CMT: Canine Myofunctional Therapy - Essay Example

CMT: Canine Myofunctional Therapy

Reasons why CMT is a Valuable Discipline

Introduction

Standard medication often proves inefficient in issues related to dogs’ joints and muscles. Apparently, standard dog medicine may fail to heal each pain and ache. The flaws associated with the use of ordinary canine medication resulted in the development of alternative therapies. Alternative therapies provide canines with a soothing touch unavailable in standard medicine. They recognize that the health of dogs not only revolves around the absence of diseases but also its general well-being. Overall, canine welfare involves the strengthening of canine resistance towards stress factors and promoting general physiological health. CMT forms part of the most popular alternative canine therapies in the modern veterinary world. CMT is a soothing and gentle treatment specifically developed for dogs. In addition to giving a dog a soothing feeling, CMT also remains crucial to rehabilitative surgery and treating chronic conditions. Typically, CMT enhances both circulation and muscle movement in dogs.

CMT is a valuable discipline based on a broad range of factors. Principally, CMT involves the application of vigilantly chosen massage techniques that enhance efficient muscle functioning in dogs. CMT usually addresses musculature deviations to strengthen the muscle health of dogs. The therapy often involves a practitioner palpating and observing a dog for muscular variations. Abnormalities related to joint angles, symmetry, and fluency of movement, and muscle tone form part of the common deviations in dog muscles. Consequently, veterinary practitioners often pay optimum attention during the identification of the abnormalities as noted above when observing a dog both in stationary movement positions. On the other hand, palpation is a hand on examination therapists undertake to identify asymmetries deviations related to sensitive areas and muscle tones. After conducting both palpation and observation, practitioners evaluate the findings from the two procedures before recommending for the most appropriate therapy. As noted earlier, CMT enhances overall dog health by maintaining muscle and musculature health. Healthy muscles benefit dogs through several ways. Primarily, they help dogs achieve structural balance by strengthening movement muscles in dogs. Similarly, CAM enhances tendon integrity, which decreases fatigue by reducing tension. Most importantly, CAM increases the flexibility of dog muscles. Flexible muscles promote dog immunity and prevent them from getting into injury easily. Characteristically, CAM improves overall dog health by not only stimulating their circulatory system but also their entire body systems. The role of Muscles, Joints, and General Health

Notably, the muscle and joint systems in dogs play significant roles in enhancing its overall health. Principally, the muscle anatomy remains solely responsible for facilitating movement in the body parts of a canine. Muscle anatomy often promotes head, limbs, joints, and neck movement (Robinson & Sheets, 2015). In addition to facilitating movement, the muscle system also provides stability to dog joints. Adequate stability enables dogs to function efficiently under pressure. Additionally, muscles facilitate a broad range of features similar to circulation, digestion, and respiration (Robinson & Sheets, 2015). Muscle anatomy promotes activities such as barking, facial expression, raising of hair, and wagging tail that often indicate the emotional state of a dog (Mourad, 2013). Consequently, maintaining maximum muscle strength remains integral to the overall health of dogs. Dogs possess three distinct types of muscles that facilitate the efficient realization of the activities as noted above. Smooth, skeletal, and cardiac muscles perform separate functions that result in the overall welfare of dogs (Robertson & Mead, 2013).

Heart muscle is another term used to refer to the cardiac physique of a canine. Heart muscles often facilitate the general well-being of a canine. Blood vessels and hollow organs such as eyeballs, glands, hair follicles, and the spleen are the common locations of smooth muscles (Robertson & Mead, 2013). Smooth muscles facilitate the performance of involuntary activities that take place continuously to keep the dog alive. Contrary to cardiac and smooth muscles, skeletal physique plays two significant roles associated with the creation of movement and the maintaining of posture and balance. They also support skeleton system in dogs (Van Dyke2009). Therefore, the skeletal system remains central to CMT because when injured, it affects the efficient movement of dogs (Mourad, 2013). Habitually, muscles respond to stress or injury by performing constant contractions of the affected fibers (Robertson & Mead, 2013). Muscles should not remain constricted because excessive contraction may result in inflammation, restricted movement, and poor performance of muscle. Inflammation may lead to impaired mobility, pain, and swelling compromising the overall well-being of a dog.

Benefits

Enhancing the Automatic Immune (ANS) and Nervous Systems in Dogs

Typically, the ANS facilitates the performance of vital body functions in a canine. Parasympathetic and sympathetic divisions make up the ANS of a canine (Robertson & Mead, 2013). The two categories as noted above perform unique functions. For instance, the sympathetic section usually controls the fight and flight reactions of a dog. Consequently, CMT remains essential to the sympathetic division of a canine. CMT mobilizes the body resources of a canine for the reactions as noted earlier by stimulating the sympathetic division. Notably, sporting and military dogs usually receive CMT before undertaking events. CMT prepares their muscle system for activities such as fight and flight (Pierce, 2013). Equally, ANS’s parasympathetic division enhances the performance of digestive, immune, circulatory, and breathing functions in a dog (Pierce, 2013). Indispensable activities is the common term used to refer to the functions as mentioned based on their vitality to the general well-being of a dog. Therapists often recommend CMT in dogs displaying nervous and anxious reactions (Pierce, 2013). CMT not only calms a dog but also relaxes the sympathetic division of the ANS especially after stressful events such as treatments and sporting.

