Canine RRE
Assisted Standing
Slow Lead Walking
FITT Principle
Frequency
Intensity
Time
Type
Weight Shifting
Sit to Stands
What & How
Only if dog cannot stand
Why
Reduce the risk of decubitus ulcers
Allow chance to pass urine and faeces
Improve respiration
Improve circulation
Improve well being and confidence
Encourage neuromuscular function
Re-educate muscle
Improve strength and stamina
On a very small scale
Enhance proprioception
Use in recumbent animals to teach them to stand prior to walking
Dog is lifted to a standing position
Ground = stimulus
Sensory nerves (mechanoreceptors) feel floor under paws
Signal sent along relay neuron to brain
Signal sent along motor neuron back to paws
Effected muscle contracts
Triggers reflex pathways
Assisted Standing, peanut ball, 30 seconds, 3 reps (2 minute rest) TID/ QID
CONTRAINDICATIONS
If any movement is contraindicated - unstable spinal fracture
What & How
NON SLIIP SURFACE
Two Types
Physically move the animal
Get animal to move themselves
More control
Laterally and craniocaudal
Using food start with smaller movements
Why
Improves confidence in loading the limb
Provides proprioceptive input and fine motor control
The rhythmic mobilisation stimulates activation of the spinal stabilisers and core muscles
Causes ISOMETRIC muscle contractions
Improves coordination, balance and strength
Helps to improve core stability
Especially of Type I slow postural muscle fibres
Development of neuromuscular coupling of the lumbosacral junction is encouraged
Mechanoreceptors and balance system
Tell the cerebellum that the body is being pushed off balance
Brain then sends motor signals to muscles to contract and pull the animal back to the correct position
Static Weight shifting, 3-5 reps BID on flat non-slip floor, lateral movements to hindlimbs
Static, foam pad, wobble cushion
CONTRAINDICATIONS
Patient must be able to stand on all 4 limbs (3 if partially weight bearing)
Severe uncontrolled pain
If movement of any kind is contraindicated
Bone osteotomies that aren't surgically stabilised that haven't yet healed
What & How
Dog must walk at their pace
On a short lead with a consistent stride
If off lead exercise is causing lameness or deterioration of pathology
Why
Allows the handler to reduce load on the forehand and increase load on the hindquarters (better with a halti)
Gait re-education (proprioceptive benefits)
Reduces the patient's ability to compensate by using momentum in a stride
Limb loading in a less concussive gait
Increased load on individual limbs
Increased pro and retraction and flexion of joints
Increased muscular effort
Concentric and eccentrically
SLW, 15 minutes, TID, flat ground
CONTRAINDICATIONS
If movement is contraindicated
Neurological/ weak animal that cannot stand
Severe uncontrolled pain
What & How
Why
CONTRAINDICATIONS
Slow and controlled, square sit
Stand in a slow and controlled manner
Targets gluteals and quadriceps - doggy squats
Hip and stifle extensors and flexors
Active method of ROM and muscle activation
Does not over extend the hip
Has to be slow and controlled to create concentric and eccentric muscle contractions
Helps to train motor function/ control
It is useful in cases with:
Hip dysplasia
Hip/ stifle OA
Following stifle/ hip surgery
Neuro cases
Muscle build to target the gluteal, quadriceps and hamstring and gastrocnemius
S2S, 3-5 reps, BID, on flat ground
Patients with lumbosacral discomfort
Hind limb joint discomfort i.e. acute hip dysplasia/ acute stifle injury
Patients with 40-50% atrophy
Back pain
If the patient is struggling to stand or lower themselves
Poles
What & How
Why
Contraindications
1 pole to start
They should be spaced so that the dog alternates its legs over the poles
Always perform it in walk
No higher than hock height
Disunites their limbs in a stride and allows them to weight bear on each limb
Good gait re-education
Assists in lengthening stride
Challenges proprioception
Encourages them to lift their paws and promotes an increase in active ROM
It helps to promote voluntary muscle control (concentric and eccentric) and encourages more accurate limb placement
Build and strengthen muscle
3 flat poles, 3-5 reps, BID
50% muscle atrophy or more
Unable to stand
Lameness
Joint pain where flexion should be avoided - early TPLO
Lumbosacral discomfort/ pain
Initial phases of healing
Very poor proprioception
Poles placed higher than patient's hock
Raised to early in the program for patient's ability
Weaving/ Figures of 8/ Circles
What & How
CONTRAINDICATIONS
3 obstacles - 6-8ft apart
The dog should be on lead (SLW)
Slow and controlled manner
The sharper the turn the more intense
Why
Figures of 8
What & How
Place 2 obstacles apart (6-8ft)
The dog should be on a lead
Do not turn too sharply at the top and bottom
Circles
What & How
Should be performed on a flat non-slip circle
Initially start with 6-8ft wide and decrease width to 1.5 body lengths over several sessions
Walked slowly and controlled
One circle performed in one direction and then direction changed
Use cones to ensure consistency of distance
Encourage lateral limb ROM
Encourage weight bearing on inside limbs
Encouraging lateral flexion in their spines
Aids proprioceptive re-education
Strengthens the limb abductors and adductors
Encourages dynamic weight shifting
Core engagement
Good for animals trying to off loading a limb
Weave
3/4 cones, 3-5 repetitions BID
Figures of 8
6ft apart, 5 reps, BID
Circles
6ft wide, 8-10 reps, BID
50-60% muscle loss
Unable to stand
Lameness
Lumbosacral pain or spasm in the intervertebral
Hip dysplasia cases during early rehab
Patient with tight adductor muscles
Early-stage spinal surgeries or spondylosis cases (will cause pain by increasing flexibility)
Conditions where adduction/ abduction should be avoided
Conditions where lateral or medial rotation of the limb should be avoided