The best starting exercise for geriatric patients (and other dogs)
Did you know that dogs lose up to 25% of their type II muscle fibers just by aging but type I muscle fibers don’t deteriorate?
Did you know that we can convert type II muscle fibers to type I muscle fibers by performing certain types of exercises?
Sarcopenia is a normal aging in which type II muscle fibers turn into fat and then into fibrous tissue. Certain exercises can slow this progression down.
Exercises that target type II muscle fibers are great for aging patients because these tissues are lost when not used. But these can also be quite beneficial for puppies, patients with neurological ailments, dogs that have had surgery, and athletes to help prevent injuries.
When animals start to have sarcopenia, the circumference of their muscles does not change as the muscle fibers turn to fat, but they do lose strength. However, as sarcopenia progresses, the circumference of the tissue diminishes as well as strength.
Type I muscle fibers are not affected by aging. These fibers make up the majority of muscles that control posture and joint stability. They are slow twitch, slow to fatigue, and use fat to create ATP. Helping these muscles to fire over a period of time can work to alleviate obesity, better stabilize joints, and enhance endurance.
It’s so important to keep our dogs moving, as these muscle fibers are lost from disuse atrophy. That’s why geriatric dogs, dogs that have had surgery, and dogs that have neurological issues are especially at risk.
However, we can keep these muscles strong in a safe manner with simple exercises. Watch this video to see the best starting exercise and learn how to modify it for different patients.
This exercise, when done correctly, targets the type I muscle fibers in the whole body.
Type II muscle fibers are also important, as they are the ones that give muscles their power. These fibers are found in higher numbers in muscles that create motion. They are quick to fatigue and are important for athletes that need speed and the ability to jump. These fibers hypertrophy to create thicker muscle bellies. We are not targeting these fibers with this exercise, but I will show you how to target them in the future.
When done properly, this exercise can be done with every dog, from two-day old puppies to athletes as a foundational exercise. As with every exercise there are nuances, be sure to watch the video to understand how to modify for each of the follow:
Puppies
Adult Dogs
Post-Surgical Patients
Dogs with Neurological Ailments
Geriatric Dogs
Athletes
