Therapeutic Exercise

Promotes joint mobilization, stimulates proprioception and fine motor control, enhances general strength and endurance and is therapeutic in neuromuscular deficits. The level of exercise to safely encourage all of the above is chosen in accordance to the needs, abilities, deficits, pathology and special circumstances of the individual client. All exercises are demonstrated to the client and are incorporated to a daily home exercise program.

Cryotherapy

Cryotherapy is used to manage the initial inflammatory phase of an injury or surgery. It slows down blood flow locally, relieves pain and reduces soft tissue oedema.

Heat Therapy

Heat therapy promotes blood flow locally, while increasing tissue elasticity. It is usually applied before exercise and manual therapy.

Electrotherapy

Refers to the application of electrical stimulation using a low level electrical current for pain relief, oedema reduction, improved circulation, neurological atrophy, joint effusion, disuse atrophy and muscle spasm relaxation.

Hydrotherapy

Hydrotherapy is a very powerful tool and is the ultimate form of exercise, as it utilizes the following properties of water:

• Controlled warm temperature (27°C-32°C): helps relax muscles, decrease pain and muscle spasm, and increases range of motion.
• Hydrostatic pressure: is applied uniformly all around the parts of the body submerged in water, thus reducing any existing edema during exercise.

• Resistance: Water has 30% more resistance than air, thus combining maximum muscle use with a great workout. Furthermore, it enhances joint range of motion and decreases pain elicited during the motion.
• Buoyancy 60 – 80% of the dog’s body weight can be supported by the water, thus minimizing the concussive forces on bones and joints during exercise.

Depending on the level of submersion in the water, hydrotherapy refers to:

• Underwater treadmill walking
• Swimming

Hydrotherapy session frequency, duration, velocity, resistance and level of submersion are customized according to the needs of the individual client. For the safety of the animal, a life vest is provided and the session is performed with the presence of trained personnel either inside or outside of the tank.

Manual therapy

Manual therapy includes techniques such as joint and soft tissue mobilization and myofascial release. These techniques can increase circulation, stimulate proprioception, improve joint range of motion, enhance soft tissue mobility and decrease muscle spasms.

LASER Therapy

Refers to the application of light energy of specific wavelength (>800nm) that when absorbed by the tissues stimulates and activates biological pathways and healing mechanisms at a cellular level. These pathways provide pain relief, have anti-inflammatory and oedema reduction action, facilitate the reorganization of injured tissues, stimulate healing, bone production and regeneration of nerve tissue (epineural sheath).

Assistive devices

We provide information, solutions and advice pertaining to the choice, selection, acquisition and application of assistive devices to fit the individual patient.

Underwater treadmill walking

Underwater treadmill walking provides a totally controlled exercise environment that forces contact with the treadmill surface on all four limbs of the animal, in contrast to swimming where due to floating of the animal, only front limb use is favored.

• Osteoarthritis
• Muscle, Tendon & Ligament injuries
• Decrease post surgery recovery time
• Neurologic conditions (operative or non-operative)
• Gait training and re-education
• Proprioceptive stimulus
• Muscle spasms / contractures
• Improve joint mobility and range of motion
• Controlled exercise as part of weight management
• General muscular and aerobic conditioning
• Fun activity for dogs

Swiming

The facility provides the ability of swimming against aquatic jets for massage action, maximum muscle use and an intense workout.