Nearly pain free after M.A.T. treatments.

[Nels55]

I finished my round today and realized that my lower back did not hurt.  This is really good considering that I practiced for a long time the night before.  I had suffered from lower back pain for 30 years or more and every year it was getting worse.  I had a work related injury plus a lot of stupid stuff I have done over the years contributing to the problem.  So what has changed?  I went to a Muscle Activation Technique  specialist in San Jose about a year ago and I saw some immediate improvement.  I went back a few times with somewhat mixed results after that.  Then a month ago I started going every week.  At first I could not get through evaluation one (involves sitting up on the table with my legs straight) for more then a few seconds without a lot of pain in my back.  Yesterday I was able to complete that evaluation and couple more without much problem.  I am really happy about this!  Carrie Edwards who is doing the work says that she is going to get me to the point where I can practice and play as much as I want with no difficulties.  LOL I am not convinced that this is possible but I am amazed at the progress so far.  

 

If there is anyone else here who has had M.A.T. work done it would be interesting to hear about what sort of results that you had...  Or if anybody has any questions I will do my best to answer!

[Roody]

I have some minor back issues. I haven't had the MAT treatments you describe, but I've found that massage therapy and stretching seems to keep me going pretty good. 

Because of covid this year however, my massage therapist wasn't able to be open for business for a few months. So while she was out of commission I started spending time each morning heating my back for about 15 minutes, and then used a foam roller to work out the kinks. So far it's kept me going pretty well. 

[Nels55]

2 hours ago, Roody said:

I have some minor back issues. I haven't had the MAT treatments you describe, but I've found that massage therapy and stretching seems to keep me going pretty good. 

Because of covid this year however, my massage therapist wasn't able to be open for business for a few months. So while she was out of commission I started spending time each morning heating my back for about 15 minutes, and then used a foam roller to work out the kinks. So far it's kept me going pretty well. 

Sounds good!  I have used a knobby foam roller for a long number of years and it works really well to keep my back in order especially my upper back and neck.  Foam rollers are great!  I have also used tennis balls and a volley ball for the same purpose.  If I have some tightness or pain I will roll it around until a find a hotspot and then hold it there until it really hurts and after that I will feel a lot better.  Also rolling the hips, knees, calves and hamstrings helps a great deal.

[blueonblack]

My body is an all-out mess. Trying desperately to get back into the game. Been doing PT by myself due to Covid for months and months.

Have used a roller dealio at PT when I got to work with someone. Sounds like people really like those. Should pick one up. Felt good when I tried it, but want to make sure I do things "right" when doing it with proper form.

 

Is there a total body roller they can just set me inside of? I envision something a villain from the old batman tv series would feed the dynamic duo through...

[Arn]

To me MAT was pretty revolutionary. I’ve been doing Ashtanga Vinyasa Yoga for more than ten years I practice third series regularly. I am intimately aware of my ranges of motion. One single MAT session and I was blown away. I’d always been unbalanced, left side didn’t have the ROM of right side in my hips. He told me my glutes weren’t firing and lots of muscles we tested in my leg weren’t firing. A single session we got it all online, I went home and I was sitting cross legged where normally my left knee floats 2 inches above the ground and it sat comfortably on the ground. I’ve tried every kind of Bodywork I’ve heard of and only some changes from Osteopathy even come close. So far no regression either I’m stoked for my next session, I basically want to keep doing it until we check every muscle in my body.

[Barfolomew]

Who's this MAT guy?

 

I had a really bad lower right back thru Corona even had to go Chiro and massage and that helped but as soon as gyms opened up in Cali and I could do my back routine with light deadlifts and roman chair the back cleared right up.... jus sayin folks... workout!

[Nels55]

34 minutes ago, Barfolomew said:

Who's this MAT guy?

 

I had a really bad lower right back thru Corona even had to go Chiro and massage and that helped but as soon as gyms opened up in Cali and I could do my back routine with light deadlifts and roman chair the back cleared right up.... jus sayin folks... workout!

So, if I have a broken arm all I have to do is work out in order to fix it?  No need to get the bone set?  M.A.T. is a specific technique for folks with muscle activation problems like myself.  No amount of working out would fix the problem and often would make it worse.  I can workout a lot more effectively now than I could before M.A.T. 

 

When Greg Roskoph was the trainer for the Denver Broncos developed M.A.T. because he noticed that some athletes would heal from injury right on schedule while others would heal much slower and tended to get re-injured.  Getting the supporting muscles to do their jobs takes a lot of stress off of the main muscles and makes it possible to recover from injury as expected and also to avoid injury.  Improved range of motion with less risk of injury is a good thing.

Edited October 2, 2020 by Nels55

[Barfolomew]

3 hours ago, Nels55 said:

So, if I have a broken arm all I have to do is work out in order to fix it?  No need to get the bone set?  M.A.T. is a specific technique for folks with muscle activation problems like myself.  No amount of working out would fix the problem and often would make it worse.  I can workout a lot more effectively now than I could before M.A.T. 

 

When Greg Roskoph was the trainer for the Denver Broncos developed M.A.T. because he noticed that some athletes would heal from injury right on schedule while others would heal much slower and tended to get re-injured.  Getting the supporting muscles to do their jobs takes a lot of stress off of the main muscles and makes it possible to recover from injury as expected and also to avoid injury.  Improved range of motion with less risk of injury is a good thing.

