Garden Route Veterinary Physiotherapy

01/05/2023

🐴 𝙃𝙄𝙉𝘿𝙇𝙄𝙈𝘽 𝙋𝙍𝙊𝙏𝙍𝘼𝘾𝙏𝙄𝙊𝙉 - 𝙛𝙤𝙪𝙧 𝙠𝙚𝙮 𝙢𝙪𝙨𝙘𝙡𝙚 𝙜𝙧𝙤𝙪𝙥𝙨 𝙨𝙩𝙧𝙚𝙩𝙘𝙝𝙚𝙙 🐴

Lots of requests for some more in this series, so here is another one!

When the hindlimb is brought forwards into a protraction stretch, the following are some key muscle groups are stretched:

• Hamstring muscle group — semitendinosus, semimembranosus, gracilis
• Bicep femoris
• Gluteals - superficial and accessory
• Longissimus dorsi - lumbar portion

For more information on additional muscles effected, how to conduct this stretch effectively for your horse, and in what instance this stretch is appropriate… I have a How to Stretch your Horse digital download available on my shop: https://vetphysiophyle.co.uk/product/stretch/ 🤍

14/03/2023

Kind words from Lindie. I appreciate it so much❤️🙏🏻

05/02/2023

🐴🐴 𝗖𝗔𝗨𝗗𝗔𝗟 𝗣𝗘𝗟𝗩𝗜𝗖 𝗧𝗜𝗟𝗧𝗦 🐴🐴

I see this exercise completed all over socials where hoof picks are used to get an exaggerated response, and the horse isn’t even held in a stretch for more than a couple of seconds at most!

These should be gradual. If your horse either lacks response or shoots into orbit every time you do this stretch, your horse is not able to complete this exercise correctly and comfortably!

Equally, if you have been recommended to use a hoof pick to get a response and stretch and your horse shoots into a stretch… this is also not what we are looking for.

🐴 𝘼𝙄𝙈
• Increase range of motion of sacroiliac joint, and thoracolumbar spine.
• Encourage engagement of core muscles to release hip flexors.
• Facilitate the relaxation of lumbar back muscles.

✅ 𝘾𝙤𝙧𝙧𝙚𝙘𝙩
• Smooth backward rotation of the pelvis
• No fidgeting
• Ability to hold the stretch for 15 seconds
• Smooth relaxation of the pelvis back to neutral.

⛔️ 𝙒𝙧𝙤𝙣𝙜
• Jerky or sharp rotation
• Dampened or non-existent response
• Inability to hold stretch
• Fidgeting, moving away or weight shifting
• Asymmetrical rotation ie. One side of pelvis stretches more than the other

𝑺𝒕𝒓𝒆𝒕𝒄𝒉 𝒚𝒐𝒖𝒓 𝑯𝒐𝒓𝒔𝒆 𝑴𝒂𝒏𝒖𝒂𝒍
To complete this stretch correctly, I have put together a Stretching Manual for Horse Owners (https://vetphysiophyle.co.uk/product/stretch/) which provides step by step instructions & cautions.

If your horse is unable to complete this stretch correctly, even with correct aids, please consult the advice of your vet and veterinary physiotherapist.

📸 Daydream Equine Art

03/02/2023

11/10/2022

Amazing feedback from new clients 🙏🏻 I LOVE hearing this kind of feedback! It's a small step in the right direction.

10/10/2022

How fortunate am i?
I will be consulting at Croft Animal Hospital every Tuesday & Thursday.
Phone Croft directly to make your booking now.
R450 / full physiotherapy session and NO traveling fees 😏😍

05/09/2022

14/07/2022

The 4 stages of OA progression, and how to treat each phase...

Canine Arthritis is a common condition affecting more than one out of every four dogs (Anderson et al, 2018). The progression of arthritis and the pain experience in individual dogs can be complex and challenging to manage, although many treatment and management options are available. Arthritis will progress through four stages, and the treatment and management of dogs will vary depending on the veterinary team and owner involved in their care.

Canine osteoarthritis can be divided into four stages. Treatment interventions for each stage can include owner education, rehabilitation, NSAIDs, environmental modifications, weight management, dietary changes, and exercise. Secondary treatment options that are less well established can be included as part of a multi-modal treatment approach to control pain and dysfunction in the individual patient.

A team of veterinary professionals specialising in the treatment of canine osteoarthritis (OA) came together to discuss and create guidelines that may be used by professionals in the treatment of canine OA, to create a science-based and effective treatment strategy for individual patients with this condition. In this weeks blog we discuss their findings.

Read more here: https://onlinepethealth.com/guidelines-for-treating-canine-arthritis-through-the-stages-of-progression/

06/07/2022

We love a bit of research.

Canine Massage Guild have been great supporters of our magazine, and we are great supporters of their evidence based canine massage training. A fantastic course to attend if you’re looking for a career as a Canine massage therapist.

Read their case studies and course information inside issue 26.

www.animaltherapymedia.co.uk

12/06/2022

Let’s TALK:
-Warm up and Cool down for the competitive dog 🐶-

with our therapist: Kirsten Straszacker .physio.kirst

⏫”The main goals of an effective warm up is to prepare the body for an activity that requires peak performance and to reduce the risk of injury.”

🧨“We are increasing the heart rate, increasing the blood flow to the muscles, ligaments and tendons, increasing the temperature of those aforementioned structures as well as increasing the rate of reflexes.”

“The warm up for a competitive dog also generates increased focus on the handler and task at hand. 🧠”

The components of an EFFECTIVE WARM UP include:
1️⃣ Controlled active walking and trotting
2️⃣ Ballistic stretching
3️⃣ Muscle specific activation exercises
4️⃣ Speed work
5️⃣ Low level task mimicking

💡 “It’s important to note that when stretching your dog during the warm up: your stretches need to be short fast movements without achieving the end of range of the stretch, your goal is to warm up the muscle without increasing the mobility of the joints.”

⏬“For your warm down; your main goal is the reduce the heart rate and blood pressure as well as decrease the lactic acid build up in the muscles that will contribute to increased muscle pain or stiffness after the task.”

We do this by:
1️⃣ Controlled trotting
2️⃣ Sustained stretching
3️⃣ Controlled walking

“This stretching process must be aimed at long stretching times where the muscles are being taken to end of range.”☑️

Kirsten will be presenting more on this topic later this week at to the members of the club.
If you would like to obtain more resources on this topic we would be happy to share it with you! Mention your name and email address in the comments below 📩

26/05/2022

And our winner is Amori Erasmus!

GRVT will post a question each month with great discount‼️

There was no wrong answer ( Kissing spine or Dorsal spinous process impingement) - next month will be a bit of a challenge 😉 see you then!

25/05/2022

‼️COMPETITION TIME‼️
Stop horsing around and giddy up your 25% discount.

Q: What equine condition/disorder is being shown in this radiograph?

*T&C apply. The winner will be announced asap.

24/05/2022

Equine Question Competition Time‼️
Answer the question correctly and win up to 25% discount on your next physiotherapy treatment😀

**Watch this space. The QUESTION with a photo will be posted tomorrow night at 7pm.
Winner will be announced asap

09/05/2022