East Midlands Clinical Canine Massage & Rehab

East Midlands Clinical Canine Massage & Rehab Lisa is a Guild Clinical Canine massage Therapist. Lisa continues to broaden her knowledge by attending regular courses.
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Whether your dog is recovering from surgery, struggling with arthritis, compensating due to injury, slowing down with age, my treatments can reduce pain, restore function & support lifelong mobility
Clinical Massage/Osteopathy
Rehab/fitness Programs
Laser Clinical massage supports dogs with orthopaedic conditions such as arthritis and hip/elbow dysplasia and dogs with neurological conditions. It i

s a non-invasive natural form of pain relief for dogs, it can relieve discomfort, improve mobility, and promote physiological well-being. Massage helps improves and addresses a dogs gait, posture, behaviour problems, and can improve performance for sporting dogs. Using skilled canine massage techniques such as Swedish, sports, deep tissue, myofascial release, and performing direct manipulation of muscle and fascia; painful debilitating ‘knots’ (trigger points) that cause referred pain are released, and scar tissue and adhesions can be broken down, improving your dog’s flexibility, mobility and comfort levels. Lisa is passionate about the well-being and health of dogs which has led her to successfully complete a year course as Canine Conditioning Coach from the Accredited Canine Conditioning Academy. By combining both skills: Clinical Canine Massage and Canine Conditioning, Lisa offers massage treatments and safe and effective fitness and conditioning programmes for pet dogs, senior dogs, nervous/anxious dogs, dogs that are overweight and dog’s after post surgery. She specialises working with performance dog’s such as those that do agility, flyball, canicross, obedience, show dogs etc. Alongside Clinical Massage, Canine Conditioning/rehabilitation programmes, Lisa is training to be a Canine Osteopathic Practitioner and will be offering these treatments sessions to your dog soon. Most recently she has completed courses in Canine First Aid, Canine Gait & Biomechanics, Rehab Techniques for the Neurological Canine Patient, Canine Behaviour, T-touch, and Canine Nutrition. All clinical canine sessions are delivered in the comfort of the purpose built clinic which is based in South Nottingham, which is designed specifically to cater for your dog’s treatment sessions, including equipment for Canine Postural/Gait Analysis and tailored Canine Conditioning and Rehabilitation Programmes. Lisa is based in Nottingham and has clients from the East Midlands; she covers Nottingham, Derby, Leicester, Lincoln, Northampton.

04/12/2025

I often remind owners that a negative X-ray doesn’t always mean no problem, it simply means nothing is visible at that moment in time. This does not mean X-rays are unreliable; they are an essential diagnostic tool.
However, pain and dysfunction don’t always show on imaging, which is why we must always treat the dog in front of us.
🙏Onlinepethealth for this post

I’m dedicated to supporting dogs living with pain, and I often collaborate with clinical veterinary behaviourists. Many ...
04/12/2025

I’m dedicated to supporting dogs living with pain, and I often collaborate with clinical veterinary behaviourists. Many behaviour concerns stem from underlying musculoskeletal discomfort.
If your dog is struggling with behaviour, consider pain as a possible cause.
⬇️⬇️⬇️

🐾 Canine Joints: Movement MattersIs your dog stiff, struggling to walk, or finding the cold weather challenging? This is...
02/12/2025

🐾 Canine Joints: Movement Matters

Is your dog stiff, struggling to walk, or finding the cold weather challenging? This is more common than many owners realise.

While it’s natural to let dogs rest when they appear arthritic or uncomfortable, too much rest can actually worsen joint issues. Reduced movement leads to stiffening joints, muscle weakening, and a decline in overall mobility.

The right kind of movement is therapeutic.
Gentle, controlled exercise improves joint lubrication, supports strength, and helps maintain comfort.

A qualified Canine Therapist or Rehabilitation Practitioner can assess your dog and design a safe, tailored plan, ideal for senior dogs or those living with arthritis, stiffness, or general mobility challenges.

If your dog is slowing down, don’t wait.
Appropriate movement helps them stay comfortable, mobile, and confident.

I offer a range of professional services to support arthritic and senior dogs, including:
• Therapeutic clinical massage and treatment
• Rehabilitation programmes
• Laser therapy
All aimed at reducing pain and improving quality of life.

If you’d like more information on how I can help your dog, please get in touch. I’m here to support you both. 🐾

🐾 Milo… Isn’t He Just the Cutest? 🐾This lovely boy has recently been diagnosed with left forelimb Angular Limb Deformity...
01/12/2025

🐾 Milo… Isn’t He Just the Cutest? 🐾
This lovely boy has recently been diagnosed with left forelimb Angular Limb Deformity (ALD) — a condition where one or more limb bones grow abnormally, causing the leg to bend or twist. In Milo’s case, this has caused abnormal development of the radius and ulna, leading to joint incongruity and discomfort in his elbow.

