How does MAT work by isolating muscles when the body works as a whole?
The body certainly does work as a whole unit which is why it compensates so well. As one muscle falters, associated muscles that work across the same joint but do slightly different jobs can help out but may overwork. In some training circles it is proposed the body should be trained as an ‘integrated chain’. This does offer another set of benefits that isolated training does not, such as the skill of orchestrating and integrating the movement of one joint with another. However a chain can only be as strong as its weakest link and the strong muscles may become stronger and the weak remain weak. This is what MAT tests for and treats. By placing a client on the table it eliminates as much as possible the supporting role that muscles play in the body as soon as we sit and stand and take our own weight. Taking the weight off allows us to get a true picture of how one joint is moving in relation to another, identify imbalances and test for specific weaknesses. Once these muscles are activat
