the definition of insanity...

“Insanity is doing the same thing over and over and expecting different results.”

That quote is mainly attributed to Albert Einstein. The famous physicist may have said it, or not, but it sounds more powerful and credible if Albert did indeed say it. And it's the kind of pithy witticism he frequently tossed out so let's give it to him. 

Now let's put it in terms of your workout (or lack thereof), or your rehab program (if you have one), or just the way you've traditionally gone about dealing with a nagging injury or just life's general aches and pains. Let's say you've got a sore lower back, or a shoulder thing, or a knee thing. What's your go-to move? Massage? Foam rolling? Triggerpoint? Stretching? All of the above?

Next question: are they working? If so, then great. Keep up the good work. But if you find you are constantly using one of the above methods to "release" muscle tension, but your pain remains, then maybe it's time to rethink simply "doing the same thing over and over."

All of the above therapies are work to release muscle tightness, that familiar sensation of restriction and pain. The problem with this is that the pain and tightness is your body's way of telling you something is wrong. It is inflammation that is caused by overuse, trauma, and stress. And it's actually a good thing in the short term. It allows your muscle system to continue to let you function and not just come to a grinding halt. The problem is when these movement compensations continue and the inflammation is allowed to build up. 

Traditional therapies may provide temporarily relief but they don't address the underlying cause of the problem. The real problem are the muscles that are not doing their job, the ones you don't even feel. It's because these muscles aren't pulling their weight that the other muscles are overworked and painful.  

Muscle Activation Techniques identifies these underperforming muscles and gets them firing again, which allows the overworked and painful muscles to relax. It treats the cause of muscle dysfunction and pain... not the symptoms!