09/03/2026
A strong core isn’t just about fitness — it’s the foundation of how your dog moves.
Your dog’s core muscles stabilise the spine, support posture, and allow the limbs to move efficiently. When the core is weak, the body compensates, which can lead to poor movement patterns, overload on joints, and a higher risk of injury.
Research from the University of Tennessee (Henderson, 2014) looked at military working dogs with lumbosacral pain and found something really interesting: dogs with back pain had smaller, weaker and asymetrical spinal stabilising muscles, particularly the multifidus.
After just 8 weeks of targeted core conditioning, those dogs showed:
🐾 Increased spinal muscle size
🐾 Improved muscle symmetry
🐾 Reduced pain
🐾 Better working performance
In other words, strengthening the core didn’t just improve fitness — it improved function and resilience.
Whether your dog is a sport dog, working dog, or simply an active companion, core conditioning plays a huge role in maintaining healthy posture, efficient movement, and long-term soundness.
Because when the core is strong, the whole body works better.
Emma Overend
Owner, Canine Conditioning
Learn how to correctly condition your dog with the Canine Conditioning Academy
Key Study: Core Strengthening in Dogs
Overview of Evidence
Research in canine rehabilitation increasingly shows that core stabilisation exercises improve spinal muscle function, reduce pain, and enhance working performance in dogs. Studies using imaging (CT, MRI) demonstrate that dogs with spinal pain often have atrophy or asymmetry of deep spinal stabilizers, especially the multifidus and longissimus muscles.
Core conditioning programs — similar to those used in human physiotherapy — can restore muscle size and symmetry, which improves spinal stability and function. Henderson’s 2014 study is one of the first controlled investigations demonstrating measurable muscle changes after a core exercise program in dogs.
Main Paper
Henderson, A. L. (2014). Effect of a Core Conditioning Program on Lumbar Paraspinal Area, Asymmetry and Pain Score in Military Working Dogs with Lumbosacral Pain. University of Tennessee Graduate School.
PDF: https://trace.tennessee.edu/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?article=4154&context=utk_gradthes
Repository: https://trace.tennessee.edu/utk_gradthes/3155/
Study Design
Subjects:
8 military working dogs with mild lumbosacral pain
8 healthy control dogs
Measurements
CT scans of spinal muscles
Pain scoring (Visual Analog Scale)
Functional performance questionnaires
Muscle cross-sectional area and symmetry
Muscles analyzed
Multifidus lumborum
Longissimus lumborum
Quadratus lumborum
Intervention
8-week core stabilisation exercise program
Dogs were divided into:
Exercise group
Rest-only group
Major Findings
1. Dogs with back pain had weaker core muscles
Compared to healthy dogs, affected dogs showed:
Smaller multifidus muscle cross-sectional area
Reduced muscle density
Greater asymmetry
These findings suggest spinal instability due to deep muscle weakness.
2. Core exercises reversed muscle atrophy
After 8 weeks of core training, dogs showed:
Significant increase in multifidus cross-sectional area
Improved muscle symmetry
Increased muscle density
3. Functional performance improved
Working dogs in the exercise group had:
Lower pain scores
Better search and detection performance
Improved working ability
Dogs that only rested did not improve significantly.
Key Scientific Conclusion
Core stabilisation exercises can improve spinal muscle morphology and functional performance in dogs with lumbo-sacral pain.
This supports the use of canine conditioning programs in:
working dogs
sporting dogs
rehabilitation after spinal injury
Related Research Supporting This Study
Cain, B., Jones, J. C., Holásková, I., & Freeman, L. (2016). Feasibility for measuring transverse area ratios and asymmetry of lumbosacral region paraspinal muscles in working dogs using CT. Frontiers in Veterinary Science. https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fvets.2016.00034
Spinella, G., Bettella, P., Riccio, B., & Okonji, S. (2022). Overview of neurological diseases in dogs with focus on rehabilitation. Veterinary Sciences. https://www.mdpi.com/2306-7381/9/8/429
Gruenenfelder, F. I., Boos, A., & Mouwen, M. (2006). Evaluation of physical therapy exercises for mobilization of lumbar spinal nerves in dogs. American Journal of Veterinary Research.
Boström, A. (2018). Evaluation of epaxial muscle structure in dogs with spinal disease. University of Helsinki.
Rowland, K. L. (2017). Muscle area ratios in military working dogs using CT. Clemson University.
Pedersen, A. (2023). Veterinary rehabilitation and spinal muscle function in dogs. Acta Veterinaria Scandinavica.
Cappucci-Lorentz, D., Meyer, K., & Goldberg, M. (2018). Working dogs: exercise, conditioning and physical rehabilitation. CABI.
Edge-Hughes, L. (2007). Conservative management of thoracolumbar IVDD in dogs. CHAP Newsletter.
