Physiotherapy uses a combination of techniques to aid in rehabilitation and encourage mobility. By creating a treatment program combining:
- Massage
- Range of movement
- LASER
- Hydrotherapy
- Remedial exercise
We aim to create the complete rehab package! At Mochdre Veterinary Centre we have invested in some equipment to help your animals during the course of their treatment focusing on remedial exercises. Here we have Oscar modelling some of the equipment!
Poles
Here Oscar is walking over intermittent raised poles however you can have the poles at an equal height and varying heights. This equipment is very adaptable for all shapes and sizes of dogs as well as their abilities.
With this exercise we try and encourage:
- Active flexion of the joint
- Proprioception
- Core strength
- Balance
Often dogs following surgery will avoid using their injured limb to the same extent. By walking the dogs over the poles we are deliberately creating a challenging environment that forces them to weight bare on all their limbs equally and engage their core strength. When you start taking your dog out on non-restricted walks they’ll have challenges that involve stepping up and down. By practising and gaining their confidence in a controlled environment we can prepare them for it at home and also ensure they’re moving properly.
Wobble Board
The wobble board is a personal favourite of mine that really works on the dog’s core strength and balance. When a dog is injured often they compensate their posture and movement. This causes balance issues and often pain in their spine. By strengthening their core you’re reducing this negative effect helping your dog recover.
Here are some of the different exercises we can do whilst using the wobble board. The board if filled with air causing an unstable surface. If a dog has had surgery, once their joint is stable, we can start using this board to help work on their posture and help them gain confidence in using the limb fully.
Cones
Placing cones in figure of 8 shapes and triangle designs helps keep the dog’s movement restricted to the shape. Tight turns and weaving will require concentration from the dogs, nothing a little treat bribery won’t manage. Your animal will have to be aware of limb placement and how they distribute their body weight. A dog compensating with an injury will likely avoid turning a particular way. By starting with a wide design we can help your animal gain more confidence in their bodies movement and limb placement. With progress we can start to make the cones closer in a narrow design. This will require more work and your dog will have benefitted from:
- Core strength
- Balance
- Weight distribution
Exercise can help a dog in many ways. By working your animal in this controlled environment post operatively it prepares them for their return to normal walks. Many dogs loose muscle and gain compensatory issues after surgery or an injury. These will help reduce this risk and hopes to achieve a quicker recovery.