PHYSIOTHERAPY TREATMENT: ACTIVE RANGE OF MOTION VIA CAVELTTI POLES
Dogs use very little of their available joint range of motion with certain gaits, such as walking and trotting. Through the use of cavaletti poles, we can increase flexion of certain joints. This encourages a greater active range of motion and muscle strengthening through a greater range. In addition, body awareness and joint position sense are challenged by stepping over obstacles.
- When first introducing this exercise at home, take it slow to acclimatise your dog to the new exercise. Create an area of a non-slip surface, and a place your dog feels comfortable with adequate space to perform this exercise.
- Place 1 pole on the floor (you can create poles with tools at home such as mop or broom handles).
- Reward once the dog steps over the pole, and then add an extra pole each rep. The dog should ideally step between the pole once with each paw (a measurement may have been advised by your therapist) with a slow, controlled walk.
- Once they are comfortable with this, raise the pole to the set height prescribed by your therapist with one side raised and one of the floor.
- Slowly lure them back over the poles. They may knock them over to start with but should get the hang of it as they go. If they are consistently knocking them please let your therapist know,.