What is Myoskeletal Alignment Technique (MAT)?

In short, if you’re reading this, it’s a sign that we’re a good match! Can we be more specific? ...Sure! MAT treatments assist with pain of all kinds, chronic and acute, including back, hip and neck discomfort, muscle tension, muscles strains, pain with movement, and misalignment in joints, to name a few.

• Have you been told one leg is longer, or are your hips and low back often feeling crooked and causing pain?
• Are your shoulders constantly hunched?
• Are you experiencing muscle weaknesses?
• Have you experienced an injury, past or present?
• Curvature in the spine?

Then MAT Treatments are for you.

Consider some of the ways you use (or don’t use) your body. Your list might be like this one:

• Standing for hours on hard surfaces
• Compression of the spine from sitting at a desk 8/40 + per week
• Starring at a computer screen for several hours while you make a living causing your neck to feel strained
• Exercising too little resulting in weakened muscles and joint instabilities
• Working out too often with little stretching creating too much tone in specific muscles- also resulting in joint instability
• Lifting heavy items with your back vs. grounding in your legs and feet
• Your body’s natural response to holding onto everyday stress
• Habitual posture when driving & sitting
• Texting and looking down at your phone and tablet
• Have an old untreated injury or accident that has got worse over time, or you haven’t been quite the same since

Muscle memory is a real thing, and the body is amazing in that it does a great job of protecting us when an injury occurs to try and prevent more damage. What the brain doesn’t realize is that sometimes-compensating structures are now in danger of becoming overworked and overused while the body is subconsciously shutting down in other areas for its “protection”. You may be feeling crooked and have unbalanced support. The good news is your muscles can learn new things!

MAT work may be considered deep tissue work in the sense that we are working on deep muscles - However, massage pressure used is often slow, controlled, and dependent on how your muscles receive the work and how much pressure they can handle for the work to be truly effective. Pressure is different for every client. What feels like a lot may feel light to another. Tell us if it’s too much! We want to know about your current discomforts and pain, discussing past injuries/surgeries, evaluating posture and habits, and assessing visible and non-visible patterns are all things your MAT Specialist will look for.

Therapeutic and Medical Massage is amazing work that focuses on finding and relaxing tight muscles and increasing range of motion and reducing tension or stress. Both promote overall well-being and relaxation, while medical massage therapy is provided by a highly trained therapist trained on treating specific health conditions or addressing specific health goals.

As Myoskeletal Alignment Therapist, we go a bit more in depth with MAT sessions, combining our Orthopedic training and MAT techniques to unwind the body by also addressing those “lazy” muscles (underworking muscles) encouraging them to do their part. The goal of MAT work is to find out where your unique story of where pain begins and help your body be more aligned.

For now, Janae (Master Myoseletal Alignment Therapist) and Melissa’s (not a yet a master) sessions begin a lot like massage therapy, “get undressed at your level of comfort and under the covering”. If you would prefer to be fully dressed, we are trained that way, please let us know and dress in comfy clothes.

We recommend giving this detailed work 48 hours for your body to continue to settle into it. You may experience what we call “gym soreness” during that time. Water, sleep, and repeat! Kidding, well half kidding, water and sleep are important, but feel invigorated and go about your daily activities, let your body move with everything working better. Do a check-in with your body after those 48 hours and notice your improvements! Remember, the body takes time to heal. Think of your treatments as uncovering layers into a healthier you!

Visit Erik Dalton’s site for more information and explanation regarding Myoskeletal Alignment Techniques.