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Janet had suffered a terrible case of plantar fasciitis that had apparently been resolved by the use of orthotics* four months before
the pain under her shoulder blade appeared.
The fact that MAT can reduce or eliminate pain happens to be a very desirable side effect of directly dealing with muscular
dysfunction. By locating and resolving asymmetries in range of motion, the cause of the pain is identified and the symptoms are
subsequently diminished or eliminated. Although Janet had pain in her shoulder, the greatest restriction in mobility was in her
right ankle. Using neuro-proprioceptive response tests and subsequently treating muscles that had failed the tests, Janet’s foot
and ankle were suddenly getting the support they needed from the muscles. Once the muscles were able to provide more
efficient support and control of her foot and ankle the pain was gone. (The plantar fascia tendon had been under extreme stress
because it was trying to do what the muscles were supposed to do; as soon as the muscles were enabled to perform their
functions correctly, the stress on the plantar fascia tendon was reduced as was the corresponding pain.)
All the muscles that previously tested weak and were treated were tested again; all remained strong. However, after Janet put on
her shoes/orthotics and walked around for a few minutes, half the muscles failed the test once again. Over the course of the
treatment process, Janet slowly weaned herself from the orthotics while we worked on the muscles supporting her foot, ankle, hip
and low back. Because dysfunction at one joint can lead to compensation and dysfunction at any other joint, it is not surprising
that restoring function in Janet’s ankle consequently resolved the pain in her shoulder.
*The recommendation for many conditions - such as plantar fasciitis - is the use of an orthotic pad or wedge, a passive device
that fits in the shoe and is designed to change how body weight is distributed across the foot. Although the pain may be
temporarily controlled by simply redistributing the body weight on the sole of the foot, since the anatomical problem is related to
inefficient muscular control and participation, it's a safe bet that the problem is not actually being solved but simply relocated
someplace else.
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