Discover the Power of Manual Articular Approach (MAA) Therapy

MAA is a soft, hands-on manual therapy. Underneath the pain or diagnosis is a compensatory pattern created in the body, with the initial source of the dysfunction often being far from where the pain is felt. A skilled MAA practitioner searches for this pattern and its source, evaluating the whole body and not just the problematic joint, and treats the related tissues. As the source of a problem is released, symptoms will start to decrease.

A joint is so much more complex than a place where bones come together. It is comprised of multiple components — including bone, cartilage, muscles, tendons, nerves, and fluid — that when functioning properly, allow the joint to glide smoothly and pain-free. If one component becomes problematic, the entire joint begins to compensate and not function properly. All parts and systems within the body are interconnected — joints included — and when there is dysfunction in one place, other areas can be negatively impacted.

Optimal health relies on a balanced relationship between the different systems of the body — such as the nerves and nervous system, organs (viscera) and their support tissues, bones, and other structures. An MAA therapist identifies the source of disharmony in the body, as well as how and why it is impacting a joint where the patient is feeling symptoms. Through application of the gentle and specific MAA techniques, the patient's body overall becomes less bound by dysfunctional patterns, releasing the affected joint and ultimately allowing the body to achieve a state of optimal health.

Original information by the Barral Institute.