Hydrotherapy for Rehabilitation
Hydrotherapy offers many benefits including,
Physical Effects
-Helps to reduce inflammation and pain
-Help to counteract muscle loss
-Helps to relax tense, muscles
-Can increase active range of movement
-Can improved posture, transitions and gait
-Can be adapted to capabilities
-Can help gait re-education and counteract chronic compensatory movement patterns by promoting a better-quality movement/gait
-Enhance proprioception during neurological recovery
-Be used to support weight loss programs
Psychological Effects
-Enables a dog to have meaningful, fulfilling exercise if exercise is restricted on-land
-Provides them with social stimulation
-Can help prevent boredom
-Toys can be used in the pool- a perfect alternative to ball throwing
-Treats can be used for motivation (primula cheese works especially well in the water treadmill!)
-Can also be used to promote relaxation
Conditions Hydrotherapy Can Help:
-Arthritis -Elbow Dysplasia -Hip Dysplasia
-Patella Luxation -Cruciate Disease -LCPD
-FHO/FHNE -Panosteitis -Post fracture repair
-Post Amputation -Soft Tissue Injuries -Swimmers Syndrome
-IVDD/disc disease -FCE/spinal stroke -ANNPE
-Spondylosis -Degenerative Myopathy -Wobblers
-Arachnoid Cysts -Lumbar Sacral Disease -Peripheral Neuropathy
Water Treadmill
Hands on Hydrotherapy-Dynamic Assessment
Differences Between Pool & Water Treadmill
Pool Based Hydrotherapy
-Fully non-weight baring
-Different movement pattern (consisting of a power and recovery stroke) compared to on-land
-Benefits many forelimb conditions due to the greater range and muscle activation
-Can target different planes of movement by adding turns
-Can be used for amputees
-Can be fantastic mental stimulation/enjoyment factor
-Great for dogs with multi-joint arthritis and chronic pain
Water Treadmill
-Controlled partial weight baring, fully adjustable by changing water height.
-Same walking gait, range often increases as they try to step out of the water
-Benefits post operative or patients who require a more controlled active range
-Mostly targets straight line walking and gait re-education
-Good for dynamic assessment (feeling a dog whilst walking)
-Can still be enjoyable, especially with verbal motivation and prim cheese!
-Great for teaching a dog to walk again/neuro rehab
