care. They guide Clients through a systematic neuromuscular assessment and treatment process that delivers lasting results.

MAT is different because it doesn’t focus on relieving symptoms, it addresses the root cause of muscle tightness, pain, and dysfunction. While other treatments may focus on stretching tight muscles or strengthening weak ones, MAT looks at how your muscles communicate with your nervous system to find the source of the problem.

By restoring proper muscle function and balance, MAT helps your body heal itself more effectively. This approach often leads to longer-lasting relief and better overall results.

MAT does not force change on the body but instead works with it. MAT never attempts to directly lengthen or relax the muscle by stretching, heating, kneading, needling or foam rolling. MAT does not adjust the body’s joints, but activates the muscles surrounding the joints to create proper stability and joint motion, ensuring mechanically correct function, and preventing compensation patterns. MAT “activates” muscles, so that your body and joints are better prepared to handle the forces that come from exercise and every day movements.

MAT does not diagnose or treat pathology, but works to improve a muscle’s contractile capabilities, and the resulting range of motion and response of that muscle/limb. By improving these aspects, a person will see an increased ability for exercise and physical performance.

Each Client is assessed and treated in response to their own neuromuscular weaknesses and compensation patterns. Therefore, no treatment session is ever the same.

MAT techniques benefit a wide range of individuals, including athletes aiming to enhance their performance, individuals recovering from injuries, and those experiencing chronic pain or mobility limitations. Whether you have muscle tightness, pain, joint instability, or difficulty performing daily activities, MAT can help restore proper function and reduce discomfort.

Whether you’ve tried other therapies without success or are looking for a proactive way to prevent future injuries, MAT can help by addressing the root cause of muscle dysfunction. Clients typically see improvements in strength, stability, and range of motion, often after just 1-2 sessions.

Yes! MAT therapy addresses the muscular causes of pain. There is an inverse relationship between muscle function and pain. Instead of treating symptoms, MAT identifies weak muscles that are unable to properly support movement, which often leads to compensations and pain. By restoring muscle function, MAT reduces strain on joints and surrounding tissues, providing long-term pain relief solutions.

MAT is a technique that helps athletes recover from competitive stress quickly and helps prevent future injuries. Some athletes may be predisposed to an injury, due to muscular contraction inefficiencies that place increased stress on joints and tissues. 

When training and performing at a high level, there is always the risk for injury, muscular inefficiencies are magnified, and sometimes the body can no longer handle the stress and breaks down. MAT prepares the body to be more efficient in training, recovery, and athletic performance.

The goal of MAT is to address the weakness before an injury occurs. Conventional therapy may treat the symptom, and leave the cause of the problem unaddressed. The end result is that the athlete does not fully heal, or they go on to experience repetitive injuries, or a more severe injury. MAT not only helps to prevent injuries, but it can also assist in the rehabilitation process.

By balancing the muscular system, MAT provides an improved environment for restoring physical performance. This allows the athlete to return to sport sooner with improved athletic capabilities.

Yes, MAT is a precise and focused exercise process that can be used as an adjunct to any number of other exercise processes. 

MAT can help an individual prepare for exercise, help someone sustain an exercise program, and support rehabilitation for certain conditions where deemed appropriate by your medical provider.

MAT complements other therapies and training regimens by addressing muscular imbalances that might hinder progress.

Yes, MAT can have a significant positive impact on arthritis and the aging process by improving muscle function, reducing joint stress, and enhancing overall mobility. As people age, muscle imbalances and weaknesses develop, leading to compensatory movement patterns that increase joint strain—a major contributor to arthritis pain and stiffness.

It is well established that a loss in muscle mass (sarcopenia) is seen with aging. 

Because MAT ensures each muscle is receiving a signal to contract, when you exercise, your body will have the ability to maintain or gain muscle mass, thus reducing or eliminating sarcopenia. This can also reduce joint stresses that lead to, or exacerbate, arthritic conditions.

By addressing muscle weakness before it leads to chronic pain or dysfunction, MAT supports healthy aging, preserves joint integrity, and enhances overall quality of life. Addressing muscle weakness in the presence of existing age-related joint conditions can also reduce stresses on the joints and provide significant relief.

The answer is – maybe. If you have muscles that have been weakened due to prolonged stress or sudden trauma, then moving them into a position of vulnerability (contraction) may result in other muscles taking over or compensating. This leads to the weak muscles staying weak and the strong muscles getting stronger. This can lead to joint deterioration and chronic problems like tendonitis and arthritis due to imbalanced forces acting on the joint. The best course of action is to properly assess which specific motions are limited and which muscles are weakened and then to take a course of action to improve your muscle function.

MAT can tell you which muscles are weak, and then give you the tools to improve these weaknesses, so that you can get back to participating in the sports/activities that you enjoy from a position of strength.

“Muscle activation” is a common term used in fitness and therapy circles to describe exercises designed to warm up or “activate” muscles before activity. These exercises typically involve dynamic movements aimed at getting muscles ready for action. While sometimes useful, these exercises are general in nature and don’t address deeper issues in muscle function.

On the other hand, Muscle Activation TechniquesⓇ (MAT) is a specialized, hands-on process developed by Greg Roskopf 30 years ago. MAT focuses on identifying and correcting muscle inhibition by addressing neuromuscular imbalances at their root. MAT is not about simply warming up muscles—it’s a comprehensive approach that systematically evaluates and treats muscle function.