Osteoarthritis is a common and debilitating disease of domestic dogs. In addition to pharmaceutical interventions and weight reduction, exercise and physiotherapy are important measures to maintain the patient's mobility and quality of life. The goal of physiotherapy in osteoarthritis is to reduce pain, optimize muscle function and maintain joint function. Physiotherapy plans typically include exercise and physiotherapy in combination with therapeutic modalities, lifestyle and environmental modifications to improve the patient's overall quality of life and function. Information on the clinical efficacy of physiotherapy treatment for osteoarthritis in dogs is still very limited. Thus, physiotherapeutic strategies are still mainly based on evidence extrapolated from human protocols adapted to people with osteoarthritis. The authors propose a simple systematic approach to exercise and physiotherapy for canine osteoarthritis, prioritising measures according to simplicity, cost-effectiveness and practicality. The aim of this article ("The Physiotherapy Pyramid") is to provide a clear stratified approach that will simplify decision-making and planning for owners, veterinarians and veterinary physiotherapists, leading to easier design and implementation of treatment plans. Actions are taken from the base of the pyramid, then progressed to the top, allowing prioritization of effective and practical interventions. The levels of the pyramid are listed in ascending order: environmental modification, exercise plan, osteoarthritis-specific home exercise, osteoarthritis-specific exercise plan, osteoarthritis-specific exercise plan, osteoarthritis-specific exercise plan. exercise and treatment by a veterinary physiotherapist.
Mille, M.A.; McClement, J.; Lauer, S. Physiotherapeutic Strategies and Their Current Evidence for Canine Osteoarthritis. Vet. Sci. 2023, 10, 2. https://doi.org/10.3390/vetsci10010002
