190 Canine Sports Medicine and Rehabilitation
selective muscular responses to perturbations
in any direction and of any intensity, magnitude,
or speed.
Proprioception training exercises
The authors have four basic proprioception
retraining exercises. The goal of each is to stim
ulate mechanoreceptors at all three levels (artic
ular, cutaneous, and muscle).
Cavaletti poles in designs
Goal: Navigate an obstacle course without
touching the poles.
Technique: First the patient is taught the
game. They must walk over poles without
touching any pole. They are given a treat for
each positive result. Once they understand the
game, the therapist creates designs and pat
terns for the patient to navigate (Figure 8.14).
Progression: Move the poles closer together
so that the patient needs to decide whether to
step between or over two poles. Next create
patterns on a hill, then patterns on a hill with
the poles at different heights.Zigzag walking on a hill
Goal: Walk across the slope of a hill in both
directions while maintaining a coordinated gait.
This exercise challenges the proprioceptive sys
tem by having the patient lift contralateral feet
higher on the slope in each direction (Figure 8.15).
Technique: Traverse the hill at a 10 to 80deree
angle to the slope. Turn every two to eight
strides maintaining the same angle to the slope
but walking in the opposite direction.
Progression: Change directions more fre
quently and with a steeper slope.Rocker/wobble board
Rocker board goal: Patient should be able to
maintain balance while the rehabilitation thera
pist applies nonrhythmic perturbations to the
board.
Rocker board technique: Starting with the
patient’s thoracic or pelvic limbs on the ground
and the other two limbs on the board, the reha
bilitation therapist controls the board. The
motion applied to the board should be non
rhythmic to prevent the patient from anticipat
ing the board’s motions.
Rocker board progression: A higher board
can be used. More sudden movements can be
applied. The stable feet can be placed on a sur
face above the board. The front and rear feet
can both be on unstable surfaces.
Wobble board goal: The patient should be
able to maintain balance while the rehabilita
tion therapist applies nonrhythmic perturba
tions to the board.
Wobble board technique: The wobble board
is designed to move in all directions whereas
the rocker board moves in just one plane.
Because the wobble board forces more engage
ment of the proprioceptive system; it is particu
larly advantageous for patients with early
neurological disease and for puppies.
Wobble board goal: The patient should be
able to maintain balance while the rehabilita
tion therapist applies nonrhythmic perturba
tions to the board.Figure 8.14 Cavaletti poles on a hill, in a pattern, and
with differently sized boards, are very mentally and
physically challenging exercises. The closer the boards
are together, the harder it is for the patient, as they must
decide the spaces in which to step to avoid knocking the
boards. Source: Photo by Whitney Rupp.