FAQ

Frequently Asked Questions

General Questions

Are your products covered by a warranty?

Yes, please click Here to learn about our warranties.

Are Movement Guides products made in the United States?

Yes, all of our products are fabricated and assembled in Kuna, Idaho and shipped from our headquarters in Merdian, ID. Both of these towns are in the Treasure Valley just outside of Boise.

Is Movement Guides a veteran owned company?

Yes, co-founder Kyle Sela served over 7 years on active duty in the US Army and deployed to Iraq with a Brigade Combat Team out of Ft. Bliss, Texas.

Do you offer military discount?

We are proud to offer a 15% discount to anyone who serves our country. Be it Armed forces, Firefighting, Police force, or the National Guard. If you stick your neck out to protect our families we feel the need to honor that. Simply email us at movementguides@gmail.com with verification of your service and we’ll take care of the rest.

When was Movement Guides established?

Movement Guides, Inc. was created in 2014

Where can I buy Movement Guides products?

We sell all of our products in our online store HERE. If you would like to inquire about custom packages please contact us HERE.

Understanding the Value vs. Cost of our Equipment?

It’s simple. When shopping for a product that’s going to keep you healthy and strong do you want gear that’s made of cheap material or strong material? Do you want gear that’s been made in a rush that could potentially break and hurt you?

If your soft tissue mobilization product only you costs $25, its probably cost the manufacturer $ 6 to make. Do you really want to take a chance with something so important?

At Movement Guides we don’t want you to be limited by faulty or inefficient gear, which is why we take the time to develop the most functional, structured, and efficient products possible. But with that comes expenses, Research/Development, shipping/handling, and domestic manufacturing are all accounted for in the cost of our gear and education.

Do you ship internationally?

We are currently going through a transitional period of setting up distributers overseas. We hope to be distributing overseas in the near future. Please contact us with your interest and will keep you in mind.

T-Dot Mobility Systems

What is the T-Dot Mobility System?

The T-Dot Mobility System is a new approach to improve range of motion, reduce tightness, and decrease pain throughout the body. Its unique design allows the user be in a functional position while incorporating movement with pressure applied to targeted areas. It also allows this to be done at any angle and to any body part. The user is no longer limited by leaning against a wall or lying on the ground. Also unique to the T-Dot is that it can be used in conjunction with banded resistance to enhance those type of exercises.

How does the T-Dot Mobility System work?

1. Select an area of the body that you want to target with pressure

2. Adjust the hinge mechanism to the appropriate height by sliding it on the track and then locking it in place at that height.

3. When the desired height is selected adjust the coupler to the best angle to target the desired area.

4. Connect the arm or the head to the coupler by clicking it into place

If using the arm, the head will click into the second coupling system at the end of the arm

5. Lean the body into the head to apply your desired amount of pressure to the treatment area. Pressure can be used with or without movement and with or without banded resistance.

What types of self soft tissue treatments can I use the T-Dot for?

1. Trigger point release (TPR): With this type of treatment the user will simply lean into the mobilization head and apply pressure to a muscular trigger point. A trigger point is a hyperirritable spot in the fascia surrounding skeletal muscle. They are associated with palpable nodules in taut bands of muscle fibers. Compression of a trigger point may elicit local tenderness, referred pain, or local twitch response followed by relief of that trigger point upon release of the pressure. The T-Dot is superior to any other mobilization tool in that it can easily change height and angle to target any area without contorting the body into awkward positions or using other pieces of equipment.

2. Active Release (pin and stretch): This type of treatment involved applying pressure to a trigger point or a restricted muscle group and then moving the body in a way that puts an active stretch to the targeted tissue. The T-Dot is superior to other tools for this purpose in that its mobilization arm clears the body away from the wall and secures the mobliization head in place so that the user can move their body without running into the wall or without the mobilization head falling out of place.

3. Inter-vertebral joint mobiizations: The T-Dot can be used for straight plane and rotational inter-vertebral (spinal vertebra) mobilizations. These types of treatments should only be done under the direction of a licensed medical practitioner trained in spinal mobilizations. However, the tool is incredibly effective at allowing the user to mimic the effects of a skilled manual therapist due to the angles and security of the mobilization head.

4. Proprioceptive Neuromuscular Facilitation (PNF) Techniques: PNF techniques are advanced forms of flexibility training that change muscular tension through applied tension and contractions either directly or indirectly to opposite muscle groups. The T-Dot can improve tension and or recruitment of muscles with the use of the mobilization head and banded resistance. The T-Dot has an eyelet that allows for resistance bands to be secured and adjusted to any height for upper or lower body resistance exercises (such as rotator cuff strengthening exercises).

**There are many other terms that are used to describe self directed soft tissue treatments but most will fall into these 4 categories. **

Why are there two type of T-Dot Mobility Systems?

There are currently two types of T-Dots. We have a wall mounted track system and a mobile version and each has its own strengths.

The original wall mounted version is meant for a clinic, gym or sports field where the device will be consistently used. It easily slides to different heights and has a resistance band attachment. The only issue with the wall mounted unit is that it is not meant for travel.

