Aquatic and Land Exercise Flashcards
What is the distribution of a normal stance
60% FL and 30% HL
Distribution of a trot
Distribution 120% FL and 75% HL
Anaerobic
intense short bursts, increased endurance, strengthening
Aerobic
long sustained exercise, requires oxygen and increases heart rate
Type I Muscle Fibers
- Slow Twitch
- Aerobic exercise, endurance, fatigue resistant
Type II Muscle Fibers
- Fast Twitch
- Anaerobic exercise, strength training, fatigue fast
Type II are Fast Twitch which means they
Fatigue fast
Type I are slow Twitch which means they
are fatigue resistant
Isometric contraction
muscles stay the same length (ex. Plank)
Isotonic Contraction
muscles change in length
* Concentric - shorten
* Eccentric - lengthen
Anti-Gravity Muscles
- Thoracic limbs: Shoulders and elbow flexors/extensors, digit flexors
- Pelvic limbs: Hip extensors/adductors, stifle flexors/extensors, digit flexors
Phase 1 (D1-5) exercises
- Very gentle, very low impact exercises
- Example: slow walking, gentle balancing
Phase 2 (D5-21) exercises
- Low Impact with mild challenge
- Example: balancing with platforms, changing weight distribution, low poles/weave poles spread far apart, slow walking
Phase 3 (D21-60) exercises
- Moderate exercises with increased loading and challenge
- Example: steps, sit-to-stands, army crawls, inclines/declines
Phase 4 (begining day 61) exercises
- Moderate to increased loading exercises
- Example: adding weights/resistance bands, dynamic balancing, gradual increase to full
function
Indications: Chronic Disease
Usually assigned to P3
Stages of healing can vary- reassess regularly
Contraindication to Exercise
- Deterioration occurs with exercise
- Febrile
- Acute musculoskeletal injuries (Fractures, torn ligaments, etc)
- Acute neurologic compression
- Serious internal disease process
- Serious cardiac diseases
- Acute thrombosis, venous thrombosis
Ground Exercises: Standing (P1)
- Foundational to all other exercises
- Builds patient confidence and prep for movement
- With or without assistance
- Equipment: hoyer lift, water, Help-Em Up Harness, quad wheelchairs
Ground Exercises: Weight Shifting (P1-P4)
Promotes limb loading, proprioception and balance
Ground Exercises: Hand Shaking (P3- P4)
- Benefits are same as weight shifting, but also improves range of motion in FL
- P4 – can be done on balance discs, wobble boards, etc
Rhythmic Stabilization
- Bouncing helps with neurologic weak
patients - PNF – Proprioceptive Neuromuscular
Facilitation
Slow walking
- Promotes limb loading and joint function, gait
patterning, proprioception - P1 and P2 – Remember slow walking is almost
same weight distribution compared to stance - P3 and P4 – uneven surfaces, dynamic weight
shifting, obstacle course
Cavaletti Poles
- Good for improving range of motion in carpus,
elbow and stifle - Always start at ground level and spaced at
least body length distance apart
Weave Poles
- Improve ROM esp. intervertebral joints
- Increase difficulty with smaller radius
Good for spinal flexion
Balls
- Variety of sizes and shapes
for various activities - Fun for patients
- P1 – use for assisted
standing - P2 – weight shifting
- P3 and P4 – get creative!
balance discs
- various wobble boards, balance discs, steps and platforms are used
at all phases 1-4 - Great for senior patients!
Ground Exercises for Phases 3 and 4 ONLY
- Backward walking – HL limb loading
- Incline walking – HL strength, FL ROM
- Decline walking – eccentric
- Ascending Stairs – HL, core and back
- Descending Stairs – FL, core and back
- Sit-to-Stands – HL ROM and strength
- Dancing – should only be performed if patient can trot use caution with hip dysplasia
- Wheelbarrow – FL strength, limb loading
- Army Crawls – joint function, ROM flexion of major joints
Land Treadmill
Prolonged stance phase and greater stride length
* Useful for hip and stifle conditions that are painful – requires less active
contractions for joint extension
* Can be useful for assisted gait patterning
* Useful for further challenges (P3 & P4) – outstretched arm or pole to walk over, resistance bands, dynamic weight shifting, backward, sideways, dancing/wheelbarrow
Properties of Water
- Buoyancy
- Hydrostatic Pressure
- Viscosity and Resistance
- Surface Tension
Buoyancy
Upward force is exerted on
an object by the water –
corresponds to the amount
of water displaced by the
body
* A body weighs less when in
the water than on land
Hydrostatic Pressure
- Pressure is exerted on the body that is surrounded by liquid
- Can reduce edema!
- Caution: patients with respiratory disease
Viscosity and Resistance
A solid body
requires force to
move through
the water
* Good for strengthening
* Good for cardiovascular
workout
Surface Tension
- Cohesion is greater on surface of water than at greater depths
- Important for weaker patients or when considering water levels for specific joint function
Aquatic Therapy: Contraindications
- Patients with severe cardiac or respiratory disease
- Infection or non-healing wounds, open wounds, draining tracts
- Nothing with Biosecurity Orange status
- Severe Diarrhea
- Caution: with laryngeal paralysis and fecal incontinence
Aquatic Therapy: Swimming
Great for cardiovascular exercise, play, mental
stimulation
* Great for FL range of motion and strength
* Not recommended for patients with cervical instability
or post-operative patients before P3 & P4
