Pre and Post Event Massage

4pawstherapy
Would you run a sprint race without warming up your muscles?

In humans it has been proven that warming up has a series of positive effects on the body - it increases the circulation of blood around the body and raises the temperature of the muscles. Subsequently as they contract that improves speed and strength as well as. As a result of warming, an increased level of nutritional substances and oxygen are supplied to the muscles, helping them contract and also encouraging the dispersal of by-products such as carbon dioxide and lactic acid. Warming up also improves coordination and boosts concentration.

These physiological benefits can also be experienced by dogs as a result of a good warm up (and cool down) routine. During flyball training and competitions, pre and post event massage can easily be incorporated into a busy schedule to help your dog remain healthy, injury free and working to best of his or her ability. These simple exercises take minutes to carry out and can be extremely beneficial in the competitive environment.

Pre-Event

This is a stimulating massage routine that will bring more blood, oxygen and nutrients to the muscle fibres and can be carried out 15-20minutes prior to activity. It should only take 2-3 minutes as it is a non-specific, relatively light, quick and warming routine.

For each region of the body use 3-4 strokes applied rapidly. Use the effleurage technique, which is a series of long flowing movements using alternate palms of the hand. Remember to use lighter pressure on the bony areas such as upper and lower limbs, and slightly more pressure on large muscular areas such as the chest, shoulder, neck, back, rump and thigh region.

  1. Neck region - start from just behind the ears to the shoulders on the left side. Repeat on the right. Carry on along the crest of the neck then end with effleurage over the whole neck.
  2. Shoulder & chest region - start at the left withers and move down the lateral (outside) foreleg to the elbow joint. Slightly greater pressure can be applied to the muscles around the shoulder region. For the chest, start just in front of the left shoulder joint and work over the chest area, stopping at the crease of the elbow joint. Repeat on the right side.
  3. Thoracic limb (forelimb) - start on the left upper limb and move down the lateral (outer) side, down the forearm to the paw. Then repeat on the medial (inner) side of the limb. Repeat on the right lateral and medial sides of the foreleg.
  4. Back - start just above the withers, work down the left side of the back and loin towards the rump, also work down the ribs over the thorax and abdomen. Repeat on the right side.
  5. Rump & buttock region - start just above the left hip joint and work towards the base of the tail and over the rump. Repeat on the right side.
  6. Pelvic limb (hindlimb) - start just above left the hip joint and work down the lateral thigh and leg towards the paw. Use greater pressure on the thigh and to warm up the large muscle groups of the quadriceps and hamstrings. Move to the medial (inner) side working from just inside the groin area down the leg to the paw. Repeat on the right side.

Finish with light effleurage over the whole dog, starting at the neck, down the chest and forelimbs, along the back, down the rump and finally down the hind limbs.

post event

This is a slow relaxing massage routine that will relieve muscle tension and soreness, promote relaxation and aid lymphatic drainage. Most importantly it will provide information, via touch, about any areas of inflammation or injury - indicated by the presence of heat. Apply 15-20 minutes after an event, but ideally no more than 2 hours after. Working in regions, the effleurage technique uses slow long flowing movements to encourage venous and lymphatic drainage by working towards the main lymph nodes (please refer to the numbers marked on the diagram).

schematic of dog anatomy

For each region use 3 light yet firm, slow consecutive movements:

  1. Neck - start just behind head and work towards the left shoulder region finishing at the cervical lymph node (# 4). Repeat on the right side.
  2. Fore limbs - start just above the shoulder region on the left side and work down towards the axillary lymph node (# 11). Then work down towards the left paw on the outside of the limb then on the inside. Repeat all movements on the right side.
  3. Back - start at withers and work down the left side towards the medial ileac lymph node on the hip region (# 22). Repeat on the right side.
  4. Gluteals (rump) & Hind limbs - start at the sacrum and work down the left side towards the popliteal lymph node (# 25) just behind the stifle joint. Repeat on the right side.
  5. Hind limbs - start at the left knee joint and work towards the paw first on the outside of the limb then on the inside. Repeat on the right limb.

About the author...

Alison Bate is a qualified canine massage therapist, sports massage therapist, indoor cycling and studio fitness instructor, triathlete and adventure racer. She has 3 rescue dogs, 2 of which do agility for fun!

4 Paws Therapy, Moonflete, Lazenbys Lane, Walliswood, Surrey, RH5 5RE
01306 627076 or 07850 055622
email: 4pawstherapy@googlemail.com
www.4pawstherapy.com

We'd like to say a huge thank you to Alison for taking the time to write this article, which will be especially useful as the Summer season is nearly upon us.