Animal Health and Hydro

MANAGING PAIN WITH PHYSICAL ACTIVITY

When new clients come to see us with their animal companions, we often prescribe an increase in moderate, daily exercise at home to help reduce pain and help our patients feel better. What never ceases to amuse us, particularly with our more elderly clients, is that when we ask for feedback as to how the patient is doing, they often report that their dog is doing much better, but that they too (the clients), are also feeling much better. That is because exercise is so important for managing pain in all animals – humans included! Why is physical exercise such a key ingredient in any pain management programme? This article explores the importance of physical exercise in reducing pain.

Managing pain with physical activity - that sounds counterintuitive, doesn’t it? I know when I am sore the last thing I want to do is hit the gym or go for a run. So why should physical exercise be part of a regular pain management protocol?

INACTIVITY AND PAIN

When we or our dogs are sedentary, we don’t use our muscles, so over time our muscles become stiffer, smaller and weaker. If we don’t use them for a long enough time, they may even begin to atrophy altogether. Weak muscles are at risk of injury. When you are eventually forced to use these muscles, perhaps a friend invites you for a game of squash or you take your old dog out for a walk, it is likely that both you and your dog will be sore in the morning. Inactivity also leads to bone loss. Weakened bones are at risk of breaking. Further, not exercising regularly leads to a reduction in joint range of motion and fl exibility, which causes stiff, painful joints. Then, a sedentary lifestyle also weakens the heart and diminishes the body’s ability to use oxygen effectively. Finally, inactive dogs and people are prone to carrying excess weight, which places extra stress on the muscles, joints (such as the knees and spine) as well as the heart muscle.

All of these factors together often result in feelings of chronic pain. This is the start of a vicious cycle, because when we are in pain, we fi nd it much more challenging to motivate ourselves to move, let alone exercise. It’s no different for your animal companion. When your dog, cat or horse is sore they will want to move less and less which only makes the situation worse.

This is where you come in. Incorporating regular physical activity within your routine will benefi t you and all other participating members of your household.

HOW EXERCISE REDUCES PAIN

Our joints need physical activity to remain healthy because Exercise increases joint lubrication. Our joints are surrounded by a membrane called the synovial membrane. Physical exercise encourages this membrane to produce a lubricant called synovial fluid, which helps the joint move more smoothly. As you can imagine, this is very important not only for fi t and healthy animals, but also for dogs who suffer from painful conditions such as osteoarthritis.

Physical exercise increases the flow of blood throughout the body which feeds the synovial membrane with oxygen, albumin and hyaluronic acid as well as other nutrients which help to nourish the joints.

In addition, physical activity helps to remove waste products from the joint. Synovial fl uid and waste products can build up in the joints, especially in the case of an arthritic joint. Exercise helps to activate the synovial pump which helps to remove this excess synovial fl uid and the waste products from the joint. Failure to do so means that the joint could become more painful and infl amed, as waste products and fl uid accumulate within the limited joint space.

Exercise helps to build muscle and strengthen ligaments and tendons, to better support the joints. Weaker and compromised joints benefi t greatly from more supportive muscles.

Exercise also affects the body on a chemical level. Endorphins such as serotonin and dopamine are produced by the brain during physical activity, which helps to improve mood. Some of these endorphins help to relieve the feeling of pain. In other words, exercise can have analgesic effects, similar to taking pain medication.

Mild to moderate exercise has also been shown to improve the body’s immune system. The increase in the rate of blood fl ow throughout the body increases the production of white blood cells and increases the rate at which the red blood cells deliver oxygen to the rest of the body.

So, does this mean that you and your dog should start doing a Parkrun every Saturday?

HOW MUCH EXERCISE AND WHAT EXERCISE IS APPROPRIATE?

Just like every person is different, so too is every animal. The appropriate type and amount of exercise will vary from one individual to the next, depending on numerous factors such as: age, previous levels of activity, and whether the individual has any illnesses or is compromised in any way, such as suffering from osteoarthritis, hip dysplasia etc. Puppies and adolescent dogs for example should not participate in any cardiovascular exercise. Their exercise program should focus more on functional movements, balance, fl exibility, strengthening and limb awareness.

However, as this article is about using exercise to reduce pain, we will focus on exercise for dogs who suffer from painful chronic conditions.

