AGLIMPSEINTOHOW

GREGROSKOPF
DEVELOPEDMAT
 AGLIMPSEINTOHOW
GREGROSKOPF
DEVELOPEDMAT

CON
TENT
CHAPTER1:FILLINGTHEVOID

ProfessionalFrame

ProfessionalMethodologicalandPrescriptive
Environment

Greg'sProfessionalObservationsApplyingthe
VariousSkills

Greg'sConclusionsandNewDirections

CHAPTER2:KEYTURNINGPOINTSINTHE
DEVELOPMENTPROCESS

KeyTurningPointsintheDevelopment
Process
AGLIMPSEINTOHOW
GREGROSKOPF
DEVELOPEDMAT

FILLING
THEVOID

CHAPTER1
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PROFESSIONAL
FRAME

GregRoskopf,thedeveloperofMAT,holdsaMastersDegreeintheHealth
andFitnessfield.Earlyon,Gregsworkwasfocusedinthecategoryof
generalfitnesswithaprimaryemphasisonathleticstrengthand
conditioning.Hisearlyexperiencesasastrengthandconditioningspecialist
alignedhimwithmedicalprovidersfromavarietyofclinics.Heworked
alongsidephysicaltherapistswhereheobservedexercisesbeingusedina
clinicalsettingtocorrecthumanperformanceissues,treatdysfunction,and
increaseathleticperformance.AsGreghonedhiscraftandbeganseeing
successwithhisclients,hiscareerbegantakinghimtowardshisobjective,
whichwastoberecognizedasthefunctionalfitnessexpertinthehealthand
fitnessindustrybyconsumersaswellaswithinhisprofessionalpeergroup.

Asanon-medicalproviderworkinginamedicalsettinghebeganlearning
aboutclinicaltechniquesthatwerenotreadilyavailabletonon-licensed
medicalproviders.ItisimportanttorememberthoughthatGregsrolewas
bestdescribedasanexercisephysiologist,notaphysicaltherapist.Ashe
exploredtechniquesfrombothoftheseavenues,herealizedthatthegap
betweenthetwoknowledgebaseswassignificant.Asyoumightexpect,the
medicalknowledgebaseexceededhisown,insomecriticalareas,
specificallyregardinganatomyandpathology.

HavingearnedaMastersDegreeintheHealthandFitnessfieldGreghad
accumulatedavastsetofknowledgebutasheexplorednewtechniquesand
wasexperimentingwithpowerfulmodalitiesherealizedheneededto
developclarityinhisprofessionalrole,responsibilities,andidentity.Thus,
hebeganhissearchtofindcoursestoincreasehisknowledge,ultimately
creatingamethodologyandsetoftechniquesthatwereappropriatewithin
hisscopeofpracticeandtargetpopulation.
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PAGE5
PROFESSIONAL
METHODOLOGICAL
ANDPRESCRIPTIVE
ENVIRONMENT

AtthispointinGregsjourney,thefitnessandrehabilitationcommunities
werefocusedontheevaluationandimprovementofjointmotionviaseveral
techniques.Thebeliefwasthatlimitsorlosesinjointmotionwerethecause
formostdysfunctions,pathology,andpainduringmovement.

Therefore,GreghadlearnedtoassessjointROMusinggoniometryandby
referencingpublishednormativevaluesforjointmotion.Eventuallythisled
tolookingat"endfeel"throughpassiveROMinterpretedbytheexaminer.
Thesetoolswereusedtodetectjointmotionissues.Thiswasthenfollowed
withassessingmotionontheothersideofthebodyasacomparisonofjoint
motion.Thishelpedtoidentifyabnormallossesinmotion.

Gregsconclusion,aswastheconclusionofmanypractitioners,wasthat
observedjointmotionlimitationswerecausedbyhyperactivityofthemuscles
actingacrossthejoint.Thishyperactivityresistedthebodysjointsfrom
movingthroughandintotheirnormalendranges.

Gregssearchforadditionaleducation,inordertoexpandhisworking
knowledge,exposedhimtoPaulCheklecturesthatwerebasedonVladimir
Jandasworkinsomaticdysfunctionandposture.

ThisperspectiveestablishedahypothesisofTightness:Weakness.This
hypothesispositedthatagonist-antagonistmusclepairstheagonistbeing
weakanditsantagonistbeingtightexplainedthecausalrelationshipsof
posturaldeviationsandanyresultingsomaticdysfunction.Jandaidentified,
forexample,whathereferredtoasuppercrossandlowercross
syndromesreferringtothetightnessandweaknesspairingsasmuscular
imbalancesthatexplainposturalobservationsofabnormallyrounded
shouldersandlumbo-pelvicorientationbasedagainstnormativeidealsof
standingposture.
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Theconclusionwasthatagonist:antagonistmuscularimbalancescreate
dysfunctionthatleadstodisease,injuryandpain.Thisperspectiveledtoan
interventionalprescriptionof;passivelyoractivelystretchingwhatsassumed
tight(hyperactive)andstrengthening,withtargetedexercises,whats
assumedweakbasedonapractitionersobservationofdeviationsinthe
standingposturalrelationshipsbetweenbodysegments.

