Belle, a 9-year-old Chocolate Lab, had stopped greeting her owners at the door. Her gait was stiff, and she had developed a pronounced "dip" in her top line.
The Assessment
During the initial consultation, it became clear that while Belle had mild arthritis in her elbows, the primary cause of her "slowing down" was intense muscular tension in her neck and shoulders from overcompensating for her front end.
The Treatment Plan
We designed a course of three 50-minute sessions over three weeks. The focus was on Myofascial Release to the neck and Trigger Point Therapy to the triceps and deltoids.
The Result
After the second session, Belle's owners reported she was "smiling again." By the third session, she was once again jumping into the car without hesitation. Her posture had flattened out, and she was moving with a much more fluid, effortless rhythm.