Supercharge Your Muscles For Elite Performance & Recovery
· Muscle Activation Techniques® ·
· Performance Strength Training ·
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“I loved working with Charlie. He’s thorough, detail-oriented, and clearly passionate about helping people improve. He consistently went above and beyond, providing me with the knowledge and tools to help myself long after our sessions. I look forward to crossing paths again in the future.” - Jahlil Okafor
“Charlie’s enthusiasm, thought process, and detailedness has been a pleasure to work with! His willingness to go the extra mile and ability to figure things out using MAT and movement principles has been very helpful for me to feel my best.”
- James van Riemsdyk
“Charlie has changed my life dramatically, not only with Muscle Activation Techniques®, but he has become a true genuine friend over the many years of working with him. He has always gone out of his way and solved any problems I’ve had when it came to injuries or discomfort in the body. Honest, pure, and dedicated with no gimmicks! He’s one of the best at what he does, but beyond work, he cares about each individual and treats everyone like they’re important and not just a transaction.” - Q Chievous
Services
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Muscle Activation Techniques®
Supercharge Your Muscles For Elite Performance & Recovery
*In-Home Rates, Day Rates, and Team Rates Available By Emailing charlie@matschaumburg.com
You push hard to play your best.
But tight muscles, sore joints, and nagging pain slow you down.
Stretching and massage? Nice for a minute. But the pain always comes back.
Here’s the real problem: your brain and muscles aren’t talking.
When they’re out of sync, your body fires the wrong muscles, moves the wrong way, and sets you up for pain and injury.
The fix? Get your brain and muscles back on the same page.
That’s exactly what Muscle Activation Techniques® (MAT) does.
It turns your muscles back on, makes you stronger, unlocks tightness, and speeds up recovery—so you can stay healthy and dominate on the court, field, or ice.
Think of it like jump-starting a dead car battery—once the cables are connected, you’ve got full power. MAT reconnects your system so your body can run at full power, too—so you can be strong, recover faster, and stay healthy.
Charlie Cates has been helping athletes do this since 2011. He’s trained at the highest level of MAT (MATRx, MATRx Stim, and MAT Athlete) and works with pro athletes and teams in Chicago and across the country.
Want to move better, recover faster, and prolong your career?
Click below and supercharge your muscles with Muscle Activation Techniques® today.
*In-Home Rates, Day Rates, and Team Rates Available By Emailing charlie@matschaumburg.com
“I’m currently entering year 9 in my professional basketball career and I’ve been blessed to work with Charlie since 2023. The one thing I enjoy most about working with him is that he focuses on the major problems with my body. He attacks the points where I’m hurting and that’s why every chance I get to see Charlie, I go to see him. Another thing I’m grateful for while working with Charlie is that he’s very knowledgeable with everything he’s doing. While overseas, when I run into a problem with my body I can call Charlie at any time and he will have a solution. Charlie is almost always available to talk to me when I call even though he’s a very busy guy, so I truly appreciate that. Charlie, I just want to say thank you so much for everything.”
- Steve Taylor, Jr.
“Charlie has helped me out a lot to get my body ready for each season! Muscle Activation Techniques® was something I wasn’t too familiar with before I started working with Charlie, but now I highly recommend it to everyone!” - Christian Dvorak
“I’m really happy to be working with Charlie using Muscle Activation Techniques® to support my Achilles’ health and wellbeing. It feels great to see progress as these methods help me improve movement, strength, and overall balance. Gaining more comfort and confidence through MAT makes the process rewarding and motivating. I’m excited to keep using this technique to help my Achilles feel even better!” - Josh Thomas
Strength & Performance Programs - Introductory
Game Ready - Level 1
Get Back Into Playing Shape & Ready To Compete!
This 12-week program is the perfect place to start if you are not currently strength training or are doing so inconsistently (2 days or less per week).
It is designed to help you build back your strength and conditioning in a safe, controlled, and sustainable way so you can get back on the basketball court–or do whatever other activities you love–and feel great while doing so.
This program also prepares you for Level 2 of the Game Ready series.
Program Details
- 12 Weeks Of Workouts
- 3 Workouts / Week
- Strength & Conditioning Exercises Each Workout
- Workouts Last 40-60 minutes
- Full Gym Access Required--Free Weights, Machines, etc.
- Delivered As A Digital eBook
- Video Demonstrations & Written Instructions For Exercises
- *Accessible Through Custom Phone App (Add-On Option At Check Out)*
One Payment Of $150.00 $99
Game Ready - Level 2
Elevate Your Strength, Athleticism, & Conditioning!
This 12-week program is the perfect progression from the Game Ready Level 1 program. Also, if you have already been lifting at least three days a week, it can be a great program to jump into.
It is designed to help you progress the strength, athleticism and conditioning that were built during Game Ready Level 1. The lifts and conditioning exercises will be more intense, and plyometrics will be added into the mix, too.
This program also prepares you for Level 1 of the Starting Five series, where the lifts go up to four days per week and the intensity overall increases.
Program Details
- 12 Weeks Of Workouts
- 3 Workouts / Week
- Strength, Conditioning, & Plyometrics Exercises
- Workouts Last 40-60 minutes
- Full Gym Access Required--Free Weights, Machines, etc.
