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Physiotherapy clinic

Providing support to ensure your dog's best recovery & fitness

What are the benefits of physiotherapy?

Canine rehabilitation is an emerging field which recognizes that dogs, just like people, can benefit from a specific exercise program and other therapeutic modalities that decrease pain, improve fitness, and restore functioning. It is based on the same principles as physiotherapy for humans, which are to restore, maintain, and maximize strength, function, movement, and overall well-being.

We at Martha & Friends provide physical rehabilitation and fitness & wellness:

Physical Rehabilitation: This is the branch that addresses issues that have already occurred, such as acute or chronic injuries or other ongoing physical limitations.

Fitness & Wellness: This branch strives to be proactive by preventing injuries before they happen, as well as to enhance the performance of an otherwise healthy dog (e.g. agility athletes, show dogs etc).

 

At Martha & Friends we offer the following:

INITIAL PROCESS:

After you have made contact with us, we will evaluate your animal in collaboration with the veterinary surgeon treating your dog. It is essential to determine its current functional level, history and specific challenges or deficits that need to be addressed. A detailed subjective and objective assessment is necessary to correctly identify each animal patient’s issues/dysfunctions and, from there, develop an appropriate clinical plan to achieve the best outcomes for a patient based also on your availability.

 

Call to book your initial examination now or email us at physio@marthaandfriends.lu!

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PHYSIOTHERAPY

Canine physiotherapy is an effective way of providing pain relief in a variety of physical ailments. The purpose of the therapy is to regain functional ability of limbs and joints by optimising movement and thus improving quality of life.

Physiotherapy treatment can help your dog if it suffers from any of the following:

  • Joint problems: arthritis (osteoarthritis and rheumatoid), stiffness in joints, elbow and hip dysplasia, luxating patella
  • Spinal stiffness/soreness, intervertebral disc disease
  • Back, neck, pelvic pain
  • Age related joint stiffness, decreasing mobility
  • Muscle, tendon and ligament (cruciate) strain
  • Difficulty with functions; jumping, stairs
  • Lameness
  • Trauma, soft tissue injuries to tendon, ligament (cruciate), muscle
  • Weight or inactivity/obesity problems
  • Pain or discomfort
  • Post surgery rehabilitation

IMPORTANT: With any kind of physiotherapy treatment, rehabilitation has to continue within the home and not just be practiced during the session. We will set up some daily steps you need to do with your pet at home.

TREADMILL & AQUATHERAPY

It combines the natural buoyancy and resistance of water to simulate walking on land, without putting any strain on your dog’s joints. As a result, the warm water possesses a soothing quality, helping to ease pain by releasing endorphins and encouraging movement through a series of controlled exercises on the treadmill.

It is perfect for:

  • dogs with medical conditions
  • sporting or working dogs
  • geriatric patients
  • obese pets

Hydrotherapy helps to improve:

  • Range of movement around painful joints
  • Muscular strength and tone
  • Limb proprioception and coordination
  • Balance
  • General fitness and cardiovascular fitness (heart and lungs)
  • Relief of pain, swelling and stiffness
  • Cruciate ligament injuries and post-operative recovery
  • Hip dysplasia – especially useful for young dogs who are restricted to lead exercise
  • Elbow dysplasia – especially useful for young dogs who are restricted to lead exercise
  • Arthritis – reduced pain and increased mobility
  • Spinal injuries
  • CDRM – chronic degenerative radiculomyelopathy
  • Recovering from injuries – soft tissue and neurological damage
  • Obesity (weight loss in conjunction with diet)
  • Mental wellbeing
  • Pre- and post-operative conditioning by muscle strengthening maintenance and restoration

LASER THERAPY

Veterinary laser therapy is an innovative treatment that uses light waves of a specific wavelength to cause photobiomodulation, or the alteration of cellular and tissue physiology. Light absorbed by cellular components activates cells to promote growth, proliferation, migration, and repair.

Laser therapy helps tissue repair by causing the following:

  • Endorphin release
  • Vasodilation, which increases blood flow to bring in oxygen and cells involved in the healing process
  • Muscle relaxation
  • Decreased inflammation
  • Faster healing and repair

Laser therapy is used for many veterinary medical conditions, including:

  • Chronic arthritis
  • Surgical incisions
  • Tendon and ligament injuries
  • Traumatic injuries
  • Accelerated Tissue Repair
  • Anti Inflammatory Effects
  • Muscle Tension
  • Reduce Scar Tissue
  • Mild Pain relief

 

 

 

Before physio

After physio

 

 

An example of the benefits of physiotherapy : little Biscotte before and after

Here is our patient, the young Shiba Inu Biscotte. She had a high grade hip dysplasia, diagnosed in August 2021. She had weekly sessions in the water treadmill, massage, laser treatment and targeted exercises designed to strengthen her muscles and improve coordination. Three months on, she has put on 1kg of lean muscle and is enjoying her walks again.