ALD commonly occurs because paired bones grow at different rates. For Milo, the cause is asynchronous bone growth — where one bone (often the ulna) stops growing too early. This prevents the radius from developing normally, forcing it to bow, twist, or rotate. This change in limb geometry can create pain, reduced mobility, altered weight-bearing, and muscular compensation throughout the body.

So How Do My Treatments Help?

Using clinical canine massage and osteopathic techniques, his sessions focus on:

🟢 Reducing muscular tension caused by altered gait and weight-shifting

🟢Addressing compensatory patterns in the shoulder, neck, and thoracic region

🟢 Improving joint mobility and soft tissue elasticity surrounding the elbow

🟢 Supporting comfort and functional movement as his body adapts to the mechanical changes

🟢 Promoting better circulation and tissue health, helping reduce pain and inflammation

These therapies do not change the bone structure itself, but they play a crucial role in managing secondary issues, improving quality of life, and supporting long-term comfort and mobility.

Milo’s vet has recommended lifelong supportive treatment with me to help manage his muscular compensations and keep him as comfortable and functional as possible.

I’m really looking forward to working with Milo throughout his treatment and rehabilitation journey — he’s an absolute sweetheart and already a joy to treat. 💚🐾

Betsy was an absolute star during her session today. She presented with several trigger points along her back—small, hyp...
01/12/2025

Betsy was an absolute star during her session today. She presented with several trigger points along her back—small, hyper-irritable nodules within tight bands of muscle. These points can develop due to overuse, compensation, poor biomechanics, or underlying musculoskeletal discomfort, and often contribute to reduced mobility, stiffness, or altered gait patterns.

During her treatment, I used targeted clinical canine massage techniques including myofascia release to release these trigger points.

This helps to:

🟢Reduce local muscle tension and pain

🟢 Improve blood flow and oxygenation to affected tissues

🟢 Restore normal muscle function

🟢 Support smoother, more comfortable movement

With these areas released, Betsy should experience improved mobility, freer movement, and reduced muscular discomfort over the coming days.

Well done, Betsy! 💚🐾

01/12/2025

It’s the 1st of December, which means we can officially start talking about Christmas.
At the clinic, we’re beginning to add those little touches to create a warm, cheerful atmosphere for everyone who visits.

We also recognise that this season can be a difficult time for many—especially for those who have lost family, friends, or much-loved dogs. Christmas often brings both joy and reflection, and it’s important to honour both.

As we move through December, let’s take time to remember, to appreciate what we have, and to be gentle and kind with one another.

Wishing all of our clients, friends, and their wonderful dogs a peaceful and heartfelt Christmas.

✨ Exciting News from the New Rehab & Canine Fitness Centre! ✨After months of planning, preparation, and carefully sourci...
30/11/2025

✨ Exciting News from the New Rehab & Canine Fitness Centre! ✨

After months of planning, preparation, and carefully sourcing specialist equipment, our brand-new rehabilitation and canine fitness centre is almost ready! With just a few final pieces to install, we are on track to open next year and welcome our canine performance, sporting, and rehabilitation clients.

This afternoon was spent doing what I love most—working hands-on with canine fitness. I had the pleasure of working with a gorgeous Mali, focusing on core strength and the deep stabilising muscles around the hips. These muscles are essential for pelvic stability, efficient movement, and injury prevention, especially in active or ageing dogs.
I also created tailored programmes to support senior dogs, alongside preparing a new sporting-dog fitness plan for next week.

With several new sporting-dog fitness programmes now in development, excitement is truly building. The new clinic is shaping up beautifully, complete with advanced assessment tools and specialist rehabilitation equipment that will elevate the level of care and treatment I provide.

I cannot wait to open the doors and welcome you all into this next chapter of canine rehabilitation, performance conditioning, and proactive wellness

Touch Over Tools: Why Skilled Hands Outperform Devices in Canine Myofascial ReleaseAt -East Midlands Clinical Canine Mas...
29/11/2025

Touch Over Tools: Why Skilled Hands Outperform Devices in Canine Myofascial Release

At -East Midlands Clinical Canine Massage & Rehab, our approach is grounded in evidence-led, hands-on clinical practice.
Electrotherapies absolutely have their place in canine rehabilitation — and I use them regularly where appropriate — but nothing matches the precision, communication, and neurological impact of skilled manual therapy, especially when working with the canine fascial system.

This is why I truly believe in ‘Touch Over Tools’.
Because fascia responds to sensitivity, presence, warmth, and real-time feedback — something only skilled hands can provide.