Aswell,Gregattendedlecturesandworkshopsdeliveredbyphysical
therapistsRichardJacksonandGaryGray.Jacksonsworkemphasized
identifyingandcorrectingjointdysfunctionbyamoreisolatedprocessof
jointmanipulationandGraysworkemphasizedidentifyingandcorrecting
jointdysfunctioninamoreintegratedandsystemicprocessofjoint
manipulationthroughactivemotion.Grayemphasizedthatallmovement
occursalongtri-planemotionandthatweaknesseswillbedemonstratedin
thetransverseplane.GraycoinedthetermsMoStabilityandChain
Reactionasdescriptivetermsforhisperspective.Graybelievedthatmany
movementdysfunctionscouldbeaddressedthroughwhathereferredtoas
functionalmovementdrivers.

Greglearned,andbeganapplyingthisperspectivewithhiscurrentevaluative
andcorrectivestrategies.Thisincludedvariousformsofstretching,
mobilizations,andeventheimplementationoforthotics.Thechallengewas
applyingthesetechniquesthroughhisstrengthandconditioningpractice
whileworkinginaphysicaltherapyenvironment.Hesoughtwaystoevaluate
andcorrectmovementperformanceissues.Hefelttheseissueslimitedhis
clientsexerciseprogressionandathleticpotential.

GregembracedGraysapproachandbeganworkingtotranslateGaryGrays
perspectivesandprocesstothehealthandfitnessworld.

OneofGraysmajortenetswasfocusingonfootandankle
Pronation/Supinationmechanicsinoneswalkinggaitandthismechanical
processinfluenceontherestofthebody.Animportantassumption
regardingsomaticdysfunctionwasthatwherehypermobilityofjointmotion
wasobserved,thenligamentlaxitywaspresentinthatjointwhichcreated
excessiveuncontrollableROM(i.e.over-pronation).Thecorrective
prescriptionforthisconditionwastouseexternalappliances,suchas
orthotics,astheonlysolution.Greglearnedtoassessanindividualsfoot
andanklemechanicsusingthislensandprescribedcorrectiveexercisesand
orthoticstocorrecttheperceiveddysfunctions.

Anothercriticalprofessionalperspectiveofthetime(andonethatpersists
today)wasthatbonestructureabnormalstructurecausedobserved
asymmetricaljoint/limbmotion.(i.e.femoralretroversion,orhumeral
anteroversion).Thisprovedtobeapowerfulandpersistentassociativebias
intheinterpretationofbilateralasymmetricalmotionandmovement
limitations.
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Oneoftheprevailingparadigmswasthatintheabsenceofhypermobility,a
lossofjointmotioncouldbeattributedtothetightnessofthetissuethe
originofwhichwasprimarilyattributedtomuscle.Thiswasreferredtoas
hypomobility.SherringtonsdefinitionofReciprocalInhibitionwasbeing
usedtorationalizethattightnesswastheproblem.Theexcessiveexcitation
ofspecificmusclesneededtobereduceddirectly.Theresultingprescriptive
interventionwasthatthemuscletightnessneededtobereleasedorrelaxed.

Aswell,theaxiom:Localsymptom=localproblem=localtreatment
drovediagnosticandinterventionalstrategies.Theinterpretationby
cliniciansofthemultiplesymptomsinanindividualsystemwasreducedtoa
disconnectedsymptom-by-symptomtreatmentprocess.Gregwasawarethat
GaryGraysperspectivewastheonlyoneheencounteredthattiedlocal
dysfunctiontoremotesymptomselsewhereinthebody.