Remarkably, CNS and PNS make up the nervous system of a dog. The two systems as stated above have a direct effect on a dog’s nervous system that not only increases ROM but also improve muscle tone. Specifically, the spinal cord and brain characterize the brain. On the other hand, the spinal and cranial nerves comprise the PNS system. In addition to increasing ROM and muscle tone, a dog’s nervous system facilitates the transmission of information from the brain to the other body parts of a canine (Van Dyke, 2009). The nervous system achieves the transmission of data function with the help of several sensory receptors. Key among them is Golgi apparatus and muscles spindles (Zilcha-Mano, Mikulincer, & Shaver, 2011). For instance, muscle spindles detect velocity and length to prevent dog muscles from overstretching (Mourad, 2013). In extreme cases, muscle spindles contract overstretched dog muscles by initiating the production of motor neurons. Golgi apparatus, on the other hand, undertake proprioception functions related to providing feedback to the brain regarding the location of the muscle (Van Dyke2009). CMT improves the quality of muscles. By promoting muscle quality, CMT not only eases sensory receptors pressure but also reduces muscle tension facilitating the transmission of nervous impulses.

Stimulating the Circulatory System

The circulatory system of a dog comprises of two principal parts similar to venous and arterial (Stillion & Letendre, 2015). Typically, the circulatory system enhances the overall welfare of a dog in addition to aiding the functioning of muscles. As mentioned before, the arterial and venous parts comprise the circulatory system. The arterial section performs functions related to the circulation-oxygenated blood to body tissues. The supply of oxygenated blood remains crucial to the overall health of a dog. Principally, it provides the body with elements essential to normal functioning. For instance, oxygenated blood contains red and red white cells (Stillion & Letendre, 2015). The two cells as noted above perform distinct functions related to the supply of fresh blood and fighting infections respectively. In addition to fighting diseases, white blood cells provide a bathing platform for plasma and other significant body nutrients. By supplying the body with fresh blood, the arterial system performs functions related metabolism and distribution of endocrine secretions (Beetem, 2013). Regulation f body temperature and blood clotting form part of the duties conducted by the arterial system in dogs.

Conversely, the venous component of the circulatory system performs functions related to excretion. Apparently, the system carries waste back to the kidneys, liver, lungs, and other functions body parts for excretion and expelling (Stillion & Letendre, 2015). In addition to facilitating discharge, the venous system also enhances proper functioning of the lymphatic system. Apparently, excess waste fluids not absorbed into the venous system enter the lymphatic capillaries. Lymph is the term used to refer to the clear and colorless fluid that enters the lymphatic system. Lymph fluid supplies the body with white blood cells. Notably, CMT applies mechanical pressure to the tissue system of dogs (Beetem, 2013). Mechanical pressure on body tissues, in turn, stimulates the entire circulatory system of dogs. CMT often increases the flow of blood through the creation of fluctuations in the in pressure of lymph vessels and blood (Vickers, Stevensen, & Van Toller, 2013). CMT benefits the lymphatic system of a dog’s body by improving the venous component. CMT improves lymphatic drainage, which in turn enhances the maintenance of good health in dogs. Massage involving high-pressure damages lymphedemas to allow for the escape of metabolic fluids.

Facilitating the Range of Movement (ROM) and Promoting Healing in Dogs

The ability and degree to which a dog can flex and extend its limbs is commonly referred to as ROM. The integrity of the soft limbs supporting doglegs and conformation often influence ROM. Notably, contraction characterizes injured muscle fibers in dogs. Contraction results in motion reduction of a range of joints. Contraction allows for less exercising enabling dogs to avoid painful positions (Stillion & Letendre, 2015). Evidently, ROM is a significant function that facilitates the well-being of dogs. Apparently, CMT increases ROM through several functions. Primarily, ROM not only separates but also lengthens the affected muscle fibers (Beetem, 2013). The lengthening and separation process, in turn, enhances the production of synovial fluid. The synovial fluid is solely responsible for the lubrication of the affected joints. CMT applies pressure on the injured parts easing functional stress. Typically, CMT results in the positive perception of pain and improving ROM in dogs (Beetem, 2013). Several researchers have indicated the efficiency of CMT in positively influencing ROM in animals. Apparently, massage treatments have often demonstrated the ability to increase stride length and decrease stride frequency in animals (Vickers, Stevensen, & Van Toller, 2013). Animals can cover more distances following massage therapies such as CMT.

