PHYSICAL REHABILITATION
Underwater Treadmill
Underwater treadmill utilizes the properties of water to facilitate healing and physical conditioning while your pet exercises in a controlled environment. The buoyancy of water provides a weightless environment that decreases concussive forces and postural compensations, and improves joint range of motion by 30%. The resistance of water helps to strengthen muscles and the cardiovascular system as the body walks in the water. The therapeutic warm water temperature (upper 80s) improves circulation and decreases muscle spasms and tightness. The constant motion of the treadmill belt helps to facilitate a more normal gait (walking) pattern.
While you may feel your pet dislikes or is afraid of water, most dogs are natural swimmers and with a little encouragement your pet will learn to enjoy the underwater treadmill as your pet gains confidence. The warm water gradually fills from the bottom up and we encourage you to stand near your pet outside of the tank, giving praise, toys, and treats as necessary to make the experience enjoyable. Your pet may wear a flotation device (life vest) for safety and to help with buoyancy. Depending on your pet’s needs, our trained staff will assist your pet’s gait mechanics (walking), and complete joint range of motion, stretching, massage, and/or light strengthening exercises if appropriate.
Click play to view a slideshow of some of the conditions we treat with Underwater Treadmill:
Therapeutic Exercise
A therapeutic exercise session completed in our gym includes various exercises that are tailored to meet your pet’s needs while utilizing appropriate rehabilitation equipment. An individualized exercise program will focus on improving range of motion, strength, flexibility, coordination, balance, endurance, weight loss, posture, and/or functional skills, in order to slow the progression of disease, improve mobility, and facilitate a better quality of life.
You may complete a demonstration session with our physical therapist to learn a home program so you can provide the benefits of therapeutic exercise at home.
Click play to view a slideshow of some of the conditions we treat with Therapeutic Exercise:
Conditioning & Return to Sport
Regaining simple daily function is not enough, sporting dogs must go to the next level and regain those special abilities that not only make them successful in their sport but also prevent re-injury or future injuries through a customized, fitness program. A tailored program will include sport-specific exercises for improving range of motion, strength, endurance, proprioception (body awareness), and warm up and cool down exercises, in order to condition your pet to be at the top of his/her performance.
Therapeutic Massage
Therapeutic massage uses a variety of soft tissue mobilization techniques to improve your pet’s physical and emotional quality of life. Through therapeutic massage, there is a reduction in pain and edema (swelling) via improved circulation. Muscle spams are relaxed and tissue extensibility is increased, which is further promoted through muscle stretching. Joint nutrition and mobility is facilitated through this therapy by incorporating passive of range of motion. Therapeutic massage promotes calmness and relaxation by reducing stress, anxiety, and restlessness. This therapy also teaches your pet to learn the sensation of touch and can deepen the relationship between you and your pet.
You may complete a demonstration session with a therapist to learn a home program so you can provide the benefits of therapeutic massage at home.
Click play to view a slideshow of some of the conditions we treat with Therapeutic Massage:
Cold Laser Therapy
Cold laser therapy uses light energy to stimulate tissue healing and manage pain. The light energy directly acts on a cellular level, increasing cell metabolism, improving circulation, and decreasing inflammation. Through cold laser therapy muscle spasms and pain are reduced by modifying the nerve receptors in the skin that transmit the sensation of pain and the release of the body’s natural pain mediators (endorphins).
Click play to view a slideshow of some of the conditions we treat with Cold Laser Therapy:
Therapeutic Ultrasound
Therapeutic ultrasound uses sound waves to generate heat (thermal effects) and vibration (non-thermal effects) to stimulate tissue healing and comfort. The sound wave energy works on a cellular level by increasing cell membrane permeability and protein synthesis, which aids in decreasing inflammation, swelling, pain, and scar tissue. This therapy also helps to relax muscle spasms, increase circulation, range of motion, and tissue flexibility.
Click play to view a slideshow of some of the conditions we treat with Therapeutic Ultrasound:
Electrical Stimulation
Electrical stimulation (e-stim) uses electrical impulses to stimulate nerves and muscles in a particular area of the body. Two e-stim therapies offered at K9 Gym include:
1)Transcutaneous Electrical Nerve Stimulation (TENS)
TENS stimulates nerves to decrease pain and improve comfort by activating the body’s own endorphins (pain mediators) and inhibiting nerve transmission of pain signals. Acupuncture improves neuromuscular function and mobility by stimulating specific nerves that transmit signals from the spinal cord to the muscles innervated by those nerves
2)Neuromuscular Electrical Stimulation (NMES)
NMES stimulates specific nerves and their associated muscles, improving neuromuscular function and facilitating contraction of weak muscles. This improved muscular contraction will increase circulation, range of motion, and strength, thereby preventing atrophy (loss of muscle mass).
You may complete a demonstration session with a therapist in order to provide the benefits of e-stim at home.
Pulsed Electromagnetic Field (PEMF) Therapy
PEMF therapy uses electrical energy to generate a magnetic field to facilitate healing and decrease pain. This therapy works at a cellular level, improving circulation, bone density, tissue regeneration, and immune system functioning. In addition, PEMF therapy aids in the release of the brain’s naturally occurring neurotransmitters, dopamine and serotonin, that facilitate mobility and improve well-being by decreasing stress, anxiety, and depression.
K9 Gym can demonstrate how to safely and effectively use PEMF therapy in order to assist your pet’s healing and comfort at home.
Thermotherapy & Cryotherapy
Thermotherapy (superficial heat) through the use of hot packs can reduce pain, chronic swelling, and muscle spams by improving circulation. This therapy enhances healing and aids in the relaxation of stiff joints.
Cryotherapy (superficial cold) through the use of ice packs can decrease pain, inflammation, and muscle spasms to improve healing and comfort.
K9 Gym can demonstrate how to safely and effectively use these therapies in order to assist your pet’s healing and comfort at home.
Assistive Devices
Carts (wheelchairs), Orthotics (braces, splints), Prosthetics, “Paw” Wear (booties, boots, toe grips), Harness & Slings
In order to be the most beneficial for your pet, a device must accurately fit and facilitate mobility since a poorly fit device can worsen a condition and/or lead to new problems. The veterinarians and therapists at K9 Gym can help you choose the appropriate device for your pet, whether pre-fabricated, created in our clinic, or custom ordered through a manufacturer. K9 Gym will assist in the measurement and fitting of the device, as well as teaching you how to properly care and use the device with your pet.
Click play to view a slideshow of some of the conditions we treat with Assistive Devices:
