Numerous athletes around the world are treating injuries they
have sustained during their training and performances in the Olympics.
Some of these athletes have defied great odds to continue in their
sport and perform at the elite level. Many
of the techniques used with human athletes are now being performed
with canine athletes. Canine physical therapy is one of the fastest
growing areas of veterinary
medicine throughout the United States. Veterinarians
are beginning to learn the benefits of rehabilitation for pets.
Veterinarians and
owners are finding that injuries that were once career
ending are no longer. With the development of new surgical procedures,
in conjunction
with physical therapy, career-ending injuries are
declining and dogs are returning to their respective sports in
shorter timeframes. Used
appropriately, physical therapy is the best tool
in the medicine bag for certain cases.
Physical therapy can be used to treat a wide variety
of conditions with dogs. It is effective for preoperative
and postoperative cases, traumatic injuries whether
it is musculoskeletal and/or neurological
impairment, conditioning and strength training,
weight loss, tendonitis, osteoarthritis, muscle strains
and ligament injuries to list a few.
Animals benefit by gaining range of motion and
improving
strength and function with less pain. Disuse muscle
atrophy, joint contractures
and muscle stiffness can be prevented. Recovery
times are improved and the dog is able to return to its
prior level
of functioning much
faster and safer. In addition, physical therapy
can be utilized to enhance performance and reduce the risk
of injury
to healthy dogs.
Numerous owners are taking advantage of these techniques
and principles creating high performance canines.
Your dog must be physically trained
to reduce the chance of injury, improve strength
and endurance, and gain the competitive edge.
A number of physical therapy modalities can be
used to treat specific conditions: heat and cold therapy, therapeutic
ultrasound,
electrical stimulation, sound wave therapy, pulsed
radiofrequency therapy and magnetic wave therapy.
Some of these
items have been
utilized for a long time with proven effectiveness
while others have little documented medical research
to substantiate the effects. Therefore,
owners and caregivers must be cautious when receiving
or providing treatment for their pet as some items
on the market have unproven
effectiveness. Another treatment tool in physical
therapy is therapeutic exercise. Several examples
include passive range of motion, stretching,
strengthening, endurance, and balance and coordination
exercises. Numerous problems affecting people and
dogs can be attributed to
muscle imbalances, meaning some muscles are too
weak while others are too tight. This can lead to mal-alignment
problems,
overuse injuries,
muscle spasms, joint contractures and neurological
conditions to name just a few. Any of these can
lead to further joint problems,
traumatic injury and poor performance. A full physical
examination including range of motion measurements,
girth measurements and even
force plate analysis can help detect some of these
subtle differences. A therapeutic exercise program
can then be prescribed to address
these problems. The exercises prescribed must be
tailored to the specific problem and/or specific
sports Passive range of motion exercises
can improve joint mobility, decrease pain and decrease
muscle tightness. Stretching will improve flexibility.
Strengthening exercises prescribed
for the weak musculature will decrease fatigue
and improve strength. Other exercises can be given that address
musculoskeletal
and cardiovascular
conditioning, as well as balance and proprioception.
If a problem doesn't exist, the program should
be geared toward the specific sport
or activity the dog will perform.
Numerous pieces of exercise equipment are available
to use with your dog. Your imagination is the limit
in devising ways
to exercise them. A few examples include weave
poles, tunnels, ramps. trampolines, balance boards, sand boxes
and hoops.
My favorite exercise
device is the underwater treadmill. This has been
adapted from human medicine but manufactured specifically
for dogs. The dog is loaded
into the front of the treadmill through the hinged
door. Water fills from
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the bottom to the desired
levels The water level is determined
by the desired therapeutic effects. Due to the
buoyancy provided by the water, weight bearing forces on the
extremities
decrease.
Concussive forces are reduced in the joints allowing
effective exercise with less discomfort. The presence
of water, surrounding a dog with
poor balance and weak musculature, provides feedback
and comfort reducing the fear of failing. Dogs
also benefit from heated water
by improved circulation to the musculature, improved
joint flexibility and less pain. Whirlpool jets
can be utilized to enhance these effects.
The water also provides resistance for the extremities
which can improve strength as well as endurance.
The clinician can be in the
tank with the dog to provide additional support
and comfort if needed. Flotation devices give additional buoyancy.
Numerous conditions benefit from aquatic therapy.
Several of these include arthritic conditions,
postoperative cruciate and
total hip replacement cases, fracture repairs,
neurological impairments and soft tissue injuries. A good example
of the use
of the underwater
treadmill is rehabilitating dogs with cranial cruciate
ligament repairs. With many tibial plateau leveling
osteotomy (TPLO) cases, dogs can
begin underwater treadmill work when the sutures
are removed. Some clinicians will start sooner
if the incision is well sealed. This
early intervention allows quicker recovery times.
At one time, a cranial cruciate ligament injury
was a career-ending event. Now through
the use of advance surgical techniques and physical
therapy, these dogs can return to full function
in as little as 12 weeks whether
it be field trials, hunting or agility. Not all
dogs will progress the same; therefore, recovery rates will
vary and
therapy programs
should be adapted accordingly. The underwater treadmill
can also be utilized for swimming. Indications
for swimming include dogs that
are severely debilitated or have a neurological
condition with very subtle signs of motor function. It can
also be used
with dogs that
are reluctant to bear any weight on the extremity,
even with the added benefit of buoyancy. Swimming
allows the extremities to function
through the available range of motion, improve
strength and endurance without joint concussive forces.
The underwater treadmill can also be utilized to
improve performance in healthy pets by improving
strength and endurance.
Water level, speed, and water propulsion are different
characteristics of the underwater treadmill that
can be modified to vary exercise
intensity. Swimming can also be used to enhance
performance. Some facilities have a swim tank that can be used
specifically
for this
task. These tanks are designed similarly to the
underwater treadmill but lack the treadmill component. Water
levels are
raised so the
dogs. are floating. The dog must swim against the
current provided by the jets at the end of the
unit. Different settings can change
the force of the waters The exercise sessions,
whether in the underwater treadmill or swim tank, can be enhanced
by
providing a fun environment
for the dog. Tennis balls, bumpers and other devices
are used to play with the dog while exercising.
The retrievers at our facility
are eager to start and difficult to stops
Numerous facilities are present throughout the
United States offering canine rehabilitation services. Numerous
people with varying backgrounds are delivering
these services.
It is advisable
to perform some homework prior to initiating canine
rehabilitation. It is important to discuss the
idea with your veterinarian and find
a reputable, qualified professional that you can
trust with the care of your valued athlete.
Steve Jacobs, DVM, MSPT, owner of SPORTSVET Animal
Medical Center in Savoy, IL
Licensed veterinarian and physical therapist www.sportsvetamc.com
e-mail address: sjacobs@sportsvetamc.com phone:
(217) 355-1442
It is important to remember that in all cases, and all affected
joints, the sooner the problem is recognized the more favorable
the outcome.
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