Taping luxating patellas

[Guest guest]

Hello everyone - I completely agree with Aime. I use the leuko tape for my patellar patients. And I put a layer of vet wrap down first and then tape the patella. In some cases, in mostly Grades III which are not surgical for whatever reason, the taping will help place the patella. Grades I and II, it will bring more awareness to the stifle.

I use any modalities I will on the patella and stifle region first, perform soft tissue work or joint mobilization, and then tape the area. While the tape is on - we perform therapeutic exercises - underwater treadmill, cavalletis, etc. I only keep the tape on while we are performing activities.

Hope that helps!

Deb

Debbie Gross Saunders, MSPT, OCS, CCRPWizard of Paws Physical Rehabilitation for Animals, LLCwww.wizardofpaws.netCheck out AOL Money Finance's list of the hottest products and top money wasters of 2007.

[Guest guest]

A human PT mentioned to me that Debbie Gross-Sauders talked about a way

of taping luxatin patellas so that strengthening exercies could be

done. Does anyone know more about this?

Thanks,

[Guest guest]

Correct me if I'm wrong (anyone who went to Narelle's lecture at VetPT), but I believe that she tended to use Kinesiotape (and duct tape) for horses rather and strapping tape on dogs. And, yes, directly on the fur. I've tried Kinesiotape on dogs previously and have had some (minor) success, but definitely using it more on the trunk, belly, etc. (more exposed areas) than on the limbs. I've also learned that longer stips of Kinesiotape work better than shorter. Strapping tape has worked much better for me for "staying power." Dr. Kase even published a case (in the Kinesiotaping journal-- not a PubMed listed journal, by the way) using Kinesiotape on a dog with hip dysplasia a few years back. Another alternative that I've found helpful has been TheraTogs. I use the Tog straps over the "garments" like I would use tape. Not a long term solution, but certainly something that can be helpful in a therapy session. (Jeanine, being a p

edi PT, you're probably familiar with TheraTogs/TheraDogs?)

Amie

-------------- Original message --------------

Amie,

So for kinesiotaping did she tape directly to the fur? I'm intrigued. Even with shaving I couldn't get my kinesiotape to adhere. But it was a German Shep. Maybe more success with a smooth haired breed? I would be so excited if I could find a way to adhere. I love using kinesio with my human kiddos.

Jeanineforpawsrehabcomcast (DOT) net wrote:

Narelle Stubbs, a physiotherapist from Australia, did a breakfast forum at the last Symposium on taping for neurofacilitation/feedback in horses (and dogs). (I'm certain her notes are in the Proceedings.) She tends to use Kinesiotape, McConnail strapping tape, and duct tape (even cheaper) without shaving/clipping fur. The focus of her taping techniques is to facilitate muscle contractions/activation and awareness with the tape on the fur, rather than by using the tape to mechanically "move" structures, such as the patella. If you do a search of the most recent (human) PT literature on taping, you'll find that it doesn't matter so much as to "where" the tape is applied (medial or lateral to the patella) but the method by which it's applied AND the therapeutic activities that are performed with the tape applied. Also, in (human) PT, there's more focus on activating hip musculature to actively stabilize the patella, rather th

an to actually "move" the patella with tape. I'm certain that you won't be able to move the patella in a dog with tape-- not just because of the fur, but because the skin is so mobile. My suggestion would be to use the tape to create more awareness and to facilitate the muscles that you'd like to be active-- for example, if the dog has a grade I/II MPL, apply the tape to the hip abductor muscles (gluts, etc).

Happy Thanksgiving!

Amie L. Hesbach, MSPT, CCRP, CCRT

-------------- Original message -------------- From: Jeanine Freeberg <jeaninefreeberg>

I would be really interested as well if anyone has had success with this. I haven't tried patella luxation taping per se. But I have tried kinesiotaping. In my experience, even when you shave the dogs there is still some hair left and the tape doesn't adhere as well and the tape therefore can't perform its function. If anyone has strategies for taping dogs that does work I'm all ears!

Jeanine Combs <oliviachichi> wrote:

A human PT mentioned to me that Debbie Gross-Sauders talked about a way of taping luxatin patellas so that strengthening exercies could be done. Does anyone know more about this? Thanks,

Be a better pen pal. Text or chat with friends inside Yahoo! Mail. See how.

Get easy, one-click access to your favorites. Make Yahoo! your homepage.

[Guest guest]

I am new to rehab with dogs but went to Narelle's 5 day equine course

several years ago and have used her taping very successfully on horses

(and riders!) Its more about postural shifts than specific joint

rebalancing a la McConnell - have thought about trying McConnell for

equine patellas but think it may be like spitting in the ocean in terms

of having sufficient effect.

