Rehabilitation and Fitness

REHABILITATION & FITNESS

Why choose Flexidog Therapy to help you and your dog...

  • Flexidog therapies provides a relaxed and safe environment for your dog. I do not force any therapy on your dog or use any painful or unpleasant techniques. 
  • I see the best results from therapies when your dog actively participates or is given time to relax and feel comfortable. I use my knowledge and experience of canine behaviour and body language to ensure your dog is relaxed and engaged in the therapy.
  • Flexidog Therapy is happy to work alongside your vet, veterinary physiotherapist, chiropractor, oesteopath and hydrotherapist to provide a multimodal approach to reach your rehabilitation goals.
  • As the owner, you play a large role in the successful rehabilitation of your dog. If your dog has an exercise rehabilitation session once per week, it’s up to you to practice the prescriptive exercises each day for the other 5/6 days. For maximum impact it helps if you understand where you fit into the process and how significant your contribution is to the improvement of your dog. 
  • Flexidog Therapy programs empower and motivate you to embrace and enjoy the process by teaching you not just the 'how' but the 'why' and what 'good' looks like. This knowledge can help you identify the physical and behaviour changes in your dog and potentially prevent some injuries, or reduce the severity of the injury in the future.

Exercise Rehabilitation Programme

Exercise rehabilitation is the process by which your dog is returned to functional activities by working through a program of personalised and progressive therapeutic exercises. These exercises include but are not limited to strength, flexibility, endurance, balance and power to meet the goals defined and agreed by the therapist, owner and veterinary professionals and supported by clinical reasoning.

At Flexidog therapy these exercise are taught using reward based training, your dog is never forced to participate so they also enjoy the sessions.

You will receive:
  • A personalised exercise plan from each session with an explanation of the exercise, signs of fatigue, no. of reps/sets/frequency on a web-based platform.
  • Further support and feedback via videos as required.
  • Requires veterinary consent - download form.
  • Regular communication with your vet.
  • Minimum 5 sessions.
This programme could benefit the following patients:
  • Pre or Post orthopedic surgery - dogs that have undergone surgery and require a holistic approach to ensure they return to functional fitness.
  • Post anaesthetic dogs that might need intervention to improve respiratory function or those with sedate overweight dogs.
  • Dog showing signs of musculoskeletal deterioration/atrophy or dysfunction where the vet doesn't recommend a surgical option eg. partial ACL tear.
  • Elderly dogs - dogs who are showing signs of premature aging and those that are elderly who may need some assistance in gaining a better quality of life. Likely to be suffering from Osteoarthritis.
  • Neurological patients - combined with surgical intervention and can include management solutions such as splints, harnesses or wheels.

Flexidog Foundation & Sports Specific Fitness Programme

Flexidog Foundation Programme is designed for sound dogs to improve their function, posture, movement patterns, proprioception, stabilisation, muscle recruitment and balance. This programme provides the owner and the dog with the knowledge and skills they need to complete their exercises in a correct manner. Your dog will benefit by improving their relationship with their owner but most importantly, reduce the risk of injury and pick up on any subtle changes and act quickly to reduce the severity of the injury.
Each programme is personalised to you and your dog. Using reward based training, you are taught how to teach your dog to perform the exercises in a accurate and consistent manner. You will learn what good looks like and identify signs of fatigue. You will also have access to Conditioning Your Canine, an online exercise programme, where you will be able to see videos of your exercises with additional notes tailored to you and your dog. Feedback on videos is also included to ensure you are getting the most out of your exercises.
The Foundations Programme is made up of 5 sessions. Vet consent is required – can be found on the Contact Me page.

Sports Specific Fitness programme is designed for owners who complete in a sport with their dog. This programme will be built to meet the needs of the sport you have chosen and may to include cardio, strength, power, plyometrics, endurance, stabilisation, advanced proprioception and movement patterns.
Each programme is personalised to you and your dog. Using reward based training, you are taught how to teach your dog to perform the exercises in a accurate and consistent manner. You will learn what good looks like and identify signs of fatigue. You will also have access to Conditioning Your Canine, an online exercise programme, where you will be able to see videos of your exercises with additional notes tailored to you and your dog. Feedback on videos is also included to ensure you are getting the most out of your exercises.
Your dog must have completed the Flexidog Foundation Programme to be eligible for the Sports Specific Fitness Programme.
The Sports Specific Fitness Programme is made up of 5 sessions. 

