Therapeutic Exercise
Therapeutic exercise is a structured, medically guided exercise program designed to improve strength, mobility, coordination, and
overall physical function.
Unlike general activity or at-home fitness, these exercises are prescribed by trained rehabilitation professionals and tailored to your pet’s specific injury, diagnosis, and goals.
What is therapeutic Exercise?
Why Does it matter?
Therapeutic exercise is one of the most effective ways to reduce pain and support long-term mobility in pets. Targeted, controlled movement helps decrease joint discomfort, improve strength around injured or arthritic areas, and restore more natural, comfortable movement patterns. Over time, these exercises also improve balance and body awareness, helping pets protect themselves from slips, missteps, and future injury.
For pets recovering from surgery or managing chronic conditions such as arthritis, tendon injuries, or neurologic weakness, therapeutic exercise supports healthier tissue loading, improves joint stability, and encourages proper healing. Because these exercises are tailored to each patient, they allow pets to build strength safely while avoiding overuse or compensation on vulnerable limbs.
Supervised, therapist-guided exercise has been shown to be especially effective. Research demonstrates that dogs participating in structured, in-clinic rehabilitation programs experience greater improvements in pain scores, faster return to comfortable function, and better limb strength compared to home-exercise-only programs. Hands-on guidance ensures proper technique, appropriate challenge, and real-time adjustments-- key factors in achieving the best outcomes.
What a Session Looks Like
Each session begins with a brief assessment of mobility, comfort, and muscle function. From there, your pet’s therapist guides them through a series of carefully selected exercises that may include controlled strengthening work, core activation, flexibility training, balance challenges, and gait-pattern retraining. Equipment such as balance discs, cavaletti poles, and stability platforms may be used to increase challenge and build confidence.
Sessions are gentle, positive, and paced according to your pet’s ability. We adjust the plan continuously as strength and mobility improve.
Home Support
Therapeutic exercise works best when reinforced outside the clinic. After each visit, we provide a customized home plan with simple, clearly explained exercises to support continued progress. As your pet becomes stronger and more stable, we update and advance the program to match their needs.
For families who want additional support, we also offer virtual check-ins. These brief video sessions allow us to review technique, troubleshoot challenges, and help you make the most of your home environment using creative, accessible “equipment” like pillows, rolled towels, yoga mats, and household items. This ensures your pet receives high-quality, therapeutic movement between visits, even without specialized tools.
The goal
The purpose of therapeutic exercise is not just recovery— it’s long-term mobility, comfort, and confidence. Whether your pet is healing from surgery, managing arthritis, recovering from injury, or simply aging, these exercises help them move more comfortably, stay active longer, and enjoy a better quality of life.