 

Wow way to take a general good fix for most people as most people do not workout and make an extreme example that is ludicrous lol... must be Friday afternoon

 

Yes if your arm is broken or even better yet if it was bitten off by a shark you wanna make sure to do bicep curls later that same day... best fix possible

[Nels55]

13 hours ago, Barfolomew said:

 

Wow way to take a general good fix for most people as most people do not workout and make an extreme example that is ludicrous lol... must be Friday afternoon

 

Yes if your arm is broken or even better yet if it was bitten off by a shark you wanna make sure to do bicep curls later that same day... best fix possible

I have worked out with weights for 45 years and I lived with chronic lower back pain for a good majority of those years.  I don't do nearly what I used to do now days but I can tell you with certainty that the exercises that you mentioned made my lower back worse not better.  Muscle activation technique has been a life changer for me.  Unbelievable really.  So, possibly you can see where I did not see my 'Friday afternoon' example as extreme?  Simply put the cure that worked for your lower back would not work for mine. 

 

Oh well, I suppose that my warped sense of humor does not always come across very well...  Sorry about that!  

[me05501]

I have had MAT on my arms and elbows and I’m a believer. It all makes sense when the therapist explains the body’s injury and healing cycle. 
 

Apparently MAT helped Peyton Manning stay in the NFL several extra years after his neck surgery. The guy who pioneered the therapy was for Denver and that had some bearing on Manning’s willingness to trade to the Broncos. 

[Barfolomew]

On 10/3/2020 at 3:59 AM, Nels55 said:

I have worked out with weights for 45 years and I lived with chronic lower back pain for a good majority of those years.  I don't do nearly what I used to do now days but I can tell you with certainty that the exercises that you mentioned made my lower back worse not better.  Muscle activation technique has been a life changer for me.  Unbelievable really.  So, possibly you can see where I did not see my 'Friday afternoon' example as extreme?  Simply put the cure that worked for your lower back would not work for mine. 

 

Oh well, I suppose that my warped sense of humor does not always come across very well...  Sorry about that!  

 

Haha all good my friend good luck with you back!!

[Arn]

I’ve had 2 more MAT treatments since my last post. I can say it’s totally changed my body for the better and I still can’t wrap my head around the changes. For example we did more work on my hips, I can now forward fold and place my torso on my thighs. Before I was hovering a solid 2-3 inches above. As mentioned in my post above I’ve been doing yoga for over a decade and I know my end ranges of motion.

 

We also worked on my shoulder that had been sore for a while. Turns out a bunch of muscles on my chest and into my armpit weren’t firing, we tidied it up and my pain is gone and the movement feels way more supported.

 

I haven’t had a single setback with MAT either. As far as I can tell the muscles we activated have remained active. I’ve maintained the changes I’ve seen in my ranges of motion. I’m super excited to see how the changes in my shoulder will translate in my golf swing.

 

I can’t think of a type of injury that couldn’t be aided by MAT or a physical movement that couldn’t be enhanced by it. Clearly I’m in the honeymoon, I’ll definitely post if anything changes.

[hoselpalooza]

anyone know if insurance covers this? 

[Nels55]

40 minutes ago, hoselpalooza said:

anyone know if insurance covers this? 

To my knowledge MAT is not covered by health insurance.  Hopefully this will change in the future!

[hoselpalooza]

11 minutes ago, Nels55 said:

To my knowledge MAT is not covered by health insurance.  Hopefully this will change in the future!

 

thank you! 

 

shameless plug here: i'm looking for a top-notch physio in the denver, CO area.

 

this thread piqued my interest because i saw an instgram post from bryson dechambeau about visiting his MAT guy in the greater denver area. then i saw this topic pop up here. as you all know, MAT was started by a guy who worked with the denver broncos and still operates in the area.

 

i'm new to denver and apparently all of my friends and family here are in perfect shape and have no need for a physio. i only wish i were that lucky!

 

if anyone has recommendations please PM me or reply to my comment in the colorado WRX thread in case others here are also looking for physios 🙏

 

thank you!!

[Moonlightgrm]

The MindBody Prescription by Dr.John Sarno is worth your time. It’s a fairly quick read and will give anyone suffering from pain, much hope.

 

All the best!

[Nels55]

Here is a really good explanation of M.A.T.:

 

[yoose]

Bryson talking about M.A.T

 

[joostin]

Increasing range of motion while adding stability and strength in that ROM; reducing tightness by addressing the root cause; helping rehab pain/injury; and keeping inflammation down?  Fantastic 👌

 

Yeah exercise alone might not be doing much, especially if the person isn't performing them with good form, or can't make the mind-muscle connection, or just physically can't due to injury or whatnot.

 

Along these lines there's a bodybuilding thought when trying to isolate/feel/activate a specific muscle:  Imagine the body is a sea of white and you're trying to light up that muscle bright red 🔴.  Isometric holds are great for that mind-muscle connection if you can't feel one firing when working out.  Also understanding how that muscle is supposed to move the joint(s) is helpful.

 

I've only watched some videos on MAT, but hope it gains in popularity.  I'm sure they appreciate Bryson's influence.  IMO the topic is way more important than golf as it can be for quality of living.