The Mobile T-Dot was created so that people can use the device anywhere that a post, pole or rack is available. The Mobile T-Dot will fit in just about any bag.or pack. This allows athletes or office workers who love the benefits of the device to take it on the road when traveling. It also allows programs and gyms to attach it to their lifting rack systems so that people can use the device during workouts, between or after sets. The Mobile T-Dot can slide to any height available on the structure it is attached. It also has the same hinging mechanism to adjust it to any angle. However it does not have a resistance band attachment as the wall mounted version does.

How will I know how to use the T-Dot?

You can find descriptions and videos of how to use the T-Dot based on you goals HERE.

SquatGuide™

What is the SquatGuide?

The SquatGuide™ (Patent # 9,446,284) is a revolutionary fitness product that is designed to help develop, improve, and maintain perfect squat form. The tool is appropriate for people of all ages and abilities. The tool uses tactile and visual cues to guide users into a great position every time.

If you or your client has never performed squats for exercise before, perfect. The SquatGuide™ will aid in developing a perfect pattern to ensure this movement is performed safely.

If you your client is experienced in performing the squat, perfect. The SquatGuide™ will point out restrictions and compensations you need to address to optimize movement efficiency.

If you teach patients, clients or athletes how to squat and find yourself having to consistently cue them into better positions with your hands, words or mirrors, perfect. The SquatGuide™ will provide tactile and visual cues for you so that you may focus your energy and time on teaching new skills as they continue to hone their squat independently

How does the SquatGuide work?

People squat poorly in very predicable ways and the SquatGuide is designed to teach people how to correct their squat form. We see two common faults when people squat.

1. People's feet, knees and hips collapse inward. In the medical and performance world we call this "medial collapse".

How SquatGuide helps with this problem: The outer guide bars (lateral knee guides) are for the user to remain in contact with during the movement. The guides are in line with the outside of the users feet. This requires that as the users descends into their squat, their knees are kept out of medial collapse. This prevents undue stress to the medial structures of the knee, clears the femur away from the the hip socket to reduce impingement, allows greater squat depth with out sacrificing spine position, and aids in keeping the foot from falling into a pronated position. The lateral guides provide an external cue to facilitate desired knee movement.

2. People's weight shifts too far foward into the forefoot due to medial collapse and/or the knees moving excessively forward.

How SquatGuide helps with this problem:- The front guide bars (anterior knee guides) essentially block the user from letting their knees move too far forward. This forces the user to then achieve increasing depth through the hips while simultaneously keeping their weight from moving to the forefoot. This prevents over reliance on the quadriceps muscles and anterior knee pain while increasing stability at the feet and recruitment of the hip and hamstring musculature. These anterior guides provide an external cue by blocking undesired knee movement.

These two faulty patterns can lead to knee, hip and back pain as well as decreased performance.

Why do the knee guides hinge out to the side (laterally)?

The knee guide posts hinge in the frontal plane only (hinge out laterally, not in or forward) to allow the user to push the knees out further than the lateral foot position. This is desirable if wants to achieve a deep squat position safely and effectively. People who squat with excellent form and efficiency see benefit in driving the knees out wider than their stance to maximize external rotation torque at the hip joint. This can aid in gluteal muscle recruitment, allow for neutral spine position and decrease the femoral lever arm to prevent the squatter from falling backwards. Because the user should never let their knees move into "medial collapse" the knee guides will not hinge in. Meaning that if the users knee loses contact with the lateral knee guide they are no longer keeping the knee in the minimally correct or safe position. The guideposts will also not hinge forward as the anterior knee guide must block the knee from moving too far forward.

What are "tactile" and "external" cues?

"Tactile cues" refers to feedback that you can feel. Tactile cues are very effective in terms of teaching movement. "External cues" are cues that get the person to focus on how their body is interacting with their environment as opposed to an "internal cue" where the person would focus on what their body is doing. Externally focused cues have been shown consistently in research to be more effective at teaching movement and improving performance. The SquatGuide delivers both tactile and externally focused cues.

How do I know if the SquatGuide will fit me, my patients or clients?

The SquatGuide fits most people by being adjustable in both stance width and knee guide height. This means that it will be a great tool to use for people ranging from 4'10" to 6'7". If you foresee using the device a consistently with people bigger or smaller than those sizes contact us and we can create a custom sized SquatGuide for you.

Is the SquatGuide patented?

Yes. The SquatGuide is patented with the USPTO and the patent number is: Patent # 9,446,284

Do the bands come with the SquatGuide?

Yes, a set of bands are included with each SquatGuide order.

Are the bands on the SquatGuide meant for resistance?

No, the band are not meant to apply resistance. They are meant to return the knee guides back to the starting vertical position after each squat. A user could use a banded loop around their knees while in the SquatGuide to get resistance into hip external rotation and abduction while the SquatGuide ensures that they do so equally via the tactile feedback.

Do I have to assemble the SquatGuide?

The SquatGuide will come shipped in a box in four pieces. The two stance plates easily slide into one another and an adjustable screw can tighten down the stance plates to the desired stance width. The two knee guides are then inserted into the stance plates and secured with pins that allow the knee guides to hinge out laterally. The knee guides should be set roughly to the height of the user's knees. Finally, attach the resistance band loops from each knee guide to the corresponding stance plate. You can view an assembly video HERE.

FAQ