Asaresult,duringthisperiodoftimeGregwasusingposturalassessment,
specificjointROMevaluations,manualstretchingandconcentric/eccentric
basedstrengtheningtechniquestoimprovemovementperformanceinorder
toreduceoreliminateaclientssubjectivecomplaints.Thisprocessdid
producegoodresultsbuttherewereindividualcircumstancesthatdidnot
respondtothesetechniques.
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GREGS
PROFESSIONAL
OBSERVATIONS
APPLYINGTHE
VARIOUSSKILLS

Overtime,Gregbecamefrustratedbecauseasheappliedmanyoftheelementsof
thetechniqueshewaslearningundertheprevailingparadigmshebegantoobserve
thefollowing:(innoparticularorder)

InconsistencywithintheliteratureregardingjointROMnormativevalues.
Techniques(stretching,jointmobilizations,thermal,exercise)toimprove
jointROMoftenhadnolong-termimpact.
Personalexperienceaspects(hisowninjuryrecovery).Thesetechniques
werenotresolvingGregspersonalneuromuscularissuesfromaprevious
injury.
Inconsistencybetweenthebeliefoftightnessbeingacauseforpain,and
yetdealingwithathletes(gymnasts,dancers)whohadgreaterthannormal
ROMbutstillhadpainanddysfunction.

Conclusion:Lossofjointmotionwasnottheonlyissue.
Usingfunctionalmovementassessmentandcorrectiontoimprovepoor
functionalthresholdsdidnotworkaswellasidentifyingisolatedissues

Dealingwiththeisolatedissuefirstandthenseeingcarryovertofunctional
movementimprovementappearedtohavemoreefficacy.
Inter-testerreliabilityfordetectingpelvicgirdlealignmentassessmentandjoint
motionwaspoor.Thisintertesterreliabilitywasquestionswhenitcameto
correctionoutcomeinterpretationaswell.
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PAGE9
GREGS
CONCLUSIONSAND
NEWDIRECTIONS
ThroughexperimentationandresearchGregbegantoformulateanewseriesof
conclusionsbasedontheoutcomeshewasseeingpersonallyandwithhisclients.

Hypermobilitycouldbeaproblemintheabsenceofmusclestrength.
Whenexercise(stretching:strengthening)didntworktocreatelasting
improvement(andoftenexercisewouldworsenthecondition)something
wasmissing.
Whenstrengtheningthewholesystem,inspiteofcompensationsandlocal
weaknesses,onecouldstillreducesymptoms.Thereductionofsymptoms
wasthekeysuccessmeasureofinterventionalefficacy.
Choosingtofocusontherestrictedside(tightside)whenjointROMwas
inquestion.
Combiningtable-basedisolatedjointROMassessments(Jackson)with
functionalassessments(Gray)toimproveperformanceandROM.Still
doingstretching/strengtheningprocessforobservedlimitationsinmotion
andposturaldeviations.
Generally,goodresultsdrovethecontinuanceofhisprocess;Findingjoint
ROMlimitsandstretching/strengtheningtoimprovejointROMand
function.

DeterminedtofindaprocessthatexerciseprofessionalscoulddoGregwantedto
understandmoreaboutthemusclesystemsroleininjuryandwhatfitnesstrainers
couldthendotosupporttheprocessofrecovery.Gregsprocessforresolving
muscularimbalances,atthispoint,wasbaseduponanattempttostretchthetight
musclesandstrengthentheopposingweakmuscles(Janda).Theemphasisofhis
interventiontechniquesinvolvedstretchingandvariousmanualtechniquesdesigned
toloosenupthetighttissues.TheprimarygoalwastoincreaseROM.Gregwould
followthisupwithcorrectiveexercisesdesignedtostrengthentheopposite
musclesinordertoensurethattheclientwasstrongthroughouttheirnewlyfound
ROM.Thismodeofcorrectingmuscularimbalancesdidcomewithacertaindegree
ofsuccess;however,duetorepeatedfailuresGregwasstilllookingforother
answers.

ItwasduringthistimethatGregaskedacriticalquestionwhydomusclestighten
up?

GregobservedacorrelationwithjointROMlimitationfoundinanisolated
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PAGE10
assessmentandinjury/dysfunction,butalsonoticedthelossofjointROM
showsupthroughthefunctionalassessmentprocedures.Intrackingthis,
Greghadagrid/matrixthathewouldusetomeasuremotiondistancesand
whiledoingthishenoticedacorrelationbetweenhowfaranindividual
movedandthelossoftheirphysicalcapabilities.Whenpeoplereportedpain
ordemonstrateddisability,theycouldnotmoveasfreely.

Gregdiscoveredthattheproblematthispointwasthatincreasinglocal
jointROMlimitationsviastretchingorrelaxationtechniquesdidnotseem
tocarryovertotheclientsfunctionaltests.Followingtheprescriptionof
strengtheningexercisesGregobservedminorchanges,however,laterhe
determinedthattheclientwasonlygettingstrongerintheirdysfunctional
compensationpatterns.
 AGLIMPSEINTOHOW
GREGROSKOPF
DEVELOPEDMAT

KEYTURNINGPOINTSIN
THEDEVELOPMENT
PROCESS

CHAPTER2
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Throughoutthisperiod,Gregwasstrugglingtoovercomehisownlumbarinjurythatwas
stubborntoresolve.Hewasusingthetraditionalcorrectivemodalitiesandtechniquesin
hisefforttocorrectthisinjury.Gregsufferedpersistentpainandhadlimitationsinhis
physicalcapabilities.Infact,hisconditionseemedtobeinsidiouslyandprogressively
gettingworse.

