Dogs who are rehabilitated from orthopaedic or neurological injuries with a physical therapy program have enhanced rates of recovery. Rehabilitation often involves active range of motion exercises using stairs and ramps. Recent studies evaluated the benefits of stair exercises to improve dog’s joint range of motion.

Physical therapy for dogs

Physical therapy is beneficial for dogs recovering from injury or dogs with chronic conditions such as arthritis, hip dysplasia or joint luxation. Regardless of the condition being treated, the goals of physical therapy will typically include:

• Improving or maintaining limb function
• Reducing pain
• Increasing joint range of motion in the affected joints

In particular, a dog’s joint range of motion can be improved using passive range of motion techniques (see http://www.fullstride.com.au/blog/passive-range-of-motion-exercises-for-dogs) and active range of motion exercises using ramps, stairs, walking or trotting on flat surfaces and other exercises.

Stair exercises for dogs vs walking up a ramp

In a study of eight, healthy adult dogs, the researchers evaluated the range of motion in the dogs’ shoulder, elbow and carpal joints when the dogs

• walked up stairs,
• walked up a ramp (of the same gradient as the stairs) and
• trotted on a flat surface.

This study recognised the importance of maintaining healthy range of motion in a dog’s forelimbs. Healthy shoulder, elbow and carpal joints are important for two reasons.

Firstly, the forelimbs normally bear approximately 60% of the dog’s weight so for normal movement it is important for the shoulder, elbow and carpal joints to function normally.

Secondly, when a dog has hind limb lameness, such as with conditions like hip dysplasia, they will shift their weight forward to compensate. This places additional load on the forelimb joints which can lead to chronic lameness over time.

Shoulder

The greatest flexion and extension of the shoulder joint was when the dogs ascended the ramp compared with the stairs or trotting on the flat. There was no significant difference in the shoulder range of motion between stairs and trotting on a flat surface.

Elbow

The greatest range of motion in the elbow joint was when the dog ascended the ramp.

Carpal

The greatest flexion of the carpus was when the dog ascended the ramp. There was little difference in extension between ascending the stairs or ramp.
The least joint extension was observed when the dog was trotting on the flat surface.

This study proposed that a possible reason for the differences in joint range of motion between stairs and ramps was that dogs could adjust their stride length on a ramp and achieve greater range of motion. On stairs, the dogs’ stride length is fixed by the width of the tread and height of the riser.

Stair exercises for dogs’ hind legs

A study of five (5) healthy adult dogs evaluated the effect on range of motion of the hind limbs when ascending and descending stairs compared to walking on a flat surface.

Tarsal

When ascending and descending stairs, there was increased flexion in the dogs’ tarsal joints compared with walking on a flat surface. There was no significant difference in extension of the joint.

Stifle

There was an increase in flexion of the stifle when dogs ascended and descended stairs compared to walking on the flat. There was no significant difference in extension of the joint on the stairs.

Hip

There was a significant increase in joint flexion when dogs descended the stairs compared to walking on a flat surface. When ascending the stairs, there was also a greater range of motion in the hip joint.

Are stairs bad for dogs?

When negotiating stairs, dogs’ centre of gravity shifts which loads joints and engages muscles. On ascent, the centre of gravity is back so the dogs’ hind limbs need to propel the body forward and up. While on descent, the centre of gravity is forward so the fore limbs provide considerable braking forces. When a dog’s joint and limb function is compromised from injury or chronic condition, then it can be difficult for them to negotiate stairs.

However, as a tool for rehabilitation, stairs can be beneficial to improve or restore range of motion in some joints. Depending on the goal of rehabilitation and the stage of recovery, ascending a ramp or uphill walking may provide greater range of motion as the dog is able to adjust their stride length.

Improving joint range of motion is an essential component of any physical therapy rehabilitation protocol as it lubricates the joint and strengthens the muscles responsible for flexing and extending the joint which in turn improves overall limb function.

Please like Full Stride on Facebook (https://www.facebook.com/FullStrideCanineMassageTherapy/) to see a follow up blog on tips for helping dogs who have trouble on stairs and share your experiences using stairs vs uphill walking and other physical therapy exercises.

Until next time, enjoy your dogs.

Sources:

Carr, J, Millis, D.L & Weng, H-Y, (2017) “Exercises in canine physical rehabilitation: range of motion of the forelimb during stair and ramp ascent” European Journal of Companion Animal Practice 27 (1): 28 – 33

Richards, J., Holler, P., Bockstahler, B., Dale, B., Mueller, M., Burston, J., … & Levine, D. (2010). A comparison of human and canine kinematics during level walking, stair ascent, and stair descent. Wien Tierarztl Monatsschr, 97, 92-100.