Myotherapy

What is Myotherapy?

Myotherapy is derived from the prefix "Myo-", meaning "relating to muscles". Canine Myotherapy is a specialised muscle treatment that is hands-on and totally targeted to functionally and therapeutically manage the condition that is being presented by the dog.

At Snowy's Canine Therapy Centre, there is a designated therapy treatment room. Myotherapy specialises in the identification and treatment of muscular injury, weakness, muscle spasm, and associated compensatory issues. Myotherapy uses the application of advanced, targeted massage techniques enabling the therapist to work on the appropriate muscles to reduce areas of stress, improve circulation, muscle function, and therefore alleviate pain. This can aid in the enhancement of their performance, well-being, and recovery. The treatments used will restore and maintain the normal integrity of soft tissue structures (muscles, tendons, ligaments, and fascia).

Regularly, muscular issues in dogs can establish themselves in many ways, quite often muscle pain in dogs is taken too lightly and can be difficult to diagnose. It is surprising how muscular pain can affect the dog in a negative way, this in turn influences how the dog functions both physically and physiologically. When the dog receives Myotherapy the therapist aims to promote optimal muscle function through the easing of congestions and shortenings within the fibres, these may have been caused through injury, compensatory or repetitive strain issues. Myotherapy not only works on the joints and muscles but can influence the circulation throughout the body resulting in better distribution of oxygen and nutrients. In addition to this myotherapy also encourages lymph flow, allowing metabolic waste to be released more efficiently.

During a human massage, we are aware of the release of endorphins - nature's natural pain-relieving hormones, this is the same for a dog receiving a myotherapy treatment, these endorphins allow the dog to relax which in turn can ease discomfort and promote a feeling of well-being and relaxation.

So, to sum up myotherapy, the therapist identifies the area requiring treatment, through advanced palpation techniques, then treating effected muscles and muscle groups, joint function can be improved and an optimum range of movement for each situation can be achieved. This results in improved mobility, performance and a reduction in pain perception therefore reducing stress and allied symptoms.

Myotherapy is able to assist with the compensatory issues for the following conditions:

  • Osteoarthritis
  • Hip dysplasia
  • Elbow dysplasia
  • Osteochondritis Dissecans or OCD
  • Spondylosis

If you are unsure if your dog would benefit from Myotherapy, here are some guidelines below, that might help you decide, however, if you are still undecided, please contact us at Snowy's Canine Therapy Centre.

  • Slight lameness, gait changes
  • Stiffness of joints, you may notice this as your dog gets up and down off their bed
  • Depressed, shy, nervous or even anxious
  • Are your walks slowing down? This could be a sign
  • Flinches when you touch certain areas of the body
  • Not so keen on their competitions, reduced pace

After myotherapy treatments, you should see some improvement, the improvement is not always after the first session, and the sorts of improvements that can be seen are:

  • Reduction in pain
  • Improvement in range of movement of the joints
  • Signs of changes in the gait and moving pattern
  • Youthfulness of your dog
  • Changes of mood, improvement in skin and coat

Working Dog Benefits;

  • Pre and Post event treatments
  • Enhancing performance
  • Assists in handler communication

If you would like to know more about pre and post event treatments click here.

Myotherapy Benefits

  • Improvement in chronic posture and loading issues
  • Muscular pain relief - treatment of damaged or injured muscle and allied soft tissue
  • Persistent or compensatory effects following an injury
  • Relief of intermittent lameness
  • Post-operative recuperation and post trauma
  • Support for the development of healthy scar tissue
  • Muscular tension, knots or spasms
  • Aids in extending flexibility and mobility, enhances circulation and aids in the increase in range of motion