WhileGregwasattendingaworkshopledbyRichardJackson,Mr.Jacksonmobilized
Gregs1stMTPandtoGregsamazementhislowbackpainwentawayforaday.This
introducedGregtotheinterrelatednatureofthebodyanditsimpactonsymptoms.The
localtoregionaltosystemwiderelationshipsandhowdysfunctionandresultingpain
couldbeduetothisinter-relateddesignandfunctionwasasignificantrevelationasit
contradictedtheaxiomlocalsymptom=localproblem=localtreatmentrule.

Gregbegantoseekoutintegratedbiomechanicalorientedspecialists.Hefoundthatthere
werenotverymany.Theprevailingmedicaltherapeuticapproachtoinjurywasbiasedto
theisolatedapproachusingpassivejointmobilizations/manipulations.Theaxiomlocal
symptom=localproblem=localtreatmentprovedapowerfulbias.

GaryGraywasoneofthefewpractitionersGreghadencounteredthatprofessedthe
integratedbiomechanicalthoughtprocessexplainingthesystemwidemechanicalinfluence
thatasinglelocalmechanicalproblemcouldcreate.Gregslowlystartedmovingmore
towardstheGrayparadigminhisapproachalthoughstilldrawntothelocalpain=local
problem=localtreatmentmodel.

AuniqueopportunitywaspresentedtoGregwhileattendingaweddingevent.Hemeta
professionalbasketballplayer,JohnStockton,whoplayedfortheNBAsUtahJazzatthe
time.FollowingabriefdiscussionwithJohn,itbecameevidentthatJohnhadanongoing
nagginginjury.TheplayerexpressedinterestinhavingGregassesshimrightthereatthe
wedding.GregdidsoandJohnwasimpressed.ThatinteractionledtoGregbeinghiredby
theUtahJazz.ThisledtoGregsinteractionwiththeteamsmedicalandtrainingstaff.This
interactionincludedworkingdirectlywiththeteamChiropractor,Dr.CraigBuhler,whowas
activelyinvolvedintheplayerscare.GregbeganworkingdirectlywithDr.Buhlerandwith
theplayersonaregularbasis.

OneofthefirstthingsGregnoticedabouttheassessmentprocesswasthatthe
Chiropractorutilizedmanualmuscletesting.Greghadbeenexposedtomanualmuscle
breaktestingasanassessmenttoolthroughouttheprogressionofhiseducationaland
professionalcareer.Hisfirstexposuretomanualmuscletestingwasduringhismasters
degreeprogramatFresnoState.Inhisathletictrainingclasses,hewasintroducedtothe
manualmusclebreaktestsdefinedbyKendallandKendall.Later,whileworkingwith
physicaltherapists,itbecameevidenttoGregthatmuscletestingwasabigpartofthe
assessmentprocessfortestingmusclestrength.However,thefocusofGregsattentionwas
primarilybasedonjointROMlimitations,whichhehadconcludedasbeingamuscle
tightnessissue.Therefore,uptothispoint,Greghadnotfoundaplaceformanualmuscle
testinginhisassessmentprocedures.
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HisworkwithDr.CraigBuhler,exposedGregtothemanualmuscletesting
proceduresthatweredefinedbyDr.AlanBeardall,thedeveloperofClinical
Kinesiology.Gregrealizedthatthesemuscletestsweredifferentthanthebreak
testsandmorecomprehensiveinthattheyidentifiedmanyanatomicallydesignated
musclesintodivisions.ThismuscletestwasreferredtoastheNeuroProprioceptive
Responsetest(NPR).GreglearnedthattheseNPRtestswerebasedonearlier
muscletestsdefinedbyGeorgeGoodheart,thedeveloperofAppliedKinesiology.

DuringasessionwhereheandtheChiropractorwerejointlyworkingonthe
professionalbasketballplayer,theChiropractorhadperformedaprocedurethat
restoredmusclestrengthtoaspecificsetofmusclesasindicatedbytheNPRtest.
Gregthenperformedapassivestretchonthosemusclesinordertoincreasejoint
ROM.FollowingthateventtheChiropractorrepeatedtheNPRtestofthestretched
muscleandthemusclewasnowweak.Neitherofthemcouldexplaintheweakness.

