Canine conditions and physiotherapy goals

Is your dog ;
-          Slowing down due to old age?
-          Displaying unusual gait / mobility problems?
-          An agility / racing / working dog?
-          Suffering from an orthopaedic / neurological condition?
-          Recovering from surgery?
-          Suffering due to injury?


Ageing
Your older dog may be slowing down, becoming more stiff in their movements and struggling with tasks which they used to find easy. They may be enduring discomfort from chronic arthritis and restricted mobility.

Physio can : help in pain management, provide targeted therapeutic exercise programmes, rebuild weakened muscles for the necessary support and encourage healthy elasticity back to fibrous connective tissues.

Your dog : will have improved mobility, form and function, decreased pain and and overall improvement in their quality of life.

Racing / Agility / Working
The sports / working dog can endure excessive stresses to certain joints and muscle groups depending upon the discipline. This can impede them from working at their peak through restricted mobility, injury and pain.

Physio can : relieve the animal of muscular spasms, help to effectively heal ligament / tendon injuries, strengthen weakened muscle and reduce the risk of further injury.

Your dog : will be able to perform to the best of it’s ability with the reassurance of a strong supportive musculoskeletal system and therefore reduced chance of injury.


Neurological problems
Identifying the onset of debilitating neurological conditions can be very sad. Whether it be radiculomyelopathy, disc disease or fibrocartilagenous embolism, the progressive or sudden loss of mobility can make owners feel quite helpless.

Physio can : improve the health of the tissues involved, providing optimum conditions for nerve regeneration, reduce inflammation to damaged nerves, increase proprioception / muscle re-education through targeted exercises, maintain strength and comfort in weakened muscles and joints.

Your dog's : condition can be greatly improved and their mobility returned, whilst the progression of degenerative conditions – restricted, improving the overall quality of life of your animal.

Orthopaedic conditions and Post Surgery / Injury rehabilitation
Many orthopaedic conditions require surgical intervention to rectify the problems, these include cranial cruciate ligament rupture, hip dysplasia, Legg-Calve-Perthes-Disease and patella luxation. These conditions can also unfortunately lead to secondary osteoarthritis. Injury through trauma can also result in muscle, tendon, joint or ligament damage.

Physio can : aid fracture repair, increase the rate and effectiveness of muscle / tendon / ligament healing, manage pain, limit muscle atrophy, decrease the risk of onset of osteoarthritis,  dramatically reduce the risk of secondary complications associated with surgery by restoring range of movement and mobility,  reducing scar tissue and adhesions,  reduce risk of infection and aiding healing of the incision wound, controlling swelling and inflammation.

Your dog : is given the best chance of recovery and return to fitness by ensuring optimum conditions for effective healing and enduring tissue strength whilst significantly reducing chances of re-injury.