Download Myoskeletal Alignment Techniques

Myoskeletal Alignment Techniques
Myoskeletal Alignment Techniques® are a system of bodywork
protocols used here atManchester-Bedford Myoskeletal as a method of
addressing soft tissue strain patterns which cause postural problems
and, in turn, eventually create pain in the body. They are a set of soft
tissue manipulative techniques developed by Dr. Erik Dalton, PhD, a
Rolfer® and Licensed Massage Therapist, founder of the Freedom From
Pain Institute in Oklahoma City, OK in the 1990′s. Dalton views these
structural techniques and certified practitioners to bridge the perceived
gap between bony manipulators (manipulative osteopaths and
chiropractors) and soft tissue manipulators (licensed massage therapists)
to bring a more complete form of remedial bodywork to our “flexionaddicted society”. MAT are developed upon several scientific
musculoskeletal theories, observations, and studies conducted within the
medical community.
MAT incorporates western-style massage, manipulative fascial
techniques, and other manual therapies such as muscle testing, muscle
energy techniques, joint mobilization, stretching, etc, to achieve better
results than ordinary soft tissue massage produces alone. Protocols are
applied in sequence since we look for gross rather than specific
measurement results. MAT is a form of structural integration, but is
not “Rolfing”.
MAT were developed for functionally-caused, common compensatory
strain patterns found in the human musculoskeletal system. Such
patterns are also often determined in patients whose strain or pain
patterns are caused by other reasons, such as genetics, disease,
deformation, poor injury repair, joint replacement, etc. However, MAT
will likely NOT correct such dysfunction.
Each patient is first assessed before treatment begins. The therapist
then develops a treatment plan based on assessment findings and this
plan is discussed with the patient. Treatment then begins. Patient is
reassessed at the beginning of each visit to determine how the body
adjusted, if at all, to the previous treatments. When assessments no
longer turn up gross dysfunction, majority of patients move into a
maintenance status and visits are scheduled further apart.
How Are Myoskeletal Alignment Techniques Applied?
There’s no easy answer to this. MAT are applied in many different
ways, and to understand them, one must really undergo a treatment.
Any application of techniques combines a number of modalities and
movements, both active and passive, on the part of the therapist and the
patient.
During assessments, patient is placed in several different positions and
goes through several functional movements. Therapist observes body
position, range and fluidity of motion or lack thereof, and may apply
resistance to certain movements and positions to check validity, muscle
firing order, muscle facilitation and inhibition, and so on.
Throughout treatment sessions, gross compensations are checked for
and a variety of techniques are applied to begin to remedy them. As
large group compensations are resolved, smaller group and individual
muscles are further resolved to return the normal balance and firing
order to compensatory strain patterns. Nearly all of these are
applications of Myoskeletal Alignment Techniques.
The same contraindications as that of a Swedish or Combination
Massage apply to MAT. Please indicate any painful areas.