Gregsalarm,andsubsequentconclusion,thatifhecouldcreateaweaknessthrough
oneofhisstandardinterventionsthenthatisnotgood!Thisoutcomeappearedto
contradictthepremiseofapplyingstretchingandstrengtheningtechniqueswould
restorenormalmusclebalance.Gregrecalledpastexperienceswhereathleteswere
injured(i.e.pulledhamstrings)soonafterstretchingsessions.Hewondereddid
stretchingincreasemobilitywithoutconcomitantstrengththereforemakingthe
athletevulnerabletoinjury?Ifthiswasapossibilitythenhemustseektosolvethis
problemandtheNPRtestingseemedtoprovidedatooltocheckmusclestrength
followingastretchingintervention.GregnowrecognizedtheimportanceoftheNPR
testtocheckworkandidentifymuscleweakness,whichcouldleadtovulnerability
fortheathletewhileundergoingrigorousphysicaldemand.

ThroughworkingwiththeChiropractoronaregularbasis,Gregbegantoexperiment
withtheNPRtests.Initially,Gregcouldnotdiscernthebasisfor,northepredictable
applicationof,theNPRtests.Hewasstillusingthefunctionalassessmentmodelbut
begantoincorporatetheNPRtestsintohiswork.ItdidnottakelongforGregto
beginregularlyusingtheNPRtestsasastrategicpartofhiseverydayassessment
procedures.

BasedontheRichardJacksonworkshopexperienceandthenewNPRMuscletests,
Gregslowlymovedawayfromthelocalpain-localproblem-localtreatmentaxiomand
towardscheckingmusclesremotetothelocalpainarea.

GregsprocessnowcombinedassessingjointROM(recognizingtheintegrated
natureofthebody)withthestretchandstrengtheningtechniquesandnowalso
incorporatedtheNPRtest,assessingforweaknessesonboththetightandthe
suspectedweakside.ThroughthisprocesshefoundwiththeNPRtestthatmuscles
assumedtobeweakintheconventionalUpperCross/LowerCross(Tightness:
Weakness)hypothesiswerenottestingweak,andthatcertainmusclesassumedtobe
strongweretestingweak.Gregsconclusionwasthatthevariousprotocolbased
interventionstocorrectobservedjointROMlimitationsandposturalasymmetries
thatweredeemedduetomuscleimbalancesappearedincorrect
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IntheexecutionofhisprocessvariousmuscleswouldtestweakviatheNPR
test,butGregstillhadnorealunderstandingofwhythemusclesweretesting
weak.Aswell,hehadnocorrectionprocesstorestorethestrengthofthe
weakmusclesexceptthroughissuingconcentric-eccentricbasedresistance
training.

Throughcontinualimplementationofthisnewprocess(whichisnowbased
ontheblendedperspectivesandtechnicalskillslearnedthroughJackson,
GrayandBuhler)doingajointROMexam,stretchingsometissue,
prescribingaconcentric/eccentricbasedstrengtheningexercise,testing
muscleswiththeNPRtestGregbegantoseesomeinterestingcorrelations
regardlessofwherepeoplewerereportingpain:Wheneverhewouldseea
limitationinROM,therewerecorrelatingweaknessesthatassociatedwith
thatlimitationinROM.Themusclesthatactuallycontractedtomovethe
jointfurtherintothepositionoflimitationwouldtestweak.

Gregalsonotedthatthestandardmuscletests,set-upbyBeardall,forcertain
muscles,didnotalwaysplacethatmuscleintoapositionoftherangeit
couldactuallyshorteninto.GregobservedthatinmanyoftheBeardallNPR
tests,themusclecouldteststrongasitwasbeingtestedinarangewhereit
wascapableofcontractingeffectively.Gregfoundthat,inmanyofthose
situations,ifthemusclewasthentakenintoamoreshortenedposition,it
wouldtestweak.Greghadtoaskhimself,Whythediscrepancy?

WhenGregwouldperformstretchestoincreasejointROM,thestandardtest
wouldbeappliedbutnotinthenewrangeacquiredpoststretch.His
intentiontoconductthetestinthenewfoundjointROM,andattheendof
thatROM,wasacleardeparturefromtheBeardalldevelopedNPRtest
positions.

Gregbeganplayingwiththepositionsofthetestsandbeganlookingfor
positionalweaknessesbecausemanyofBeardallstestswerenottestingat
endrange.Atthispoint,therewerenodefinedtests,thathewasawareof,
thatcorrelatedwiththeendpositionsofalimitationinROM.BeardallsNPR
testrepresentedthebestteststoexpandupon.

