Front Matter

Chapter 8 Therapeutic Exercise 199

lumbar spinal extension as indicated by
thoraco‐lumbar concavity.

Pelvic limb exercise

Side stepping

Purpose: Strengthen the thoracic and pelvic limb
abductor and adductor muscles, particularly the
gluteal, pectineus, and pectoralis muscles.
Goal: Full abduction and adduction with the
feet crossing over once the patient is strong
enough to do so.
Technique: With the patient standing per­
pendicular to the therapist’s path, the collar is
held in one hand while the other hand is
placed 1–2′′ from the opposite hip. The second
hand is there so that if the patient tries to twist
out of position, the hand gently reminds them
that it is not an acceptable alternative to
straight side stepping. Alternatively, one can
use the suitcase harness described earlier, as
this gives the handler the ability to drive the
patient sideways without the patient being
able to spin away. The therapist steps forward
taking equidistant steps to keep the pelvis
square so as not to stress the therapist’s lower
back, encouraging the patient to step sideways
away from the therapist.
Progression: Have the patient side step over
poles, up and down hills, and on a peanut ball.
The patient that is able to perform side steps on
hills or inclines should perform equal reps
moving up and down the hill as well as to the
left and to the right.

Sit‐to‐stand

Purpose: Strengthen the hamstring and gluteal
muscles.
Goal: Sit squarely and use only pelvic limbs
in transitioning to stand.
Technique: The patient is asked to sit
squarely from a square stance. While holding
the collar to prevent the patient from stepping
forward, the therapist tickles the abdomen to
encourage the patient to stand by extending
only the pelvic limbs. If the patient places a pel­
vic limb laterally, the therapist tickles the foot to
encourage its return to a square position. The
therapist should not move the foot for the
patient, as this will not change the behavior. To

strengthen one side more than the other, when

asking the patient to rise, the therapist gently

moves the collar to the affected side. Though

this is a simple exercise, like human sit‐ups or

push‐ups, many repetitions can quickly lead to

increased strength.

Progression: This exercise can be performed

on progressively more unstable surfaces or fac­

ing up an incline, but not down as this would

allow the dog to overuse the thoracic limbs

instead of the pelvic limbs.

Backwards walking

Purpose: Strengthen hamstring, gluteal, and

triceps muscles.

Goal: Step back with full extension of hip, sti­

fle, tarsus, and elbow rather than squatting or

hopping.

Technique 1: With the patient standing

squarely, a cookie is held to the thoracic inlet

while the therapist walks toward the patient’s

front, encouraging him to back up.

Technique 2: With the patient standing paral­

lel to a wall and the therapist standing at his side,

one hand is used to prevent the patient from

stepping away from the wall, while the other

gently guides the patient to step backward.

Technique 3: Using the suitcase harness with

equal pressure in each hand, guide the patient

backward.

Technique 4 (for the obedience‐trained dog):

With the patient standing in heel position, the

therapist walks backward quickly enough to

prevent the patient from sitting or crouching

with the pelvic limbs.

Sitting on a hill

Purpose: Strengthen the gluteal and hamstring

muscles.

Goal: Maintain the patient’s body perpendic­

ular or parallel to the slope while facing up hill.

Technique: With the patient facing perpen­

dicular to the slope, the therapist asks for a

square sit, not allowing the hips to slide down­

hill or the front feet to point downhill. With the

patient facing uphill, the therapist asks for a

square sit without the patient pulling weight

forward onto his thoracic limbs or letting his

hips slide downhill. The patient will attempt to

face downhill to evade the effort required.