Hydrotherapy & Rehabilitation

An underwater treadmill gives rehabilitation something that cannot be replaced on dry land. Water supports the body, so a limb can bear weight sooner than it could on the ground, and at the same time it resists every step, so the muscle works even while the joint is still being spared. Water level and belt speed are set for each patient individually, so the load can be dosed precisely and increased only at the pace the patient can handle.

Most often we use it to guide patients back to movement after surgery and injury: after knee procedures, after shoulder or elbow arthroscopy, after complex fractures and after femoral head resection. It helps just as much after neurological procedures — intervertebral disc surgery, cauda equina syndrome, paresis or spinal infarction — where the point is above all to restore coordination and control of the limbs. Where the patient's condition allows, we like to schedule the first visits before a planned operation: the dog gets to know the water and the treadmill calmly, and after surgery rehabilitation is no longer a new situation.

The second large group is long-term conditions, where the aim is not a cure but keeping the patient mobile for as long as possible. In arthrosis and hip or elbow dysplasia, regular exercise in water maintains range of motion, eases stiffness and pain in everyday movement, and helps keep the joint functional for longer. In progressive neurological disease it can preserve motor function for longer.

It doesn't always have to be about illness. Walking against the resistance of water builds strength and stamina without the impact of running on hard ground, which is why we also use it for dogs that compete, work or are preparing for a show — whether building condition before the season or recovering after a demanding performance. We complement it with stability exercises out of the water, so the strength gained shows in everyday movement too.

Hydrotherapy is ruled out, however, by unhealed wounds, acute inflammation or certain heart conditions. The plan is therefore always drawn up and led by a certified physiotherapist.