ThisledGregtobelievethattherewerevoidsinmanyofthetestsdefinedby
GoodheartandBeardallforidentifyingmuscleweaknesssincethemanyof
theirtestswerenotexecutedatextremerangesofajointsROMcapability.
Someofthestandardtestsdidtakemusclestoextremepositionsandothers
didnot.HebegantocompareandcontrastthestandardNPRtestposition
resultwiththenewNPRtestpositionresult.Gregfoundthatthestandard
testmightmissaweaknessofamusclesincemostofthestandardtestswere
notsetupinextremepositionsofthejointROM.Hefoundthatwhenhe
alteredthepositionofthoseteststoamoreextremepositionintherangeof
motion,thatsamemuscleorgroupofmuscleswouldnowtestweak.
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Gregsobservationsledtoredefiningthepositionsofmanyofthetests,in
thathewouldtestthemusclesinamoreextremepositionifnotatthevery
endoftheirROMcapability.Hefoundthatthisprovidedwithhimwith
completelydifferentinformationrelativetothestrengthoftheassociated
musclesandthisdirectlyaffectedhisdecisionsonwhattostretchandwhat
tostrengthen.Gregwouldprescribeconcentric/eccentric-basedexerciseto
strengthenwhattestedweakandthenretestdayslatertoseeiftheweakness
resolved.Gregdidnotice,andwasintriguedthat,Dr.Buhlercouldgeta
musclethattestedweakstrongagaininamatterofseveralminutesusinghis
techniquesversustheseveraldaysofexercisehewouldprescribe.

GregstartedtocreateavastarrayofjointROMassessmentsthatwere
specifictothepositionsoftheNPRtests,whichweremusclespecificin
origin.Thisincreasedthenumberofassessments,andthenatureofthose
assessments.Hebeganconnectingspecificmusclesweaknessestospecific
lossesinjointROM.ExploringjointROMfromavarietyofpostureandlimb
orientationsthesenewassessmentsdisplayedlimitationsthatwerenotfound
onothermoregenerallimborientationjointROMassessmentshehadbeen
performing.ThisshowedGregthatspecificmuscleweaknessescouldcause
specificlimitsinjointROM.

Ofnote,whenGregbegantotestandlocateweaknessandthengetmuscles
strongagain,hewouldseechangesoccurintheirfunctionalcapabilitiesas
measuredbytheGraymatrix/gridsystem.Hefoundthatnotonlywerehis
clientsabletomovemorefreely,buttherewasalsolesscompensation.It
appearedthatbyimprovingisolatedmusclestrengthassociatedwithajoint
ROMlimitationthecompensationsheobservedpriordisappeared.This
resultedinthemuchsoughtafteroutcomeforanyinterventiontargetedat
improvingphysicalperformance,bycreatingstabilitytoimprovemobility.

Asaconclusionofhisobservationsregardingtherestorationofmuscle
strengthleadingtoincreasesinjointROMGregdevelopedhiswalkingon
iceanalogy;Whenanindividualwalksontheunstablesurfaceofice,in
ordertoprotectitselffromtheincreasedriskoflosingcontrolandfalling
duetotheunstablesurface,thebodyreducesitsmotion,lowersitscenterof
gravityandappearstotightenup.Whenthebodylosesstrength(becomes
unstable)thenjointROMisdecreasedinordertoprotectthebodyfrom
gettingintoapositionitcantcontrolresultingininjury.Thegoalofhis
interventionwastomelttheice.Byprovidingthebodywithasenseof
stabilitybyincreasingmusclestrength,thebodywillgiveyouanincreasein
jointROMmobility.Gregalsorecognizedasignificantcorrelationrelating
totheissuesthatwerelatetoaging;Thebodytightensupasaresultofthe
progressivelossofmusclestrength(instability).Thisnaturalprotectivestate
isdemonstratedbylimitationsinjointROM.

Greghaddevelopedasystematicprocessforcheckingamuscle-basedjoint
ROMassessmentthatcorrelatedmuscleweaknesswithlimitsinROM.
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Gregdidhaveonekeyproblemashewasstillworkingwithinthestretch
andstrengthenparadigmhedidnothaveastretchforthesenewmore
complicatedandisolatedlimitationsinROM.Hehadtorelymoreon
strengtheningtomakecorrectioninmuscleimbalances.

AtthispointintimeGreghadconnectedwithBillPhillipsatEAS.Sinceboth
EASandGreghadworkingrelationshipswithsomeofthenotableDenver
BroncosplayersduringtheBroncossuperbowlyears,EAShiredGregand
helpedtosponsorhisworkinorderforhimtofurtherdeveloptheprocess
intothesystematicformatthatisnowwhatweknowasMuscleActivation
Techniques(MAT).EASprovidedkeyresourceswhilealsodedicatingoneof
theirstafftrainerstoworkwithGregasheexperimentedwithvariousaspects
oftheprocessincludinghowtogetweakmusclesactivated.Gregoften
observedthatsomemusclesthattestedweakdidnotrespondtotraditional
exerciseortomanualtechniques.GregbeggedthequestionIstherea
quickerwaytogetthemusclesthattestweaktoteststrong?

