AiredaleTerriers.org Airedale Terrier Information & Referral Resource

This physical therapy exercise helps the dog make the "brain to leg" connection plus builds up leg muscle. A myofascial release therapist and I developed this exercise specifically for my Airedale who had hind-leg weakness. My vets were amazed at how long I was able to keep Tracr up and wobbly and how much muscle was still maintained in his back legs after he lost all use of them. I think this exercise helped with that a lot.

Lay the dog on its back on the floor. Prop them up with pillows, or you can have someone help by holding their head and shoulders, to keep them from rolling over to their side. You sit on the floor at the dog's hind legs. Take hold of the dog's hind leg and slowly pull it towards you, stretching it out straight. Don't pull hard or fast ... gently. Then hold it in that position. After a few seconds the dog will pull its leg back in. Alternate legs and do 3 repetitions, 3 - 5 times a day. Here's a picture of the therapist and I doing it with Tracr. I'm sitting at Tracr's head with my legs holding him from flopping over. (He was incontinent, hense the towel). He had just pulled his left leg back in. They have to make that brain to leg connection to bring the leg back in.

Jacquelyn Sells
jsells at directcon.net
(530) 622-8097
3/2/2007