Building Your Health in Oshkosh, WI
As the days get warmer, getting outdoors with your dog is a great way to build your health. After staying indoors during cold, rainy days, muscles can feel stiff, and your body may not be ready for the activities you did easily last fall. The same is true for your dog. Here are some tips to keep you and your dog active and pain free throughout the season in Oshkosh, WI.
1) Be Prepared
Wear shoes or boots that will keep you stable and support your feet to help avoid aggravating knee pain and foot pain problems like plantar fasciitis or arthritis and decrease potential for ankle sprains. Use a leash that is in good condition and a collar or harness that gently reminds your dog not to pull excessively. Pain, injuries and tightness can make it difficult to get started, our Oshkosh, WI Physical therapists specialize in stretching and other treatments to help get you moving.
2) Start Slowly
Your body needs time to adjust to increased walking speed so the power walk that you took with your dog last year may be more than you are ready for, causing muscles to ache. Reduce limitations because of low back pain or muscle tightness in the legs by doing active warmups and light stretching before your walk.
3) Keep It Short
Gradually building up the time or distance of your walk will allow your dogs body to adjust. Sudden increases in exercise intensity or time can irritate knee arthritis and hip arthritis which are common in people and dogs.
4) Plan for Recovery
Joints and muscles take time to recover after increasing exercise. It may take a day or two to fully recover following a long walk or after running at the dog park. Watch for signs of pain like limping or not moving normally. While it is obvious when you are feeling stiff, it may not be as clear if your dog is having pain. If it looks like they are moving a little slower, reduce their activity to allow for recovery, but keep moving. Remember that excessive rest increases pain.
5) Be Careful
When walking large, aggressive dogs, avoid situations where your dog may pull suddenly or be difficult to control. A forceful pull can cause neck and shoulder injuries or cause you to fall. Avoid use of long leashes that allow your dog to gain momentum which causes a significant increase in pulling force. Long leashes also make it difficult to keep your dog away from traffic and harmful areas or prevent unwanted interactions with other animals. If you have multiple dogs that pull, consider walking one dog at a time or ask a friend to walk with you.
6) Watch For Hazards
Uneven surfaces, curbs and inclines can cause tripping or loss of balance, especially for those who have balance problems, dizziness or vertigo. Remember that painted lines on the road surfaces or walkways are often very slippery when wet, causing loss of balance or falls. Keep an eye out for areas where there may be broken glass, construction debris or sharp rocks that can injure your dogs’ feet.
7) Relax & Enjoy Yourself!
Building a bond with your favorite pet has been shown to reduce anxiety and depression and spending time outdoors with your dog is a great way to beat the stress of a busy day. Exercise and time spent with your dog is a great combination, which can improve the health of you and your furry friend.
Call our clinic to learn more today
If you have any questions about injuries to joints and muscles or problems that are causing pain, our team of specialists at Excel Physical Therapy are here to help. Call (920) 233-8739 to schedule an appointment in Oshkosh.
