12/08/2026
💙 Behind the Scenes with Bucky 💙
People often ask what rehabilitation exercises actually involve... so I thought I'd share a little of what Bucky gets up to during his own physiotherapy sessions! 🐾
As many of you know, Bucky has had his fair share of orthopaedic challenges, so keeping him strong, stable and moving well is something we work on every single week.
These exercises might look like fun games (and to Bucky, they absolutely are! 😄), but every one has a specific purpose.
🐾 Balance equipment helps strengthen his core and the smaller stabilising muscles around his joints.
🐾 Weight-shifting exercises encourage him to load each limb more evenly and reduce compensatory movement patterns.
🐾 Cavaletti poles improve coordination, paw placement, proprioception and joint range of motion.
🐾 Static positions, such as sphinx and controlled sits, build postural strength and improve joint stability.
🐾 Controlled movement exercises help reinforce good movement patterns, rather than allowing compensation to become the norm.
One of the biggest misconceptions is that rehabilitation is just about building muscle. In reality, it's about teaching the body how to move efficiently again. Strength, balance, coordination, flexibility and body awareness all work together to create better movement and reduce strain on injured tissues.
The best rehabilitation programmes are never "one size fits all." They're tailored to each individual dog, adjusted as they progress, and designed around their diagnosis, lifestyle and goals.
Bucky certainly keeps me on my toes (especially when treats are involved! 😂), but seeing his confidence, strength and movement improve makes every session worthwhile.
Whether your dog is recovering from surgery, managing arthritis, returning to sport or simply slowing down with age, remedial exercises are one of the most valuable tools we have in veterinary physiotherapy.
Sometimes, the smallest exercises make the biggest difference. 💙🐾
