The Effects of A Multicomponent Physiotherapy Program On Knee Flexibility, Reduction of The Level of Lameness In A Dog of The Bernese Mountain Dog Breed After The Anterior Cruciate Ligament Reconstruction

Introduction: Physiotherapy after surgery improves the possibility of complete recovery and faster recovery of the dog to a functional state before injury. Because physiotherapy in animals is a relatively young branch, there are currently no published studies and evidence-based physiotherapy to examine the short-term impact of physiotherapy procedures on improving mobility and the degree of lameness in the dog. Methods: We performed a case study using a mixed methods design, specifically a sequential research plan, and investigated the effectiveness of a 12-week physiotherapy program on knee function in a Bernese Mountain Dog after anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction. Results: Based on the analysis of the results of an existing case study using the integration of a quantitative research paradigm in a dog, we find that the said physiotherapy program is effective in the short term in improving knee mobility and reducing lameness in a dog. Conclusions: we find that after a multi-component physiotherapy program there was an improvement in range of motion (flexion and extension), increase in thigh circumference and decrease in the degree of lameness, on the hind left limb after reconstruction of the anterior cruciate ligament in Bernese Mountain Dog.