How is an underwater treadmill different from a hydrotherapy pool?
The hydrotherapy pool allows the animal to exercise in a non weight bearing environment which relieves pressure on joints reducing pain and encouraging movement. The pool is very useful for encouraging natural movement and motivating dogs by retrieving or play. In the underwater treadmill the water height can be adjusted to precisely control the amount of weight bearing. The degree of weight bearing can be increased as the animal strengthens or recovers. The speed of the underwater treadmill can also be changed to achieve the best possible movement of the limbs. The dog can be viewed from all angles and this is very useful for assessing how it is moving and to make adjustments to get better quality movement. Re-educating gait or correct limb use is very important for dogs learning to walk again after spinal problems.
