Muscle Activation Sessions and Techniques

Identify Muscular Imbalances & Weaknesses

Muscle Activation Techniques or MAT is a methodology used to assess various factors related to muscle health.

Assessing the muscular range of motion
Identifying muscular imbalances
Identifying weakness within the body
Reactivating the disconnected or weak muscle fibers

A weak muscle is one that doesn't contract efficiently. There may be a disconnect between the central nervous system and the muscular system so that muscles are unable to fire signals to the brain in order to prompt movement. This disconnect may be the result of muscular stress, trauma, overuse, which leads to inflammation and can affect all individuals from elite athletes, and weekend warriors to frail elderly. When a muscle is stressed, it does not fire optimally and is unable to properly contract on demand in order to stabilize joints and create movement. As a result, other muscles work to make up for the shut-down muscle and this overcompensation leads to tension, pain, and even injury.

Non-Invasive Approach

When a muscular weakness is identified, palpation or isometrics are used to communicate with the central nervous system and jumpstart the muscular system. Improving the efficiency of muscular contractions helps ensure the appropriate muscles, which are required for specific movements, are used. When muscles are firing properly, we protect ourselves from pain or injury that comes when our body is out of sync.

Gina Fortuna – Certified MATRx Trainer

Gina Fortuna is a Certified Specialist through Greg Roskopf's Muscle Activation Techniques (MAT). She is certified at the highest level of MAT; she is a MATRx Specialist. We recommend a two-part approach to fitness at BEyond FITness where we ensure that the correct muscles are firing through MAT/MATRx work in order to set you up for success in strength training with our training staff. The goal of pairing these two practices together is optimal and allows our trainers to have your body’s strengths and weaknesses in mind when creating a specialized workout plan for you so that your body does not experience unnecessary pain with a generic ‘one size fits all’ approach to strength training.