200 Canine Sports Medicine and Rehabilitation
Progression: Move to a steeper incline or per
form more repetitions of sit‐to‐stands on the hill.
Thoracic limb exercises
Wheelbarrow
Purpose: Strengthen the thoracic limb and core
musculature.
Goal: Full contractions of thoracic limb and
trunk muscles.
Technique: Using a rear end sling or hands
under the abdomen, the therapist lifts the
patient by the caudal abdomen until the pelvic
limbs are one inch off the ground, being certain
that there is no thoracolumbar spinal extension
or carpal hyperextension. The therapist observes
for contractions of trunk and/or thoracic limb
muscles. This can be a stationary exercise, or the
patient can be asked to walk forward on the tho
racic limbs. The therapist must be careful not to
apply direct pressure to the penis.
Contraindications: Carpal hyperextension,
shoulder impairment, or pain on spinal
extension.
Push‐ups
Purpose: Strengthen the thoracic limb muscles.
Goal: Controlled movement throughout, using
the thoracic limbs rather than the core muscles.
Technique: With the patient in a square sit, the
therapist holds a cookie in front of the patient’s
nose and lowers it slowly until it is close to the
floor before slowly sweeping the cookie forward,
encouraging the patient to take very small steps
with the thoracic limbs as he transitions into a
sphinx position. The therapist uses the cookie in
the reverse direction to encourage small thoracic
limb steps back into a square sit.Crawling
Purpose: Strengthen thoracic limb, trunk, and
pelvic limb musculature.
Goal: Patient is able to reach and push with all
four limbs keeping the trunk close to the floor.
Technique: On a nonslip, nonabrasive sur
face, a tunnel is created using cavaletti poles
inserted into cones or using a line of chairs. The
higher the tunnel’s ceiling the easier this exer
cise is for the patient. The patient lies down in
front of the tunnel and treats are placed at inter
vals throughout, encouraging the patient to
crawl through the tunnel (Figure 8.24). Verbal
cues are given during the crawl. Once the
patient has learned this command, the exercise
can be completed without the tunnel by simply
holding the treat close to the ground in a way
that forces the patient to reach forward with his
nose, giving the verbal cue to crawl while the
cookie is advanced.
Progression: Crawl in a pattern (figure 8s or
through weave poles), up and down hills, and/
or backward.Figure 8.24 This patient is learning to crawl by using cones and PVC poles. Initially, treats are placed under the poles
to make this a fun game. Source: Photo by Whitney Rupp.