Muscle Activation Technique

Mark E Dixon wrote:Any updates?

Sorry Mark, I've been flaking. So I've been to three sessions now. Progress has been evident, but slow (owing to the time between sessions). I'd like to go every other week or so, but I really can't justify the cost to go any more than once a month. I might start looking at other practitioners that charge less.

I would agree with Paul that my issues are rooted away from the area that exhibits symptoms. In my case the issue is in my lumbar region, despite the fact that symptoms have appeared in my shoulders. You should see me try and do a downward dog in yoga, it's absolutely pathetic!

Anyway, based on what I've read, I haven't been to enough sessions to really draw a hard conclusion. Given that my lumbar region is a pathetic mess, it's going to take him a number of sessions to target the large number of weaknesses and imbalances in that area. For others, their problem might be more straightforward. Furthermore, this hasn't been a controlled experiment for me. At about the same time I started MAT, I also started a deadlifting program and got really serious about hip ROM exercises. I've noticed a definite improvement in my ability to open my hip and use high rock-over moves. I also feel much more solid in my core and posterior chain, which not only helps with climbing, but just makes me stand straighter and feel better overall. So I'm happy. The problem is, I don't know the element which to attribute the success. I'm sure it's a combination of all three.

THIS BOOK IS THE TRUTH

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I'd had plantar fasciitis chronically for years. Saw a couple of different podiatrist, did PT, orthotics etc., etc. Last fall did eight sessions of MAT and so far so good no return.

Mark E Dixon wrote: I had a single MAT session years ago and got put off when he tried to sell me on herbal supplements. But if it really works I might try again.

Mark, don't we have a MAT practitioner in the gym? My quip w/ all this is we now seem to have more & more specializations/religions that it's getting harder & harder to figure out what one should try. It's not like you can go to a more general practitioner & have the doctor recommend a particular (set) of therapy. And of course, if you do go to the specialized practitioner, they'll tell you their method works, because if all you have is a hammer...

Mark E Dixon wrote: I did think Meridian stretching worked, but it's expensive and painful and only got me a little bit more flexibility. If cash and time was unlimited I'd still be doing it.

I was just about to post something soliciting info on resistance stretching...Meridian stretching sounds like it's based on that + traditional Chinese medical theories? I'm really curious now... it all seem to make sense that if one exercises a muscle at a more elongated position, it'll adapt & become more flexible, not to mention increased power for full ROM movements. Ex: plenty of people here & on the intarnet have attested that deep squat have helped w/hamstring & hip flexibility, even though squat is still more quad dominant.

reboot wrote: My quip w/ all this is we now seem to have more & more specializations/religions that it's getting harder & harder to figure out what one should try. It's not like you can go to a more general practitioner & have the doctor recommend a particular (set) of therapy. And of course, if you do go to the specialized practitioner, they'll tell you their method works, because if all you have is a hammer...

The double edged sword of technology. There's more knowledge and understanding of how pain and injury processes work but at the same time there's not a lot of integration to create a reliable treatment protocol.

And Paul makes a good point about "evidence based" medicine.

As someone who has been working in the field of rehab and human performance for the last 8yrs. The problem that most folks run into is something I started calling an injury plateau.
You play hard and then get to a point where you struggle to keep making performance gains because little (or not so little) tweaks and niggles start recurring and keep performance gains from moving forward.

Someone referenced Kelly Starrett's book. It's guys like Starrett, Gray Cook and others that have classical training as physios that are trying to meld their rehab knowledge with athletic performance coaching.

As someone who has gone through a traditional rehab/wellness curriculum (chiropractic). I can tell you that PT's and Chiros don't learn what most of you are looking for. All of the Physios that I know that have an extensive knowledge of sports injuries and how to prevent them as well as give solid training advice to keep making performance gains have figured most of it out on their own after they were out of school.

One piece of advice that I consistently keep repeating to folks that I work with is this poor analogy drawn from motorsport.
Our body is our car, most of us own something practical and reliable. Then a couple times a week and on the weekend we take our daily driver out and treat it to a few track day sessions. (i.e. training or playing hard)

The problem is, anyone who knows anything about high end motorsport knows how much maintenance goes into keeping a performance machine in race ready conditioning.

I guess it comes down to a question of what is most important? Continuing to make performance gains or just getting out and having fun. I'm not saying that these are an absolute either/or situation. But most of us have jobs, family or some other obligations that limit the amount of time and resources we have to put into climbing harder.
If you really want to climb harder it may be worth it to you to spend more time in the garage fixing the little things rather than taking it out for another lap around the track.

Or as Gray Cook likes to say. "Don't add performance on top of dysfunction."
cheers,
BA

Downtownt wrote:THIS BOOK IS THE TRUTH amazon.com/dp/1936608588/?t…

What is the idea if this book, in a nutshell? I read a few if the reviews but quickly got distracted and didn't get much if an idea...just that some husband/wife team who studies movement.

And if anyone is interested in taking some time to delve into a super fascinating topic.
David Butler w/ the Neuro Orthopedic Ins is looking at the neurology underpinning why things like MAT, Dry Needling, Fascial Release, Acupuncture, Massage and Orthopedic Manipulation all help to relieve pain and restore function.