The T-Dot Mobility System:  Long-Term Effects  

We just released the T-Dot Mobility System three weeks ago. Since that time, I’ve had some great discussions and fielded questions from people in many different disciplines. Each one of these conversations has been beneficial, because I’m still learning about the system myself and about the many different ways it can be implemented. The more I discover, the more I realize I don’t know.

I am going to try to provide some more information for a common question that gets asked:
You guys are seeing some major changes within a single session of using the T-Dot, but what are you seeing long-term?
I haven’t had an answer to this until until recently, because the system hasn’t existed long enough to trial over weeks and months.  I’ve been following a single subject over the past 9-10 weeks and wanted to share our in-house findings on how it has impacted his internal rotation.

The subject has been using the T-Dot Mobility System since the end of May.  He goes through the pec minor and upper trap protocols 1-2 times per week.  The combination of these protocols take around 4 minutes to complete, so he’s not spending a ton of time on the system.  He does have a history of an AC joint sprain (shoulder separation) on the right shoulder and a rotator cuff tear on the left shoulder.  What did we find? (All photos were taken prior to any type of exercise or warming-up)
When comparing right and left sides, the subject had significant asymmetry in internal rotation range of motion. So, by looking at the right side or “stiff side” the subject had about 10 more degrees of passive internal rotation available before starting any type of intervention.
On the left he started off being less restricted, but picked up around 17 more degrees of passive internal rotation across the 9-10 week span.To go back to the question, it seems as changes are lasting longer than immediately after using the system.  The changes shown are also demonstrated with very little time each week devoted to address soft tissue restrictions at the upper trap and pec minor. I realize I’m are only looking at one subject, had different people taking measurements, had slightly different camera angles and/or arm positions, but I feel like there is enough to show a change over time in this single case.

I’ve been learning as I go, and my goal is to get better with consistency of camera placement, arm angle, etc. to provide the most accurate results.  More blogs are in the cue, so I’m looking forward to sharing more.  Check back in as the next one will be comparing acute effects of the T-Dot compared to the cross-body stretch. 

Brett Burton PT, DPT, SCS, ATC, CSCS

Brett is a performance physical therapist at EXOS in Phoenix, AZ. He has a passion for human performance, helping people get out of pain, and improving movement efficiency. He completed his athletic training and physical therapy education at the University of Nebraska. He joined Movement Guides in 2015 while he was completing a physical therapy residency program in Idaho and shortly after joining the team, the T-Dot Mobility System was established.

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