Clean Run - December 2014 - 51

Dr. Britt Carr performing objective gait analysis
using a pressure-sensing walkway.

A patient performing exercises with physioball
for core muscle strength training.

limbs and feet in space. Examples of such exercises include slowly walking over the
rungs of a ladder or cavalettis. A canine sports medicine professional can recommend
exercises to incorporate into your training program to help improve your dog's balance and proprioception.
Warm-Ups and Cool-Downs
Warm-ups and cool-downs are essential for reducing the risk of injury as well as improving flexibility and overall performance. Consulting with a canine sports medicine
and rehab professional is strongly recommended when constructing an appropriate
warm-up and cool-down program. While warm-ups and cool-downs should be incorporated into your training program, certain warm-up and cool-down techniques
are thought to be more beneficial for the agility dog. Recent studies suggest that
dynamic warm-ups in which the body is moved through the motions that will occur
during the sport are superior to static warm-ups where the limbs are passively moved
in stretched positions.
Athletes who participated in dynamic warm-up routines were found to have improved performance in flexibility and jumping when compared to athletes who participated in static warm-up routines. Additionally, a recent study shows that passive
stretching can be detrimental to performance times. Generally, good warm-up routines for agility dogs incorporate active movements that put the joints through full
flexion and extension cycles. This could include 2-3 minutes of walking then trotting
that is followed by side-to-side movements or tugging, and then dynamic stretches that mimic the range of motion required by agility. Examples of these dynamic
stretches include paws-up, wave, spin, bow, and beg exercises. Just as the warm-up
routine is an essential part of the training program, the cool-down routine is equally
important in preventing injury and improving performance.
The cool-down routine should consist of a gradual reduction in exercise followed by a
brief whole body rubdown and passive range of motion of each extremity. A gradual
reduction in exercise may consist of light trotting followed by walking. After a brief
whole body rubdown, each extremity should be placed through passive range of
motion. Having the dog lay on his side and gently moving the dog's leg to recreate
a typical walking stride can accomplish this. During the cool-down it is important to
be vigilant for signs of injury. One of the most common signs of injury is stiffness or
when performing the cool-down. Should you notice these signs, please contact your
canine sports medicine and rehab veterinarian promptly.

Joint-Health Supplements
In addition to maintaining a healthy diet and training program, joint-health supplements have also become important in the training regime of a canine athlete.
In general, the use of joint health supplements is recommended for performance
dogs because of the stress they place on their joints during training and competition. Repeated stress on the joints causes excessive wear and tear on the joint carDecember 14 | Clean Run

Patient swimming for
endurance training.

tilage and supportive soft tissue structures, which can eventually progress to
osteoarthritis.
Several supplements are commercially
available. These products aim to support joint health by enhancing cartilage
matrix synthesis, inhibiting enzymes
that degrade cartilage, and/or reducing
joint inflammation and pain. Administering joint-health supplements to all
performance dogs, not just those that
already have osteoarthritis, may provide
protection and slow down damage to
joint cartilage. At VOSM, glucosaminechondroitin sulfate products and omega-3 fatty acids are recommended for
most performance and working dogs.
Glucosamine and chondroitin both
comprise the normal cartilage matrix.
When given in combination they support cartilage production and protect existing cartilage by inhibiting
enzymes that break down cartilage.
Recently, glucosamine-chondroitin
sulfate products such as Dasuquin
(Nutramax Laboratories in Edgewater,
Maryland) have been combined with
additional anti-inflammatory products
such as avocado soybean unsaponifiables (ASU), green tea polyphenols, and
methylsulonylmethane (MSM). These
ingredients have been shown to work
synergistically with glucosamine-chondroitin sulfate to reduce the expression
of harmful inflammatory mediators
within the joint and provide additional
pain relief. Omega-3 fatty acids, particularly those found derived from marine
sources, are also believed to reduce inflammation and block the expression
of certain genes that perpetuate the
development of osteoarthritis.
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Clean Run - December 2014

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of Clean Run - December 2014