Fitness & Conditioning Group Workshops

Flexidog Therapy runs 8 week Fitness and Conditioining workshops.  I am also available as a guest trainer if a group of canine enthusiast would like an 'Intro to Canine Fitness' or a series of workshops. 

There are 4 groups, beginners, Intermediate, advanced and expert with all dogs starting in the beginners group. 
These workshops use everyday items with very little specialist equipment required especially in the early stages. 

Handlers learn how to train their dogs to complete the exercises, with explanations on which muscle groups are being activated, what 'good' looks like and why this is important.  All taught using reward based training methods.

This benefits the following dogs:
A well structured fitness and conditioning program can reduce the risk of injury up to 25%.  These workshops benefit all healthy active dogs regardless of whether they take part in a sport.

This is only for sound and healthy dogs.

Where and when:
  • Fitness & Conditioning group workshops will be held throughout the year.
  • Held within the M3-M4-A3 corridors or 40 mile radius of Sandhurst, Berkshire
  • Keep an eye on @flexidogtherapy facebook page for future dates.

Therapeutic Massage 
& Pulsed Magnetic Therapy (PMFT)

**Please note - this service is only available to boarding packages.**

Merishia Massage sessions include taking a full history, gait analysis by slomo video, palpation assessment for pain, fascial restrictions, muscle hypertonicity and atrophy, asymmetry in soft tissue and altas/pelvis alignment followed by appropriate therapeutic massage.

Merishia massage includes effluerage, tapotement, petrissage, Deep fibre friction, joint mobilisation, muscle energy techniques, indirect myofascial release and reflexology.

Flexidog Therapy also provides Pulsed Magnetic Field Therapy (PMFT). The unit used to deliver the therapy is commonly known as Biomag.  PMFT helps aid the body's natural repair by providing optimal conditions for healing to take place however it is not a cure.  The triple concentric applicator is placed on or under the relevant part of your dog's body whilst the massage takes place.

This benefits the following dogs:
All dogs can benefit from massage as problems can be identified and resolved before they show clinical signs however it can be most beneficial for active dogs, sporting dogs and elderly dogs.

For further info on PMFT can be found here. http://www.westvilletherapy.com/ 

Rehab & Board Package - Limited Availability

Exercise rehabilitation program and therapeutic massage with PMFT where your dog boards with me in my home. 

It can be overwhelming if your best friend has just had surgery and you are given a post-surgery plan to complete 3 times a day and maybe you are unsure and don't want to cause your dog more pain or cannot fit all the rehabilitation in to your busy schedule or may have the holiday of your life planned and your dog requires surgery 2 days before you depart.  Rehab & Board may the solution for you and your dog.  Your dog lives with me and my dog Lila and I train them to complete the exercises and we work through the progressive exercise program with cryotherapy and heat therapy, passive range of motion and therapeutic massage where appropriate. Nail Maintenance, controlled exercise in a private field, attending any other therapeutic appointments as required. e.g hydro.  Whilst in my care your dog will get full attention and get treated as if they were my own...that includes cuddles on the sofa, sleeping in my bedroom and the best personalised care available.

You will receive:
  • Updates and videos of your dog enjoying his/her rehabilitation program.
  • Hand over training with an exercise report to continue the program at home.
  • Minimum stay - 14 days.

Fitness & Board Package - Limited Availability

Fitness program and massage with PMF where your dog boards with me. 

Don't have enough time or skills to train your dog to activate the correct muscle groups and accelerate your dogs return to dog sports, worried you are doing to much or too little or going on holiday and want to enhance your dog's fitness while you are away?

Fitness & Board maybe the solution for you and your dog.  Your dog lives with me and my dog Lila and I train your dog to complete the exercises and we work through the progressive exercise program with therapeutic massage where appropriate with nail maintenance and controlled exercise in a private field. Whilst in my care your dog will get full attention and get treated as if they were my own...that includes cuddles on the sofa, sleeping in my bedroom and the best personalised care available

You will receive:
  • Updates and videos of your dog enjoying his/her fitness program.
  • Hand over training with an exercise report to continue the program at home.
  • Minimum stay - 14 days.

To help you stay informed and engaged in your dog's rehabilitation Flexidog Therapy has been working with 
Bach Canine Rehabilitation and Canine Rebalance to create a web based conditioning and rehabilitation exercise platform called Conditioning your Canine, so you can access your home exercise program whenever and wherever you are.
Full free trial available for therapists - full details on our website
www.conditioningyourcanine.co.uk
Launched in Oct 2021!!

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