- Delivered As A Digital eBook
- Video Demonstrations & Written Instructions For Exercises
- *Accessible Through Custom Phone App (Add-On Option At Check Out)*
One Payment Of $150.00 $99
“Working with Charlie has been major for me as a professional athlete! Muscle Activation Techniques® helped improve my mobility in my lower extremities, which is huge for my style of play. Working with Charlie this summer has been very beneficial for me for recovery from aches and pains, too. He always provides great support with follow ups and questions.”
- Vance Johnson
“I always enjoyed working with Charlie. He was excited and passionate about his work and craft. Outside of the help from the treatment, it made me want to continue to get better through everything he sent me.”
- Jordan Henderson
“Charlie is one of the best in the game! From sending me videos while I was out of the country playing basketball to help my pain, to helping me fix the pain on a deeper and more detailed scale when I got back to the states, and also being a great friend. I can’t thank him enough for what he has done for me and prolonging my professional basketball career!”
- Carson Newsome
Strength & Performance Programs - Intermediate
Starting Five - Level 1
Dominate Your Runs With Elite Strength & Athleticism!
This 16-week program is the perfect progression from the Game Ready Level 2 program. Also, if you are currently a competitive athlete at the high school, collegiate, or professional level, it can be a great program to jump into.
It is designed to help you progress the strength, athleticism and conditioning that were built during Game Ready Level 2. The lifts and conditioning exercises will be more intense and will increase to four days per week.
This program also pairs perfectly with PRO Bounce Academy, my exclusive 16-week plyometric program.
Program Details
- 16 Weeks Of Workouts
- 4 Workouts / Week
- Strength & Conditioning Exercises Each Workout
- Workouts Last 40-60 minutes
- Full Gym Access Required--Free Weights, Machines, etc.
- Delivered As A Digital eBook
- Video Demonstrations & Written Instructions For Exercises
- *Accessible Through Custom Phone App (Add-On Option At Check Out)*
One Payment Of $200.00 $149
Strength & Performance Programs - Advanced
Starting Five - Level 2
Advanced Workouts For Maximum Performance!
This 16-week program is the perfect progression from the Starting Five Level 1 program. Also, if you are currently a competitive athlete at the high school, collegiate, or professional level and are highly experienced with strength training, it can be a great program to jump into.
It is designed to help you progress the strength, athleticism and conditioning that were built during Starting Five Level 1. The lifts and conditioning exercises will be more intense and will include Olympic-style lifts.
This program also pairs perfectly with PRO Bounce Academy, my exclusive 16-week plyometric program.
Program Details
- 16 Weeks Of Workouts
- 4 Workouts / Week
- Strength & Conditioning Exercises Each Workout
- Workouts Last 40-60 minutes
- Full Gym Access Required--Free Weights, Machines, etc.
- Delivered As A Digital eBook
- Video Demonstrations & Written Instructions For Exercises
- *Accessible Through Custom Phone App (Add-On Option At Check Out)*
One Payment Of $200.00 $149
“Charlie Cates is a master of Muscle Activation Techniques®. When I had hip issues, he identified that my glutes weren’t activating properly and took the time to explain his findings, encouraging me to focus on fixing it. Overall, he’s a great guy and I would highly recommend him.”
- Dolapo Olayinka
“Working with Charlie has been amazing. First, I want to start by saying that he’s a great guy. He helped me get back active after coming off two bad quad and hip flexor injuries. Now I’m back moving and running again. It was a long journey for us, but we finally made it. Shoutout to Charlie!”
- Lamont Bishop
“Charlie completely transformed my life and career. I came in there not being able to run or jump due to a surgery in my hip. But after the very first session I felt amazing. I ended up driving an hour each way every week to get in with my guy! One of the most genuine and humble people I have come across and can’t thank God and the brother that helped me get in contact with him enough. I would recommend him to anyone I know! Wish there was a Charlie in every city I go to but that’s what makes him special!”
- Peyton Ackerman
Strength & Performance Programs - Plyometrics
PRO Bounce Academy
16 Weeks Of Plyometrics To Skyrocket Your Vertical!
This 16-week program is the perfect progression from the plyometrics that were included in the Game Ready Level 2 program. Also, if you are currently a competitive athlete at the high school, collegiate, or professional level, this can be a great program to jump into.
It is designed to help you increase your vertical jump through focusing on four main characteristics of jumping–elasticity, force absorption, force production, and maximum propulsion.
This program also pairs perfectly with the Starting Five strength programs, both Level 1 and Level 2.
Program Details
- 16 Weeks Of Workouts
- 3 Workouts / Week
- Plyometrics & Sprints
- Workouts Last Approximately 25 Minutes
- Some Equipment Required (Jump Rope, Dumbbells, Bands, Plyo Boxes, Med Balls, Small Hurdles/Cones)
- Delivered As A Digital eBook
- Video Demonstrations For Exercises
- *Accessible Through Custom Phone App (Add-On Option At Check Out)*
One Payment Of $150.00 $99
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Additional Resources
Charlie Cates is the leading consultant to high-level professional, college, and high school basketball players in the Chicagoland area for injury prevention, recovery, and muscle performance.
As one of Chicago’s most sought-after Muscle Activation Techniques® practitioners, he is certified in the highest levels of MAT, including MATRx, MATRx Stim, and MAT Athlete.
A former college basketball player for Williams College, he uses his personal experience and understanding of the game and player demands to create customized exercise options for his clients to recover faster and perform their best.
He sees clients in-studio at Muscle Activation Schaumburg as well as in-home. You can schedule your MAT assessment with him by clicking here, and be sure to follow him on Instagram at @CharlieCates!
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