While all dogs, including those that suffer from chronic painful conditions such as osteoarthritis need exercise and benefi t greatly from regular movement, we must issue a word of caution - pet parents of dogs that suffer from osteoarthritis should select their exercise type carefully. High impact exercise should be avoided in these dogs i.e. no running, jumping and no rough or unsupervised play. With these dogs all movements should be slow and controlled, such as controlled walking over cavalettis or walking on the leash down the street.

Another important consideration is how much exercise is the right amount? It is important for you to pay attention to your dog. Ideally you want to work to fatigue, but not through fatigue. In other words, if your furry companion gets tired, you need to stop. Keep an eye on your dog’s body language, breathing and ability to perform the exercise. There is always a learning component at the start of an exercise, and your dog may struggle till he understands what is expected. Then his ability will improve and finally decline again. Then it will likely decline again. This second decline occurs because your dog is getting tired. Do not underestimate how difficult these exercises are, both physically and mentally. Don’t be tempted to push too hard; you do not want to cause an injury. In this case, slower is always better.

LEARNING HOW TO WALK FOR EXERCISE

You want to slow your dog right down. When a dog walks it is a four-beat gait with three paws on the ground supporting the dog, at any given time. This is what we are aiming for. This may seem like a very basic exercise, but it becomes more important when we start to incorporate other functional exercises into your dog’s exercise programme. The faster your dog walks the easier it is to cheat, and the less benefit they will derive from the exercise. All the exercises that follow are done at this pace. There is no running, jumping or trotting in any of these exercises.

LEASH WALKING

As your dog becomes fitter and stronger, in weeks three and four you may increase the duration of each of the walks to ten minutes, three to four times per day. In weeks five and six you may increase the duration to fifteen minutes two to three times per day. Thereafter you may build up to twenty or twenty-five minutes twice a day. Do not walk your compromised dog for long periods less frequently, this may cause an injury. Your dog will benefit far more from short durations done with greater frequency.

After the first couple of weeks, you can start to include inclines in your sessions. If you have a little hill or driveway that is not too steep, you can start to walk your dog up and down the little hill. Walking up and down pavement embankments, in a wave-like pattern, alternating each side is also a good exercise. Varying the terrain on which you walk, such as moving your dog from grass to tar (make sure it’s not hot), to dirt, to gravel etc., will help to improve your dog’s ability to sense his limb, joint and body position.

CAVALETTIS

After two weeks of regular leash walking, you may incorporate cavalettis. Cavalettis are poles placed on the ground which your dog will walk over. The idea is for your dog to lift his feet over each of the poles and not to knock into them. Again, this exercise can be progressed by raising the height of the poles from the ground, as your dog becomes fitter and stronger. You will not want to raise these any higher than the middle of a compromised dog’s leg, keeping them well below the knee and elbow.

Start with the poles further apart and as your dog becomes used to the exercise, you may bring the poles closer together.

WEAVES

Place three or four cones, plant pots or similar items on the floor spaced at least one and a half to two metres apart. Use a treat and encourage your dog to weave through the cones - remember to keep it slow and controlled. Repeat in the other direction, to keep things balanced. This exercise can be progressed by moving the cones (or whatever you have chosen to use) closer together, as this creates a tighter bend.

SIT TO STAND

Using a treat, ask your dog for a nice, square sit. In other words, your dog’s back paws should be planted squarely beneath his body. Now ask him to stand. When he stands, we want him to push up with his hind legs, instead of pulling himself up with his front legs. This exercise is like a squat for a human. You would not ask your unfit, eighty-year-old grandfather to do twenty squats and the same logic should apply with your dog. Take it slow, only perform a couple at a time and increase gradually as your dog’s strength improves.

Dr Tanya is hosting a five module online course where she will teach you about a number of modalities which you use to help manage pain in your animal companion.

ANIMAL HEALTH AND HYDRO RYNFIELD 154 President Brand Str, Rynfi eld, Benoni

Contact: 083 230 2188

Email: animalhealths@gmail.com

ANIMAL HEALTH AND HYDRO PRETORIA EAST 218 Mark St, Grootfontein County Estates, Pretoria East, Grootfontein Country Estates

Contact: 074 251 4410

Email: ahahpretoria@gmail.com