Using duct tape works well for most horses but we're taping a lot of

surface area and probably get better adhesion from that - the occasional

uber-slick haired horse will repel just about everything - in that case

I will use the Kramer pre-athletic taping adherent " Tuff-skin " which is

a bit of a rosin which helps to get things sticking. In the winter with

the horses generally having clipped hair it actually sticks less well -

we have also found anchoring to saddlepads and tack helpful in

challenging situations depending on the focus of the taping. Most horses

will keep the tape on with some level of tension for several hours up to

most of a day. It is also worth tape shopping - I have quite a

collection at this point, some are very lightweight, others stick like

glue. Contrasting colors are helpful for video and photo documentation

but owners seem to prefer the camoflage effect of black tape on dark

horse, etc.

As far as patellas go, I often find rebalancing the pelvis, clearing any

spinal or sacral problems and really looking for any regional connective

tissue restrictions from a fascial/myofascial often brings things into a

more functional balance.

Anne , MPT

Bodies In Balance

Aptos, CA

[Guest guest]

Dear Anne,

Your equine taping thing for postural reorganization sounds fascinating. Could you post some references for the course you took or some video? Our Postural Rehabilitation Course ( www.posturalrehabvets.com )may incorporate some of the techniques if we can test them.Judith M. Shoemaker, DVMAlways Helpful Veterinary Services305 Nottingham RoadNottingham, PA 19362ph fax info@... www.judithshoemaker.com

To: VetRehab From: anne@...Date: Thu, 22 Nov 2007 08:35:47 -0800Subject: Re: Taping luxating patellas

I am new to rehab with dogs but went to Narelle's 5 day equine course several years ago and have used her taping very successfully on horses (and riders!) Its more about postural shifts than specific joint rebalancing a la McConnell - have thought about trying McConnell for equine patellas but think it may be like spitting in the ocean in terms of having sufficient effect.Using duct tape works well for most horses but we're taping a lot of surface area and probably get better adhesion from that - the occasional uber-slick haired horse will repel just about everything - in that case I will use the Kramer pre-athletic taping adherent "Tuff-skin" which is a bit of a rosin which helps to get things sticking. In the winter with the horses generally having clipped hair it actually sticks less well - we have also found anchoring to saddlepads and tack helpful in challenging situations depending on the focus of the taping. Most horses will keep the tape on with some level of tension for several hours up to most of a day. It is also worth tape shopping - I have quite a collection at this point, some are very lightweight, others stick like glue. Contrasting colors are helpful for video and photo documentation but owners seem to prefer the camoflage effect of black tape on dark horse, etc.As far as patellas go, I often find rebalancing the pelvis, clearing any spinal or sacral problems and really looking for any regional connective tissue restrictions from a fascial/myofascial often brings things into a more functional balance.Anne , MPTBodies In BalanceAptos, CA Connect and share in new ways with Windows Live. Connect now!

[Guest guest]

