Canine Therapy
The goal of our canine rehabilitation facility at
the Animal Rehabilitation Center is establishing
normal strength and function to old, insure, or post
surgical dogs. There are many forms of pain relief
for dogs and people alike; Chemical (Rimadyl,
Etogesic, Aspirin), Herbal (Acupuncture,
Chiropractic, Massage, Kinesiology), etc. If these
therapies of pain management are successful in
re-establishing normal strength and function, then
rehab is not necessary.
We at the Animal Rehabilitation Center work
with canine owners to get their "best
friend" or "family member" back to
functioning as normal and pain free as possible. The
key to good form and function is strength. A dog, or
human as well, is designed to carry their weight on
their muscles. Bones are simply the framework for
muscles. Muscles are also the shock absorbers of the
day-to-day pounding an animal's body must endure.
The larger the dog, the more the pounding, the more
vital the shock absorption and muscular strength
becomes.
Once an animal's strength decreases, the more
wear, stresses, and strains are placed upon the bony
framework and joints. A dog with bad joints but good
muscular strength can do very well. Conversely and
animal with good bones and poor muscular strength
will in time develop sore joints. Have you ever
heard, "With bones and joints like these, it is
a wonder this dog can even walk"? The answer is
quite simple. It is all about the muscles. The dog
is carrying its weight on its muscles.
Why do old dogs, or elderly people for that
matter, have worse arthritic problems? Because they
are weaker, "The weight is going on the bones,
not the muscles". How do you reverse this trend
or manage this problem? Pain relief is only a
lasting entity if it results in the dog or person
getting stronger; i.e. putting the weight on the
muscles and getting it off the joints or bones.
The truth is "Physical Therapy is about
strength because without strength there can't be
normal function". Normal function results in
the weight and concussion going into and absorbed by
the muscles, not bones.
The most impressive aspect of working with dogs
is that once we establish normal function and use,
they stay that way. Dogs are only interested in
getting from point A to point B. They are careless
in how they get there. Injury, age, and disease can
cause them to compensate and not move properly even
when the injury or disease has passed.
This compensation often creates excessive wear
and tear on other parts of their body inhibiting the
normal strengthening. This incorrectness or
compensation can cause damage to joints, weakness in
the effected leg or injury from over use to the
"good" leg. Physical Therapy deals with
these issues because normal function strengthens the
entire body evenly and minimizes the wear and tear.
Thus minimizing the risk of future injuries.
-- Dr. Michael W. Stewart |
