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Dear Laurie,
I have several questions.....

I would like to offer a Senior canine wellness and conditioning class as a way to be proactive in overall Senior health care. I plan to discuss nutrition, training/environment enrichment, socialization and conditioning. I have a few concerns...I believe that Conditioning is not "one size fits all" for any dog for one could easily worsen a pre-existing problem. I feel that it would be helpful if I could evaluate each dog at the onset of class to help customize the program. I would like your opinion. Would you like for me to post this question on the FORUM?

What could a decreased space of the AO joint indicate? Especially if there is not a head tilt present.

I have been wondering - what do you think about using Kinesiotape for patellar luxation and maybe a CCL Tear? Placing the tape around the joint.....did you say that placing the tape across the direction of the muscle fibers would inhibit the muscle and placing it in the direction of the muscle fibers can promote firing? I actually have a knee brace (Count'R Force) to help with patellar luxation and there is a small "lip" that sits below the knee cap and the rest of the brace just wraps around the stifle joint. I was thinking that maybe the Kinesiotape would serve a similar purpose for dogs?

Just a note - I have been having knee problems lately and after reading your blog and watching the video, I decided to do Effleurage toward the back of my knee, assuming we have a popliteal lymph node, and then I did rhythmic tapping on each side of the proximal edge of my patella.....I swear to you Laurie, my knee felt better! I wonder if the tapping would be beneficial for pain at any joint; not just along the paraspinals?!

Thank you for your help, Laurie! I really appreciate all that you do!
I look forward to seeing you in April at the STAAR conference!
Sincerely,
JP

Hey J,

Here we go!

1. For a senior dog class, we’ve found that you need to keep it to a very small group and do exercises in rounds. We only have 6 participant dogs and 2 therapists for the classes. That way the therapists can go around and monitor. When showing exercises, show modifications for each. You don’t really need to assess each dog (I understand where you’re coming from… but nobody assessed me before I started yoga or weight training). You watch how the dogs are doing, and advise.

2. Decreased OA space… neck issues, atlanto axial joint, TMJ is another one. So, you have to go and assess all of these things. AND be sure that the dog is looking straight when assessing. You may also just go with assessment of mobility and see what you find.

3. Kinesiotape for patellar luxation or CCL… is really just a proprioceptive aide. I will be doing a few educational videos on it coming up. The direction of tape has not been proven to change muscle inhibition or muscle firing. Those things are a propagated myth. As well, in speaking with the guys that create orthotics and custom braces, there is no way that you can hold the patella in place. You would need such an extreme force on a small area to keep it in place, that you would do more damage. So, no to a brace. I have proposed trying kinesiotape in dogs with patellar luxation… why not? Simply as a proprioceptive aid!

4. it’s all neurophysiologic baby! Mechanotransduction is the term for the application of a mechanical force to create neurophysiologic changes. It really means that you could come up with any kind of ‘new therapy’!!!

There you go! So sorry for my slow reply!
See ya at STAAR!!!

Cheers,

Laurie

Laurie,
You are wonderful!!
Thank you for your response!! I don’t know how you do it all!!
I love this field .... I’m still such a newbie.... I’m so grateful for all that you do!!
I’m having a hard time getting my business started.... but 4LegRehab is such s great resource! I’m so grateful that I have a place to go to look for information, ask questions & to keep me from giving up!!
I’m so excited to finally be able to take your class on manual therapies for the canine spine!!
Thank you so much!!
J

I’m very happy to fill that roll and I look forward to seeing you at the Manual Therapy course!

All the best to you and those in your care!

And have a very Happy Christmas as well!

Cheers,

Laurie