Inresponsetotherealizationthatspecificmusclescontributedtospecific
limitationsinjointROMGregbeganresearchingandbuildingareference
documentthatlistedandpicturedeverymusclehecouldthinkofinorderto
startingbuildingthemuscleanatomyandtestcorrelationswithpictures.

Oneday,whileworkingwiththeEAStrainer,Gregfoundaweaknessinthe
trainersposteriordeltoid.AsGreglookedattheanatomicalpictureofthe
posteriordeltoidhewonderedifstimulatingtheattachmentswouldaffectthe
muscle.Afterstimulatingtheattachments,basedontheanatomicalpictures,
heretestedthemuscleanditimmediatelytestedstrong.Gregtriedthiswith
afewothermusclesandrealizedthatiftheoriginandinsertionsofamuscle
wereeffectivelystimulatedthroughmanualpalpation,theassociatedmuscles
wouldimmediatelycomebackstrong.ItwasatthispointthatGregrealized
thathehadtogobackare-learntheanatomyofthemuscularsystem,ashe
realizedthatifheunderstoodwhereeachmuscleattachedanatomically,he
couldutilizethisorigin-insertiontechniquetoactivateeachmusclewhen
theytestedweak.Greglaterlearnedthatintheearlyevolutionof
Goodheartsworkinappliedkinesiology,heimplementedanorigin-insertion
techniquethatheeventuallygaveuponduetoalackofsuccessusingthis
process.ItwasGregsphilosophythatiftheorigin-insertiontechniquewas
implementedintoamorebiomechanicallybasedthoughtprocess;theresults
wouldbemoreeffective.Thiswaswherethemuscletightness/muscle
weaknessphilosophyfitin.BylookingatlimitationsinROMasthekey
determinantofwheretherewereweaknessesinthebody,itwouldallowthe
practitionertoaveryspecificwayofidentifyingwhatmusclesneededtobe
treatedonaclientsbody.

Gregsrevelationthatmuscletightnesscouldbeduetomuscleweaknesses
sincealimitinjointROMwasresolvedwhentheagonistmusclestrength
wasrestored.GregstartedhavingtheEAStrainerusethespecificROM
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assessmentscombinedwiththeNPRtestsinordertodeterminewhere
Gregsprimaryissueswererelativetomuscularweakness.Whenlimitations
inROMwereidentified,Gregwouldhavethetrainertestthemusclesthat
wouldneedtocontracteffectivelyinordertoachievethelimitedmotion.
Withthelimitedmotiontherealwaysseemedtobeassociatedmuscle
weaknesses.Hewouldhavethetrainertreattheweakmusclesthrough
manuallystimulatingtheoriginandinsertions.Afterseveralsessionsofthis
processGregspersonalconditionofbackpainandpersistentjointROM
limitsstartedtoresolvethemselves.Noothertechniquehadresolvedhis
issuetotheextentthatthisprocesswasachieving.Forthe1sttimein15
years,withoutstretching,Gregwasabletobenddownandtouchhistoes.
Thislimitationinmotionwasanareathathadalwayscorrelatedasoneof
thereasonsforhiscontinuedbackpain.Byactivatinghishipflexorsand
abdominalmuscles,Gregwasabletomovemuchmorefreelyashewas
finallyabletobenddownandtouchhistoeswithnopain.

Atthispoint,Gregfeltconfidentenoughtoapplytheseprinciplesonhis
clientsthathadpersistentweaknessesthatwerenotbeingresolvedby
stretchingandexercise.Henoticedtheattachmentstimulationtechnique
(whichhecalledapalpation)notonlycreatedstrengthrelatingtotheNPR
testbutalsoresultedinincreasedROM.Theseprincipleswerenowbeing
implementedonadailybasisonGregsregularclientsalongwiththe
athletesthathewasworkingwiththroughtheDenverBroncosandtheUtah
Jazz.Thegreatestthingabouttheprocessthathewasworkingwithwasthat
hewasabletoimplementitintoasystematicprocess.Thisprocessinvolved
5steps:

STEP1:CheckROMthroughamusclespecificROMexam.
STEP2:Performaninsolatedmuscletestonthemusclesassociatedwiththe
limitationinROM
STEP3:Activatetheweakmusclesthroughmanualstimulationoftheirorigin
andinsertions
STEP4:Recheckmusclestrengththroughanisolatedmuscletest
STEP5:RecheckmusclespecificROM

