Classic Physiotherapy

24/10/2025

Dog Back Pain (IVDD) - Intervertebral Disc Disease
For dwarfed breed dogs and others a prevalent cause of dog back pain is disc disease. Disc disease also can occur in some large breed dogs. Common terms used for this kind of pain are slipped disc, bulging or herniated disc. If a dog were to be born with the disease of prematurely aging discs, then it is not until the first signs of pain generally at 3 to 7 years old, the owner and the vet first learn the dog has IVDD Learn more at dodgerslist.com

24/10/2025

23/10/2025

CPS 2026 Ticket Update! 🚨

Wow, our first batch of CPS 2026 tickets is already flying!

If you’ve been meaning to grab yours… this is your gentle nudge 👉 don’t wait too long!
Once a batch sells out, the next price bracket kicks in, and they’re going FAST.

💡 Why join us in 2026?
✨ 3 days of world-class learning
✨ Longer breaks
✨ On-demand access all weekend
✨ Epic collaborations on Sunday
✨ VIPs get 12 months of rewatch access

Whether you’re a vet professional or an allied professional, there’s a stream designed just for you - so check the website carefully before booking.

🎟️ Secure your spot now at http://chronicpainsymposium.co.uk (link in bio)

Let’s make CPS 2026 our biggest and most inspiring year yet! 💙

22/10/2025

✨Announcing another guest speaker for next week!!✨ 🐾 Online Mini Massage Masterclass – Live with Natalie Lenton
Join canine. massage expert Natalie Lenton on
Wednesday 22nd October at 7pm (UK) for a 75-minute interactive Zoom workshop where you’ll learn how to gently connect with your dog through safe, soothing massage techniques.

In this relaxed, hands-on session, Natalie will guide you step-by-step through three foundational techniques designed to help your dog unwind while helping you understand their body, assess for areas of tension, and deepen your bond.

As she demonstrates with her own dogs you will see the various biomechanical positions the dogs present, so that you will have options to try out and how to work WITH your dog rather than ON your dog. They don't need to lie down, just be present with you and you with them.

You’ll work with your own dog in real time as she demonstrates the techniques and discusses their physiological and psychological benefits while encouraging you and your dog to join in. She shares insights from over 20 years in canine massage therapy, and shows you how mindful touch can improve awareness, trust, and relaxation.

Quite often these foundational techniques are taught incorrectly but with Natalie you can be assured to get it right first, time every time!

We look forward to seeing you and your dog there!

📅 Wednesday 22nd October | 7pm (UK)
💻 Live via Zoom | 75 minutes

NO NEED TO REGISTER! Just turn up! Room open 10 minutes before. 7pm-8.15pm - 75 minutes

ZOOM LINK

Join Zoom Meeting
https://us02web.zoom.us/j/82088455343?pwd=wlaQHNk8kkOyhctbnCREmKdQ5n0Tye.1

Meeting ID: 820 8845 5343
Passcode: 170951

Join instructions
https://us02web.zoom.us/meetings/82088455343/invitations?signature=uy-xDNNW74QXQMMWrrB1XwgplQ-Cp_rForsPIIFX5zA

Natalie is a master canine massage therapy trainer. She established the Canine Massage Therapy Centre in 2006 and in 2011 founded the worlds largest association of canine massage therapists the Canine Massage Guild. Her method, the Lenton Method of neuromyofascial release has been clinically trialled by Wi******er University and published in the Vet Record by the British Veterinary Association. She wrote and delivered the 2 Year Clinical Canine Massage Practitioner Programme which has recently become a Level 5 OFQUAL regulated qualification. She trains in varied disciplines of massage including myofascial release both the direct and indirect approach, manual lymphatic drainage, faciliated stretching, neuromuscular facilitation, ventral aspect and visceral myofascial release for the canine , deep tissue, sports massage and swedish. She also trains workshop instructors to deliver the flagship 1 day self interest courses Beginners Guide to Canine Massage and Canine Massage for Agility and sport. She lives on the borders of Wales with Lyra & Pan her beloved dogs.

20/10/2025

🐶 Puppies grow fast — but their bodies need time to catch up. From ball launchers to slippery floors, everyday habits can lead to joint and muscle injuries in young dogs.
💡 Growth plates are fragile. Muscles are still developing. What seems fun now could cause pain later.
📖 Read the blog: Minimising Joint and Muscular Injuries in Your Puppy. Learn how to protect your pup’s growing body — and set them up for a lifetime of healthy movement.
👉 https://www.caninemuscularhealth.org/post/puppy-growth-and-bone-development-nurturing-healthy-strong-and-safe-dogs

12/10/2025

The Hidden dangers of ball throwingThrowing, catching and retrieving balls and flying objects are the main and often daily activities of many dogs and their owners. Sadly, we are very rarely educated what consequences that kind of play has on physical and mental wellbeing of our dogs.Is ball catchin...

