Clean Run - December 2014 - 52

Patient using an underwater treadmill
for endurance training

An example of passive range of motion as part
of a cool-down routine.

Conditioning in the Off-Season
Just as human athletes are susceptible to overtraining and subsequent injury, so are
canine athletes. Overtraining has been documented in both humans and horses to
lead to reduced fitness, increased susceptibility to injury, and alterations in immune
function. It is recommended to vary the duration, frequency, and intensity of your
training program throughout the week, not only to add variety and provide cross
training but also to reduce the risk for overtraining. To further prevent overtraining, your dog should be given at least 1 day off per week and ideally 30 consecutive days off per year. During the off-time, your dog should not participate in skill
training and should only do mild to moderate strength and endurance training.
Just as human athletes participate in training in the off-season to maintain fitness, canine athletes should participate in mild to moderate strength and endurance training
in the off-season. Recent studies support that continued exercise in the off-season is
essential to maintain fitness and also reduce the risk for injury. Underwater treadmill
and swimming are exercises that combine both endurance and strength training exercises while having minimal impact on the joints, making them ideal for training in
the off-season. A canine sports medicine and rehab professional can help develop an
off-season training program for your dog to help maintain fitness while avoiding the
risk of overtraining.

Conclusion
Once a full sports medicine assessment has been performed and your dog's strengths
and weaknesses for agility have been identified, a balanced training program should
be developed that includes strength, endurance, balance and proprioception, and
flexibility training. Training programs for both the competition season and off-season
should be developed and adjusted accordingly to meet your dog's needs and maximize performance while diminishing the potential for injuries. D

References
Carr BJ, Canapp SO, Zink MC. Quantitative comparison of gaits of Border Collies and Labrador Retrievers, breeds with different performance requirements. Proceedings 8th Interna-

Patients participating in active stretching.
tional Symposium on Veterinary Rehabilitation/Physical Therapy and Sports Medicine 2014, Corvalis, OR. [International
Association for Veterinary Rehabilitation
and Physical Therapy]
Rivero JL, Van Breda E, Rogers CW, Lindaner
A, Van Oldruitenborgh-Oosterbaan MM. Unexplained underperformance syndrome in
sport horses: classification, potential causes
and reconition. Equine Vet J. 2012; 40: 611-618.
Simic L, Sarabon N, Markovic G. Does pre-exercise static stretching inhibit maximal muscular performance? A meta-analytical review.
Scand J Med Sci Sports. 2013; 23(2): 131-148.
Zink MC, Van Dyke JB. Canine Sports Medicine
and Rehabilitation, 1st ed. 2013. Ames, IA: Wiley-Blackwell.

Dr. Britt Carr earned her B.S. in biology from Furman University in Greenville, South Carolina. She then attended the Virginia-Maryland Regional
College of Veterinary Medicine at Virginia Tech in Blacksburg, Virginia. After earning her DVM, Dr. Carr completed a small animal rotating internship
at the Animal Specialty Group in Los Angeles, California and a surgical internship at Veterinary Orthopedic and Sports Medicine Group (VOSM) in
Annapolis Junction, Maryland. She is currently a therapist and an American College of Veterinary Sports Medicine and Rehabilitation resident at
VOSM. Dr. Carr's research studies include objective gait analysis, regenerative medicine, and return to sport following cranial cruciate ligament injuries.
Dr. Debra Canapp, who is board certified in the new American College of Veterinary Sports Medicine and Rehabilitation, is co-principal and Medical Director of
Veterinary Orthopedic and Sports Medicine (VOSM) Group. As a Diplomate of the American College of Veterinary Sports Medicine and Rehabilitation, Dr. Canapp
provides first class sports medicine and rehabilitation care to canine athletes, working dogs, and companions. Dr. Canapp is certified in canine rehab through
the Canine Rehabilitation Institute, in the art of traditional Chinese veterinary medicine and acupuncture by the International Veterinary Acupuncture Society,
and in stem cell therapy. Recently, Dr. Canapp's exclusive area of interest, clinical work, lecturing, and research has been focused on canine sports-related injury,
sport rehab and performance. Currently, she is practicing sports medicine, acupuncture, musculoskeletal ultrasound, and rehabilitation at VOSM while doing
clinical trials involving sports medicine and rehabilitation. For more information, visit www.vosm.com.
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Clean Run - December 2014

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