Notably, CMT affects the quality of muscle tissues, consequently improving ROM in animals. According to therapists, the mechanical quality of massage procedures affects ROM and the quality of muscle tissues (Preston & Foster, 2012). As indicated earlier, massage therapies such as CMT exert pressure on the muscle tissues of dogs. The pressure exerted during massage results in the pulling of muscles towards several directions. In addition to pulling muscle fibres, massage strokes mobilize connective tissues leading to the production of adhesions. The production of adhesions facilitates faster healing in cases of muscle tears. Massage promotes muscle healing through processes related to recruitment and fibroblast function (Preston & Foster, 2012). Additionally, CMT plays a significant role in the reduction of the formation of scar tissues. Apparently, CMT discourages the formation of collagen fibers facilitating the remodeling of muscles along normal stresses lines. Massage promotes faster healing of injured muscles in dogs by enhancing the flow of blood to the affected areas (Cevizci, Karaahmet, Güneş, & Sen, 2013). As noted in the beginning of the paper, injuries result in the contraction of muscle fibres restricting flexion and the extent of extension in joints. By facilitating the flow of blood to the affected areas, CMT results in faster healing of the injured muscles (Preston & Foster, 2012).

Contraindications and Safety Measures of CMT

Evidently, CMT is a safe practice that not only promotes muscle health but also the general welfare of a dog. Despite possessing a broad range of benefits, CMT may result in powerful effects on the body system of a dog. Consequently, therapists must exercise extra caution while undertaking CMT. Veterinarians contraindicate the application of CMT during a certain health conditions in dogs. For instance, therapists discourage the performance of CMT during acute injury stages. Severe injuries revolve around burns, fractures, hematoma, and muscle tear (Howie, 2015). According to veterinarians, serious damage phases last for seven to ten days after the occurrence of an injury. Therapists must refrain from administering CMT during this stage as it could compromise the natural healing process of the dog’s body (Howie, 2015). Apparently, administering CMT during the acute phase of injury pushes away the WBC resulting in the inappropriate flow of blood.

Besides discouraging CMT during the acute phase of damage, veterinarians also contraindicate massage during malignancies and infections. Fungal, viral, parasitic, and bacteria are the most common infections in dogs (Zilcha-Mano, Mikulincer, & Shaver, 2011). Just like in injury, CMT should not occur during the infections as noted above, as they will also compromise the natural healing process. Furthermore, massage may end up spreading the infection throughout the body by interfering with normal flow of blood. Other conditions that require the permission of a veterinarian before the administration of CMT include heart problem and blood thinning. As noted earlier, CMT not only stimulates the circulatory system but also reduces blood viscosity. Consequently, therapists require veterinarian advice before the administration of CMT on dogs under medication or suffering from heart conditions.

Conclusion

Principally, CMT addresses deviations in the musculature of dogs to maintain and enhance muscle health. The practice revolves around the application of cautiously selected massage techniques. Dog muscles facilitate the efficient performance of a broad range of functions. Most of these roles revolve around involuntary actions such as digestion, circulation, and respiration. Muscles also remain critical to enhancing dog movement. Therefore, the maintenance of healthy and efficiently functioning muscles remains fundamental to the overall well-being of a canine. The administration of CMT not only promotes faster healing of muscles but also facilitates ROM in animals. CMT usually involves the application of mechanical pressure to the tissues of a dog’s body. The application of mechanical pressure on body tissues creates fluctuations in the blood and lymph vessels increasing its flow. By increasing the flow of blood, CMT creates a flushing effect in the body, which in turn facilitates the efficient supply of oxygenated nutrients. Efficient flow of blood in a dog’s body indicates an improved circulatory, lymphatic and venous system. CMT also has a positive effect on the nervous system as it improves muscle tone and stimulates the efficient functioning of the PNS and CNS. The application of CMT has also proven beneficial to the developing the endocrine systems.

Undoubtedly, CMT demonstrates to be a safe practice that results in powerful effects in a dog’s body. In spite of the broad range of benefits associated with CMT, veterinarians often contraindicate the practice based on several factors. Apparently, the administration of CMT should not occur during acute stages of injury as it may compromise the natural healing process in dogs. Massages increase the flow of blood and may end up pushing away WBC from the site of harm. In addition to acute injury phases, veterinarians discourage the application of CMT during infections or on dogs suffering chronic conditions related to heart illnesses. As noted earlier, CMT increases the flow of blood compromising natural healing as it may end up spreading the condition throughout a dog’s body. Nevertheless, CMT has proved efficient in not only enhancing proper functioning of muscles but also stimulating involuntary body functions. Based on its far-reaching benefits, CMT should be considered a necessary discipline to not only to dogs but also the holistic health of canines.