The underwater treadmill is becoming a more popular modality in the canine rehabilitation field, however it is also significantly overused. The idea of the underwater treadmill is that it offloads the dog’s body weight by decreasing the effects of gravity and increasing buoyancy. One of the benefits of this treatment is that the water level can be adjusted to alleviate varying percentages of the pup’s body weight; more water equals less body weight.
The underwater treadmill is not a one-size fits all treatment and here is why:
- The underwater treadmill does not build significant muscle strength.
This is one of the most common misconceptions surrounding this form of treatment. While the water can help to build endurance, it does not provide enough resistance to show remarkable improvements in strength.
- Muscles need progressive loading.
In order to build muscle strength, the body needs progressive overloading of targeted muscle groups. Many facilities that use underwater treadmills will claim that they can increase strength post-surgery and in other scenarios as well. However, they lack the progressive loading. While they are correct in saying that decreasing the water level will require more use of the pup’s body weight; they ignore the fact that this is only increasing the effects of gravity on the pup’s body and no progressive loading is being completed.
- A bad habit will remain a bad habit unless it is corrected.
When dogs present to physical therapy with an abnormal gait pattern, it is always in their best interest to correct it. Putting the pup in an underwater treadmill alone will only allow for repetition and promotion of the poor gait pattern. If the underwater treadmill is to be used, your canine rehab specialist should be in the water with the pup to assist in gait correction. However, it is crucial to complete a land-based evaluation of the pup’s gait in order to provide guidance and prepare a plan of care that meets your pup’s needs.
While the idea behind it is sound, it is not a one-size fits all modality and should be used appropriately. Before we get too far into this discussion, we, at Canine PT and Me are not against underwater treadmills as a piece of the whole treatment plan. However, we do believe that a treatment plan cannot only revolve around this as the majority of our patients are not suitable for it.