Massage with Dogs that Limp

For more information, sign up for our newsletter, or see out schedule of upcoming workshops, visit our website at https://petmassage.com/

---

Massage with Dogs that Limp

Limping is caused by pain. Pain is a signal from the body. Something is wrong and needs to heal. It creates inflammation in the joint. When there is a joint injury or a buildup of toxins in a muscle group, the white blood cells in the lymph congregate in that area. They fill up the joint capsule with fluid, and create swelling or edema. This causes restricted movement. For, every time you move you experience pain.
When we reduce our movement he gives the body the time in the space to do the healing work it needs to do. For example, if I injured my ankle I would put more weight on the opposite foot to support my weight when I walk. I compensate by transferring my weight bearing to the rest of my body to pick up the load from the part of the body that requires rest to heal itself.

If the pain is visceral- in the organs- then the body will curl around it to protect it just like when you have a bellyache you lean forward and grab your tummy. Here, we’re addressing the compensation in muscles as opposed to organs.

When a dog experiences joint pain they will move their weight to another part of the body. This contorts their musculature and their skeletal alignment and created untoward kinds of pressures. It causes immediate gait adjustment -limping- until the body is comfortable with normal weight bearing.

Confirmation is reshaped to support movement. Long-term, the body will assume the shape and character of their new way of holding them selves.

When a dog presents with limping behavior:
First, we assess confirmation to check for shapes of muscles and developmental symmetry, skeletal alignment and balance. Is it recent or chronic?
Second, gait to observe where the dog is injured and which muscle groups are working hardest. Watch head, shoulders, hips, stifled, hocks, paws.
Third, we identify Stress Tracts: patterns of muscle behaviors from how dogs bodies compensate for pain/injuries. Stress tracts are predictable. Notice patterns, combinations of strain or restricted movement.

The stress tracts flow through compensatory joints. Traditionally they most affect to every other joint. Follow their paths to the end, zigzagging across body. Because there are an odd number of joints you’ll eventually be working the dogs entire body. A full body massage makes sure you are not missing any area that needs support because it is being stressed.

Stress tract patterns move in both directions: from the injury to the compensating joint and from the compensating joint back to the injury.

Address the injury as well. Use gentle intentional holding and pulsing. Allow your core energy to radiate positive chi into the tissues while you support them with mild compression and draw the dog’s awareness to the area. This heats the area, encourages lymphatic circulation, and supports the dogs natural healing processes.

Видео Massage with Dogs that Limp канала PetMassage Training & Research Institute