Hydrotherapy

Hydrotherapy is the use of water to provide a therapeutic treatment. This is usually in the form of a pool or underwater treadmill. How does this help?

Buoyancy

Buoyancy is what helps animals to float, therefore taking some of the weight off their joints. This is really beneficial for over weight patients that are already carrying extra weight. Animals that require hydrotherapy for rehab also find buoyancy helpful, as they are not required to over exert their core muscles and instead can focus on limb movement.

Temperature

Temperature is set to 28°C to 32°C, which helps to warm up the muscles and joints, promote healing and provide pain relief for the submerged body. The change in temperature will target the thermoreceptors linked to the nerves, therefore also helping to improve nerve sensation.

Resistance

Resistance is the increased force that is required when in the water. This is what helps build muscle and increase cardiovascular fitness. Using jets can increase the resistance, by creating turbulence making the swim more effort.

Hydrostatic Pressure

When submerged in water, the water places a small amount of pressure on this area, which is called hydrostatic pressure. This can help disperse fluid build up or swelling particularly in the limbs. The pressure can be aid nerve grown due to the increased stimulation as the animal moves through the water.

Cohesion

Cohesion is linked to surface tension, as there is more resistance at the water's surface. Breaking the surface tension (moving the leg in and out the water) which can increase the intensity of hydrotherapy. It is one of the reasons that we use higher weight height in rehab cases to reduce the intensity of the exercise

Treadmill VS Pool

Many factors can influence the decision on whether the hydrotherapist chooses the pool or treadmill. Below are some of the factors that the hydrotherapist has to consider with hydrotherapy.

Underwater Treadmill

Positives

Water height can be used to target specific joints
Greater control of speed
Can be used post-surgery
Easier to keep limbs within their normal plane of movement and reduce twisting through joints
More realistic to walking on land compared to swimming
Easier for the therapist to influence their movement to reduce land based compensations
Can use inclines to aid hindlimb engagement
Generally dogs are more comfortable with the treadmill compared to the pool
Easier to rest/perform a more gentle session compared to the pool
Good for bone strengthening post injury or surgery

Negatives

On very rare occasions dogs can panic when the belt is turned on
Amputees struggle to keep up with the speed of the belt due to their altered movement patterns
Some dogs struggle to settle if they do not tolerate enclosed spaces
Does not target limb retractor muscles as well as the protractor muscles due to the belt taking the leg back

Pool

Positives

Good for improving cardiac fitness
Better at increasing core strength compared to the treadmill
Amputees tolerate it better
Dogs potentially can get more enjoyment out of it

Negatives

Its not uncommon for dogs to be uncomfortable with losing contact with the floor
The movement is different to on land and is not always as effective at improving movement on land compared to the treadmill
Often dogs tuck up their back legs and do not use them
Their legs can twist and put excess strain through the joints
It is often not appropriate after surgery particularly initially, even if the surgery was not recent
Have to be extremely cautious with heart conditions and dogs that seizures hence often not appropriate for them to swim