Hi Jeanine.Yes, TheraDogs is trademarked by Beverly Cusick, I was surprised to learn.  I've worked with them off and on about trying to further develop their animal "product."  I do have lots of extra materials with which to work/experiment for the "garments".  I know that WoundWear has body suits for dogs which I think might work very well with the TheraTogs/Dogs materials.  We should "get together" and try to brainstorm further.For those who are unfamiliar with TheraTogs, it's a system of short-stretch elastic straps which basically "allow your patient to take your hands home" after therapy.  We tend to use the system with pediatric and adult neurologically-involved patients.Amie Amie Lamoreaux Hesbach, MSPT, CCRP, CCRTDirector of RehabilitationNext Step Animal Rehabilitation & FitnessThe Mid-Atlantic Animal Specialty Hospital (MASH)Huntingtown, land, USAwww.vetmash.comOwnerFor Paws Rehabilitation, LLCwww.forpawsrehabilitation.comFaculty MemberThe Canine Rehabilitation InstituteWellington, FloridaSnowmass, Coloradowww.caninerehabinstitute.comPresidentAnimal Physical Therapy Special Interest GroupOrthopaedic SectionAmerican Physical Therapy Association (APTA)www.orthopt.orgwww.apta.org Amie, I love theratogs for the humans!  I actually used to have a lot of the nu-stim material and tried to make my own garments for the doggies. A little difficult around the hips due to my non-existent sewing skills (I was trying to replicate the shorts like the kids wear as an anchor for the straps), but I was able to cut the material in thinnner strips and do some cool things with strapping.  Only down side, they tended to slide a little due to the shape of the hind leg -- again, why I tried to make the shorts to anchor the straps.  Recently I tried to order some more nu-stim as I've run out from experimenting with it but I was told my distributor could no longer sell it.  I was wondering if it was a patent thing with Bev Cusick? Jeanine forpawsrehabcomcast (DOT) net wrote:Correct me if I'm wrong (anyone who went to Narelle's lecture at VetPT), but I believe that she tended to use Kinesiotape (and duct tape) for horses rather and strapping tape on dogs.  And, yes, directly on the fur.  I've tried Kinesiotape on dogs previously and have had some (minor) success, but definitely using it more on the trunk, belly, etc. (more exposed areas) than on the limbs.  I've also learned that longer stips of Kinesiotape work better than shorter.  Strapping tape has worked much better for me for "staying power."  Dr. Kase even published a case (in the Kinesiotaping journal-- not a PubMed listed journal, by the way) using Kinesiotape on a dog with hip dysplasia a few years back.  Another alternative that I've found helpful has been TheraTogs.  I use the Tog straps over the "garments" like I would use tape.  Not a long term solution, but certainly something that can be helpful in a therapy session.  (Jeanine, being a p edi PT, you're probably familiar with TheraTogs/TheraDogs?)Amie -------------- Original message -------------- From: Jeanine Freeberg <jeaninefreeberg> Amie, So for kinesiotaping did she tape directly to the fur?  I'm intrigued.  Even with shaving I couldn't get my kinesiotape to adhere. But it was a German Shep.  Maybe more success with a smooth haired breed? I would be so excited if I could find a way to adhere.  I love using kinesio with my human kiddos. Jeanineforpawsrehabcomcast (DOT) net wrote:Narelle Stubbs, a physiotherapist from Australia, did a breakfast forum at the last Symposium on taping for neurofacilitation/feedback in horses (and dogs).  (I'm certain her notes are in the Proceedings.)  She tends to use Kinesiotape, McConnail strapping tape, and duct tape (even cheaper) without shaving/clipping fur.  The focus of her taping techniques is to facilitate muscle contractions/activation and awareness with the tape on the fur, rather than by using the tape to mechanically "move" structures, such as the patella.  If you do a search of the most recent (human) PT literature on taping, you'll find that it doesn't matter so much as to "where" the tape is applied (medial or lateral to the patella) but the method by which it's applied AND the therapeutic activities that are performed with the tape applied.  Also, in (human) PT, there's more focus on activating hip musculature to actively stabilize the patella, rather th an to actually "move" the patella with tape.  I'm certain that you won't be able to move the patella in a dog with tape-- not just because of the fur, but because the skin is so mobile.  My suggestion would be to use the tape to create more awareness and to facilitate the muscles that you'd like to be active-- for example, if the dog has a grade I/II MPL, apply the tape to the hip abductor muscles (gluts, etc).Happy Thanksgiving!Amie L. Hesbach, MSPT, CCRP, CCRT  -------------- Original message -------------- From: Jeanine Freeberg <jeaninefreeberg> I would be really interested as well if anyone has had success with this.  I haven't tried patella luxation taping per se.  But I have tried kinesiotaping.  In my experience, even when you shave the dogs there is still some hair left and the tape doesn't adhere as well and the tape therefore can't perform its function.  If anyone has strategies for taping dogs that does work I'm all ears! Jeanine Combs <oliviachichi> wrote:A human PT mentioned to me that Debbie Gross-Sauders talked about a way of taping luxatin patellas so that strengthening exercies could be done. Does anyone know more about this? Thanks, Be a better pen pal. Text or chat with friends inside Yahoo! Mail. See how.  Get easy, one-click access to your favorites. Make Yahoo! your homepage.Be a better pen pal. Text or chat with friends inside Yahoo! Mail. See how.

[Guest guest]

i've been successful with kinesiotaping for subluxating patella on dogs. i agree that at times the tape has problems with staying in place. i have used "tuf-skin" to assist with adhering properties of the tape and have found that it will stay on for about 2-3 days. i am always amazed when the dogs don't seem to mind the tape.

cheers,

dede

Dede Cravens, MSPT, MAnimSt

Re: Taping luxating patellas

I would be really interested as well if anyone has had success with this. I haven't tried patella luxation taping per se. But I have tried kinesiotaping. In my experience, even when you shave the dogs there is still some hair left and the tape doesn't adhere as well and the tape therefore can't perform its function. If anyone has strategies for taping dogs that does work I'm all ears!

Jeanine

Combs <oliviachichi> wrote:

A human PT mentioned to me that Debbie Gross-Sauders talked about a way

of taping luxatin patellas so that strengthening exercies could be

done. Does anyone know more about this?

Thanks,

Be a better pen pal. Text or chat with friends inside Yahoo! Mail. See how.

More new features than ever. Check out the new AOL Mail!

[Guest guest]

Could you enlighten me more about this taping process?

I don't know anything about it but it sounds very

interesting and I aould love to know more.

Thanks,

________________________________________________________________________________\

____

Be a better sports nut! Let your teams follow you

with Yahoo Mobile. Try it now.

http://mobile.yahoo.com/sports;_ylt=At9_qDKvtAbMuh1G1SQtBI7ntAcJ