Clean Run Magazine - July 2008 - 61

Stretch Actively There has been much debate about whether both human and canine athletes should perform “static” stretches after a warm-up. Static stretches are slow and constant, and the stretch is held at an end position for up to 30 seconds. There are many studies that have not demonstrated any benefit (and some have even demonstrated a detriment) of static stretching before athletic activity in humans or dogs. There is, however, a good consensus among researchers that a gradual warm-up that includes “active” stretching reduces the risk of muscle tears and tendon ruptures. Active stretches, those in which your dog performs movements that stretch his limbs and spine in ways that are similar to, or mimic, the actions he will undergo in the competition ring, are an important finish to a good warm-up. Performing active stretches allows your dog to regulate how far to push his own muscles. If you place your dog into a passive stretch, you run the risk of overstretching the muscle. Static stretches, described later in the article, should only be performed after the trial or training session is over and a proper cool-down has been performed. It is at this PHOTOS © CLEAN RUN time where the art of static stretching will hold the most benefit (increasing range of motion) and have the least detriment on your canine athlete. An active gracilis (a muscle in the groin area) stretch as well as a hamstring stretch can be accomplished by tugging with your dog. The active “cookies-at-the-hip” stretch should be performed in both directions to help stretch the paraspinal muscles (located along the spine), which are used for making tight turns. The “paws-on-thechair” stretch is another good active stretch for the back muscles. It also provides a nice stretch for the quadriceps (a muscle group of the upper legs) and the iliopsoas (a muscle in the lower back/hip area). A play bow is an excellent front-end stretch that focuses especially on the large triceps muscle group, which accounts for 60% of the dog’s weight-bearing mechanism. Active stretches should be performed immediately after you finish your warmup, while muscles are still warm. While you warm up your dog for competition, watch for hazards in the practice area as well as in the ring. Slippery or hard surfaces © CLEAN RUN should not be used when practicing high jumps, contacts, tight turns, or pivoting. Be sure your dog has the traction and support he needs for the activity you’re asking him to do, in training, during warm-ups, and while competing. If you are outdoors, scan the area for any thorny plants, trash hazards, or holes before allowing your dog to warm up. During the hot summer, be aware of the temperature of black asphalt or pavement as it can burn the pads on your dog’s paws. Some indoor events have padded matting over concrete surfaces, which is great, but the surface may be less than ideal in the warm-up area. Remember to keep your dog’s activity and warm-up appropriate for the support the surface provides. Most injuries, especially CCL ruptures and medial shoulder instabilities, happen to the canine athlete when a leg is planted and the dog pushes off in another direction. By minimizing other contributing factors such as poor conditioning, inadequate warm-ups, and questionable surfaces, you can help lessen the chance of serious injury. The Critical Cool-Down Period An active gracilis stretch and an active hamstring stretch can be accomplished through tugging. Beware that when you tug with your dog, you should not shake his head up and down or jerk it side to side. Let the dog do the pulling while you resist. Another good paraspinal muscle stretch, which also stretches the hip flexors, is the paws-on-thechair stretch. While doing this stretch at a trial, use any stable surface that’s an appropriate height for your dog. After your dog’s training or competition session, it is important to cool him down. His heart and respiratory rate are elevated, and he is panting to cool his body and muscle temperature. You can help your dog cool down by decreasing the intensity of exercise slowly over 10 to 15 minutes. Do this by taking him from a trot to a vigorous walk, and finish with a 5-minute slow walk. This cool-down period helps his body to remove metabolic waste products from muscles, which will help prevent soreness and tension. Be aware of the air temperature. Use cooling aids in hot weather, such as cool water on your dog’s paws and ears. Use a dog coat in cold weather to help prevent rapid cooling of the muscles, which can lead to lactic acid build-up and cramping. 61 A play bow is an excellent front-end stretch that focuses especially on the large triceps muscle group. July 08 | Clean Run An active paraspinal stretch accomplished by giving a cookie at the hip.
Clean Run Magazine - July 2008

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of Clean Run Magazine - July 2008
