Underwater Treadmill
The underwater treadmill serves as a great rehabilitation tool in order to get your pet exercising, while greatly decreasing the impact on his or her joints. When walking with the water level at the point of the shoulder, the buoyancy of the water takes approximately 60% of the weight off of your pet’s joints. We typically have patients walk in the water as this is more functional and effective for strengthening, but we can also fill the treadmill up higher to have patients swim. Swimming is effective for increasing forelimb range of motion and for cardiovascular health.
Conditions that can benefit from the underwater treadmill:
- Arthritis
- Dysplasia
- Pre or Post Surgery
- Neurologic Dysfunction
- Ligament sprains, strains, or tears
- Generalized weakness
The underwater treadmill is a highly effective form of treatment for:
- Improving range of motion
- Improving strength
- Decreasing compensations
- Gait training
- Neuromuscular re-education
- Generalized conditioning in a low impact environment
- Weight loss and weight management