Injury Rehabilitation & Canine Fitness
Injury rehabilitation focuses on helping your dog recover safely from musculoskeletal injuries, return to normal function, and build resilience to prevent future issues.
Whether your dog is recovering from an injury, surgery, or is actively involved in sport, a structured rehabilitation and fitness programme can make a significant difference to their long-term health, mobility, and performance.
What is Injury Rehabilitation?
Injury rehabilitation involves the assessment, treatment, and progressive recovery of injuries affecting muscles, joints, ligaments, and tendons.
These injuries may occur due to:
Acute trauma (e.g. slips, falls, collisions)
Repetitive strain or overuse
Post-surgical recovery (e.g. orthopaedic procedures)
Poor biomechanics or muscle imbalances
High-impact activity or sporting demands
Rehabilitation focuses not just on healing the injury, but on restoring strength, movement quality, and confidence.
Common Injuries We Treat
We commonly support dogs with:
Soft tissue injuries (muscles, tendons, ligaments)
Cruciate ligament injuries (CCL)
Hip, shoulder, and elbow injuries
Spinal-related musculoskeletal conditions
Post-operative recovery (orthopaedic surgery)
Tendinopathies and strains
Reduced performance or recurring injuries
Each programme is tailored to your dog’s specific injury, lifestyle, and goals.
Signs Your Dog May Need Rehabilitation
Limping or lameness
Stiffness or reduced range of motion
Reluctance to exercise, jump, or play
Decreased performance in sport or activity
Muscle loss or weakness
Changes in gait or movement patterns
Ongoing or recurring injuries
Early intervention can prevent minor issues from becoming long-term problems.
Our Rehabilitation Approach
We take a holistic, evidence-based approach to recovery, focusing on both the injury and the underlying cause.
Treatment may include:
Manual therapy and soft tissue techniques
Targeted strengthening and conditioning exercises
Mobility and flexibility work
Gait retraining and movement correction
Balance and proprioception training
Hydrotherapy or low-impact exercise
Progressive return-to-activity planning
We also provide a structured home exercise programme to support consistent progress between sessions.
Sports Rehabilitation for Active Dogs
For dogs involved in agility, flyball, working roles, or other high-performance activities, rehabilitation goes beyond recovery; it’s about optimising performance.
Sports rehabilitation focuses on:
Restoring strength and power after injury
Improving agility, coordination, and control
Addressing muscle imbalances and asymmetries
Enhancing movement efficiency
Supporting safe return to sport
Our goal is to help your dog return to activity stronger, more balanced, and less prone to re-injury.
Canine Fitness & Injury Prevention
Prevention is just as important as rehabilitation.
Our canine fitness programmes are designed to:
Build strength and joint stability
Improve balance, coordination, and body awareness
Support healthy movement patterns
Reduce risk of injury in active and sporting dogs
Maintain long-term mobility and function
These sessions are ideal for sports dogs, working dogs, and active companions who want to stay fit, strong, and injury-free.
OPTIMA Animal Physio
Email: katrinka@optimaanimalphysio.com.au
Phone: 0422 764 680
Thanks to Scout and Jem, Carley Edwards and Lance, Chelsea Jeffries, Glen and Bling, Claudia @medianova, Tony Elsom Photography, Equico Studios, and Odele from Odd id.