ThekeyfactorGregnotedwas:regardlessofthepositionofthetests
definedbyGoodheartandBeardall,ifhewasabletomovethejointfromthe
definedNPRtestpositionsandfoundweaknesses,thenthoseweaknesses
indicatedpositionsofinstabilityorvulnerability.Asnotedpreviously,many
oftheNPRteststhathehadlearnedfromBeardallwerenotperformedinthe
shortenedpositionofamuscle.BasedupontheprinciplesofMAT,
limitationsinROMarearepresentationofamuscleorgroupofmuscles
inabilitytocontractefficiently.Ifamuscle(s)cantcontractefficiently,it
cantshortenefficiently.Therefore,testingamuscleinamoreshortened
positionwouldbethemosteffectivepositiontotestfromwhenattempting
toidentifymuscleweaknesses.Therefore,manyoftheteststhatGreg
implementedintotheMATphilosophywerealteredinordertomore
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effectivelychallengethemuscleinitsshortenedrange.Withthenear
immediateresponseofamuscletestingstrongviatheNPRtestfollowing
thepalpationandtheresultantincreaseinROM,Gregnowknewthathehad
asystemthatwasreproducible.Somethingthathehadnotexperiencedwith
anythingelsethathewasdoinginhiscareeruptothatpoint.Hethen
createdanameforthissystematicprocesscallingitMuscleActivation
Techniques.

NowthatGreghadplacedhisworkintoasystematicprocess,Hebegan
presentingtheseprinciplesinweekendcourses.Healsocreatedvideotapes,
demonstratingtheMATtechniquesforstudentstoreferenceaftertaking
hiscourses.Gregquicklyrealizedthattheformatwasnotconducivetothe
studentsattemptstoacquiretheskillsthatwerenecessarytoperforming
theMATprinciples.Herealizedthatamorelongtermorganizededucation
processwasneededinorderfortheprocesstobeeffective.Healso
realizedtheneedforanintroductoryprogramthathecouldteachthatwould
introducetheprinciples,butnotinvolvethecomplexnatureofpalpating
musclesforactivation.Atthetime,HehadbeenreadingMelSiffs
Supertrainingbookandreadabouttheconceptofperforminganisometric
contraction,withits15degreecarryoverofstrength,intothedirectionof
limitationforalimitedjointROM.

Afterexperimentingwiththeisometricshefoundthatinordertoactivate
muscles,theisometricsonlyhadefficacyatlowintensitiesandinthe
shortersideofamusclesLength:Tension.Withthe15-degreecarryover
concept,Gregrealizedthatmotioncouldbeperformedandpositionssetup
every30degreesinaplane(whichhecalledthe30-60-90Principle)He
startedperformingtheNPRtestsatvariouspositionsandfoundweaknesses
outsideofevenshortenedpositions.Gregsneedtoteachstudents
somethingmoreorganizedwithamorestraightforwardmethodology
identifyingpositionalweaknessesledtothedevelopmentoftheJumpstart
Program.

Gregstartedteachingtheseintroductorycoursesaroundthecountryand
beganbuildinganotablereputationasapresenterwhileatthesametime
hisconceptsweregainingtractionandacceptanceintheindustry.Hefound
thatpeoplestillhadaninterestinlearningthemoreadvancedskillsthat
makeupMAT.Thereforehecreatedaconsecutiveseriesofeight3-day
weekendsoflectureandpracticalformats,deliveredovera8-monthperiod.
Gregchosetosplituptheinformationanatomicallybycreatingmodules
separatedintoLowerExtremity,UpperExtremity,TrunkandSpine,andthe
Cervical/FootHand.HecalledthisseriesofcoursestheMATInternship.

Gregtook21peoplethroughthe1stinternshipwiththeintentionofonly
teachingoneseries.Duringthisperiod,morepeopleheardaboutthecourse
andwantedtoparticipate.Thereforehedecidedtocontinuetoofferthe
internshiptointerestedstudents.Atpresentdate,Greghascontinuedtorun
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PAGE19
Jumpstartsandinternships(nowcalledSpecialistPrograms)acrosstheUSandinto
theUK,Canada,Spain,andMexico.Todate,therehavebeenthousandsofstudents
participateinMATprogramsworldwide.
 AGLIMPSEINTOHOW
GREGROSKOPF
DEVELOPEDMAT

FORMOREINFORMATIONORFORPERMISSION
TOUSETHISMATERIAL,PLEASEINQUIREAT
INFO@MUSCLEACTIVATION.COM