02/10/2025

Dogs get trigger points especially older dogs or those not moving well such as recovering from injury or an operation. Or dogs living with long term conditions like hip or elbow dysplasia. Physio can help these painful knots plus help the dog to move better to reduce reoccurrence.

𝐖𝐡𝐚𝐭 𝐇𝐚𝐩𝐩𝐞𝐧𝐬 𝐈𝐧𝐬𝐢𝐝𝐞 𝐚 𝐓𝐫𝐢𝐠𝐠𝐞𝐫 𝐏𝐨𝐢𝐧𝐭?  
  
Trigger points develop through a self-perpetuating cycle known as the energy crisis (Simons, 2004).  
  
𝐒𝐭𝐞𝐩 𝟏. 𝐌𝐮𝐬𝐜𝐥𝐞 𝐎𝐯𝐞𝐫𝐥𝐨𝐚𝐝 𝐨𝐫 𝐒𝐭𝐫𝐞𝐬𝐬  
Trigger points often begin with overload, strain, or compensatory use.  
Leads to sarcomere contracture (taut band): muscle fibers remain shortened (“knot”) due to excess acetylcholine at the motor endplate.  
  
𝐒𝐭𝐞𝐩 𝟐. 𝐑𝐞𝐬𝐭𝐫𝐢𝐜𝐭𝐞𝐝 𝐁𝐥𝐨𝐨𝐝 𝐅𝐥𝐨𝐰 (𝐈𝐬𝐜𝐡𝐞𝐦𝐢𝐚)  
Contracture compresses local capillaries, reducing oxygen and nutrient delivery.  
Local ischemia leads to muscle fatigue and delayed healing.  
  
𝐒𝐭𝐞𝐩 𝟑. 𝐌𝐞𝐭𝐚𝐛𝐨𝐥𝐢𝐜 & 𝐂𝐡𝐞𝐦𝐢𝐜𝐚𝐥 𝐂𝐡𝐚𝐧𝐠𝐞𝐬  
Local tissue develops an acidic pH.  
Inflammatory mediators (e.g., cytokines, bradykinin, substance P) accumulate (Shah et al., 2008).  
  
𝐒𝐭𝐞𝐩 𝟒. 𝐍𝐞𝐫𝐯𝐨𝐮𝐬 𝐒𝐲𝐬𝐭𝐞𝐦 𝐒𝐞𝐧𝐬𝐢𝐭𝐢𝐳𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧  
Peripheral sensitization: nociceptors around the TrP become hypersensitive.  
Central sensitization: the spinal cord and brain amplify pain signaling (Jafri, 2014).  
  
𝐒𝐭𝐞𝐩 𝟓. 𝐏𝐚𝐢𝐧 & 𝐏𝐫𝐨𝐭𝐞𝐜𝐭𝐢𝐯𝐞 𝐂𝐨𝐧𝐭𝐫𝐚𝐜𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧  
Trigger points cause pain and guarding behaviors.  
A local twitch response may occur when the taut band is palpated.  
  
𝐒𝐭𝐞𝐩 𝟔. 𝐄𝐧𝐞𝐫𝐠𝐲 𝐂𝐫𝐢𝐬𝐢𝐬 → 𝐏𝐞𝐫𝐩𝐞𝐭𝐮𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧  
Pain triggers guarding behaviors – protective contraction further overload the muscle.  
This fuels the energy crisis cycle:
  
Overload → contraction → ischemia → chemical irritation → pain → more contraction (Simons, 2004).  
 
 

02/10/2025

When you work on the equine body and you see first hand the stress and injuries that occur due to modern training, horsemanship and care practices- it’s really, REALLY hard to look the other way.


What’s even harder is realizing that a lot of the problems are ‘man made’.

👉Starting horses too early
👉Putting their bodies under too much stress
👉Tack that doesn’t fit
👉Training methods that are too harsh
👉Improper hoof care
👉Lifestyles that impede development
👉Lifestyles that cause anxiety

We end up stuck in a vicious cycle of trying to correct problems that we, ourselves as an industry are causing.

If more equestrians were educated on how to care for and manage their horses correctly- we could solve a lot of these issues for our horses.

We would see less behavioral problems, less injury, more longevity, far fewer issues with soundness.

We can make a difference in our horse’s future and I think that’s what most of us want.

We just need to be willing to adjust our expectations a little.

The change starts with individual knowledge.
Critical thinking skills.
Giving your horse the time they need to develop and recover when necessary.
Seeing through marketing.
Understanding the equine body and mind at its core.

🫶WE can do this- YOU can do this!

⭐️If you’re ready to make this shift within your own horsemanship, my Equine Wellness Academy is an amazing resource.
📚More info in the comments