Myotherapy

Canine myotherapy, similar to remedial massage focuses on the assessment, treatment and rehabilitation of muscular issues. It uses appropriate, effective and targeted specialised massage techniques and exercise management to manage the chronic muscular pain and inflammation that is caused from many different conditions that are so common in a dog’s life. It consists of an initial hour long consultation with Leanne Klein, a trained myotherapist, which consists of:

gait analysis
conformation analysis
infra-red detection of pain and inflammation
a physical and muscular assessment
myotherapy treatment
a treatment plan for home exercises
a tailored treatment plan for future sessions and advice regarding other modalities such as laser, physiotherapy and dietary advice.

Leanne is a graduate of the Galen Therapy Centre in the UK, where she has worked with vets to improve the health and well being of multiple animals. For more information on Galen Therapy see http://www.caninetherapy.co.uk/about-canine-myotherapy/.

Myotherapy is especially interested in improving blood flow, stimulating nerve endings, breaking down adhesions and increasing joints range of movement. Muscular issues can manifest themselves in many different ways. The pain can cause stress that will have a negative effect on how the dog functions both physically and psychologically. Myotherapy promotes muscle function. This is achieved through easing congestion within the muscle fibers caused through injury, compensatory or repetitive strain issues. Injury within the muscle fiber can cause inappropriate scarring, which will cause stress over the joints they articulate. By identifying, then treating affected muscles and muscle groups, joint function can be improved with optimum ‘range of movement’ for each condition or situation being achieved. This results in improved mobility, performance and a reduction in pain perception therefore reducing stress and allied symptoms.

Myotherapy is often used in conjunction with laser therapy. Here at West Toowoomba Vet Surgery we have invested in a class IV GIGAA laser, to increase the benefits to our clients.

Both are beneficial to to pets who suffer from:

Arthritis:

Pets affected by arthritis can develop tight, non elastic muscles which can cause the bones, making up a joint, to grind together. This increases inflammation and pain while further damaging the joint. Myotherapy treatments can release muscle tension and increase muscle elasticity which then allows the joint to move more freely. Keeping these muscles in good condition can increase the joint range of motion and help your pet to maintain a normal gait therefore, reducing the development of secondary issues.

Post surgery:

After surgery, treatments can assist the body to repair damaged tissues, stimulate nerve pathways, increase proprioception (awareness of their body parts), assist in the recovery period and reduce scar tissue.

Post cruciate or fracture surgery:

Myotherapy is a great form of rehabilitation, particularly post cruciate surgery and post fracture stabilisation surgery. A good treatment plan can assist your pet to recover and regain normality sooner.

If your dog has been favouring one leg for a period of time then certain muscles in the body will be compensating for this. There will be muscles which are damaged from overuse while other muscles will be slowly wasting away from not being adequately used. There will be areas of tension, non elasticity, small fiber tears and adhesions. Laser therapy is used here immediately before and after cruciate surgery to improve the return to weight bearing. Both therapies can be utilised in the weeks after surgery, or if conservative treatment has not been successful, to improve mobility and decrease pain.

Myotherapy can also assist pets with:

restoring balance
repairing damaged muscles
reducing and preventing issues that will inevitably occur in the three remaining ‘good’ legs
reducing the length of the recovery period

Treatments can also help reduce/ prevent secondary complications. Veterinarians will often highly recommend rehabilitation for their post operative patients. After all, you have just spent a large amount of money on the surgery, so you want to give your pet the best chance of receiving all the associated benefits. I can teach you exercises, to perform at home with your pet, in order to assist with their recovery.

Spinal issues:

Dogs with issues such as arthritis in the spine, disc disease or ongoing flare ups of back pain can benefit from regular Myotherapy treatments. The treatments can help relax the tense muscles which are trying to protect the weak areas. Keeping these muscles elastic and removing adhesions will help the spine to sit in its natural position and can reduce friction and pain in the vertebral spaces. During my treatments nerve pathways are stimulated which can increase proprioception (awareness of body their parts) and assist pets

who have an abnormal gait.

Agility and working dogs:

The treatments used will restore and maintain the normal integrity of soft tissue structures (muscles, tendons, ligaments and fascia). Leanne’s degree in Physics has also enabled her to concentrate on looking at the stresses and strains being applied to your dog. These stresses or strains may be due to disciplines such as agility or obedience, to gun work or general everyday routine and running around.

What to do next?

You can book into an initial consult with Leanne by ringing 46362027. She consults on Wednesdays and Fridays at our surgery at 357 West Street. You do not need to be a client at our surgery to book, but we will ask that you sign a form which allows us to retrieve your pet’s history from your usual vet. This ensures that there all health issues are addressed, we know what medications and treatments your pet has had or may be receiving now. It also allows us to send a report back to your usual vets if you wish.

Read her latest testimonials:

Sally has gradually slowed down over the past 4 years due to osteoarthritis issues in lumbar spine and hips. This means she has lost lots of muscle strength and splays her hind legs wide to stand and support herself. She struggles getting up and sitting down and toes knuckle as she walks at times.
Sally has now had 4 treatments and I have been pleased with Sally’s progress. I am not expecting miracles but just want her more comfortable, loosen up and be in less pain. Since her treatments she has been able to stand straighter in her hind legs and support her weight, she has been resting soundly at night where she used to be more restless, reaction to an occasional pinched nerve (possibly sciatic) has reduced, she appears to be in less pain and this can be seen in her eyes (we all know our own dog’s expressions) where she seems happier. There is also evidence of small muscular improvements so she has been more playful which has been such a pleasure to see.

Thank you, Leanne for what you have done so far!
Lyn, Newtown – Tmba

Myotherapy - Before — Sally was weak in the hind limbs and back before myotherapy

After myotherapy, the back legs were stronger, leading to less splaying of hind legs

Leanne house sat and looked after our cat Misty in March this year 2018.
We adopted her from the RSPCA, and knew very little of her background. She is a beautiful cat but had some behavioural issues such as biting and scratching when stroking her and chewing at her nails a lot. She also would run and jump wildly on the furniture.
As Leanne is a qualified Canine Myotherapist, we spoke about if it would work on cats as well. So we agreed that I would like her to try her treatment on Misty while we were away.
When we arrived home after 2 weeks, we noticed a huge change in Misty’s behaviour.
She was much more relaxed and didn’t bite or scratch us when stroking her, and doesn’t chew on her nails at all. We certainly were amazed at the change this therapy made to our Misty, and she still enjoys it on a regular basis. We would thoroughly recommend it and also Leanne.
Regards
Margaret (Highfields)