Front Matter

192 Canine Sports Medicine and Rehabilitation

Progression: The patient is asked to walk on
a narrower plank, then on a warped plank, and
finally to step on or over obstacles on the plank.

Balance blocks

Technique: Start with each foot standing on
one of four blocks in an appropriate standing
position. The patient is asked to hold this pos­
ture for gradually longer periods of time.
Progression: The blocks are brought closer to
the midline, creating a narrow‐based stance,
until both thoracic limbs are standing on one
block and both pelvic limbs are standing on the
other (Figure 8.16). Then the thoracic limb block
is moved closer to the pelvic limb block until all
four feet are on one block.
To make this exercise more difficult, the reha­
bilitation therapist can add rhythmic stabiliza­
tion perturbations to the patient (see below).

Trampoline, air mattress, soft cushions

Technique: After introducing the patient to
this unstable surface, the rehabilitation thera­
pist gradually increases the challenge to the
patient’s balance by having the patient sit or
stand while the surface is moved, or having
the patient move around on the surface with
or without the therapist manipulating it. Soft
foam cushions offer the least amount of chal­
lenge followed by discs, air mattresses, and
trampolines.

Progression: Starting with two feet on the

unstable surface and two feet on a stable sur­

face, the rehabilitation therapist allows the

patient to find their own balance. Once this is

achieved, the patient is asked to stand on the

surface with all four feet. Next, perturbations

of the unstable surface are added. This exer­

cise can be made more difficult by placing the

patient’s thoracic limbs on one unstable sur­

face and the pelvic limbs on another, with per­

turbations added when appropriate. For the

athlete working on high‐end balance, the

patient can stand with rear feet on a balance

disc and front feet on a physioball; increas­

ing the height difference between thoracic

and pelvic limbs increases the difficulty. To

strengthen the trunk and improve balance, the

patient can also be asked to perform sit‐to‐beg

on each surface.

Speed work

Goal: Improve the patient’s stride length, effi­

ciency, and burst speed.

Cavaletti poles for stride length

Technique: Starting with the poles separated

by a distance equal to the patient’s height at the

greater tubercle, and monitoring the patient’s

comfort (discomfort is indicated by stutter‐

stepping or stepping over more than one pole),

the patient is trotted through a set of six to

Figure 8.16 The patient’s limbs are placed on two blocks to enhance balance and proprioception. Source: Photo by
Whitney Rupp.