🟢Skilled Hands Give Real-Time Information No Tool Can Offer

During myofascial release, your practitioner feels moment-by-moment changes in:
• tissue temperature
• fascial glide and viscosity
• subtle restriction
• breath changes
• micro-guarding and bracing
• nervous-system responses

This feedback shapes pressure, depth, and direction instantly.
Tools apply pressure. Skilled hands interpret, adapt, and work with the dog’s body.

🟢 Canine Nervous Systems Respond Uniquely to Human Touch

Skin and fascia contain mechanoreceptors (Ruffini endings, Pacinian corpuscles, interstitial receptors) that respond strongly to:
• warmth
• sustained contact
• slow, intentional pressure
• natural contour of the therapist’s hands

These inputs help:
• down-regulate sympathetic arousal
• reduce pain signalling
• soften protective muscle tone
• improve movement organisation

Electrotherapies stimulate tissue.
Hands regulate the nervous system.

🟢 Touch Changes Physiology Before Technique Even Begins

Physical contact alone supports:
• reduced cortisol
• increased oxytocin
• improved emotional regulation
• better proprioceptive clarity

Dogs — highly tactile, social animals — respond particularly well to gentle, confident touch.
Tools can compress tissue, but they cannot create a neurochemical state of safety.

🟢Hands Follow Structure; Tools Push Through It

Canine fascia doesn’t run in straight lines — it spirals, blends, suspends and wraps around structures.

Hands can:
• contour around complex structures
• follow natural direction-of-ease
• melt into the tissue rather than force through it

Tools often scrape or pull in linear paths, bypassing the subtleties that create lasting change.

🟢Tools Can Override Natural Limits

A practitioner’s hands detect when:
• tissue meets its natural barrier
• the nervous system hesitates
• a micro-release initiates
• the dog shifts depth, position, or intention

Tools risk pushing past these limits, potentially causing irritation, rebound tension, or compensation.

Hands work with the dog’s pacing — not against it.

🟢Hands Support Whole-Body Fascial Integration

Fascial therapy is not about treating a single “problem area.”
It is about improving communication across the entire kinetic system.

Hands-on work:
• connects multiple fascial lines simultaneously
• enhances global proprioception
• improves gait coordination
• supports healthier movement strategies

Electrotherapies tend to treat locally.
Hands treat the whole conversation.

🟢Physical Touch Builds Trust, Comfort & Relaxation

Trust is foundational for therapeutic change.

Hands-on therapy:
• reduces defensiveness
• encourages softening
• promotes emotional safety
• creates a receptive body
• strengthens the bond between practitioner and dog

Tools cannot create rapport.
Hands can — instantly and intuitively.

A Note on Electrotherapies in Clinical Practice

At East Midlands Clinical Canine Massage & Rehabilitation Therapies:
✔ We recognise that electrotherapies (e.g., PEMF, TENS, NMES, LASER) have valuable roles in specific clinical scenarios.
✔ However, for myofascial release, neuromuscular regulation, and whole-body integration, skilled manual therapy consistently provides deeper, safer, and more responsive results.
⬇️⬇️⬇️
Touch is not just pressure — it is information, communication, and co-regulation.

Professional Reference
Manual therapy induces measurable autonomic and neurophysiological changes that tools cannot replicate.
A key reference supporting this is:

Schleip, R. (2003). Fascial plasticity–a new neurobiological explanation: Part 1. Journal of Bodywork and Movement Therapies, 7(1), 11–19.
This paper highlights the role of mechanoreceptor stimulation, tissue adaptation, and autonomic regulation—core mechanisms only fully accessed through human touch.

🙏Thank you for reading.

🕸️Fascia Remembers What Muscles Forget🕸️Why Fascia Matters in Canine RehabilitationWhen we think about stiffness or pain...
29/11/2025

🕸️Fascia Remembers What Muscles Forget🕸️

Why Fascia Matters in Canine Rehabilitation

When we think about stiffness or pain in dogs, we often focus on the muscles — but fascia is just as important. Fascia is the connective tissue that wraps around every muscle, tendon, ligament, and organ. It adapts slowly, holds on to restrictions, and can keep affecting movement long after muscle tension has faded.

🟢. Muscles vs Fascia – Why Dogs Stay Stiff

Muscles:
• Contract and relax quickly under nerve control.
• When the signal stops, healthy muscle fibres usually return to normal (Barbe & Roenker, 2021).

Fascia:
• Changes slowly and can become “sticky,” thickened or restricted after injury, surgery, or repetitive strain.
• These restrictions can stay even when the muscles feel fine (Stecco et al., 2014).

🟢 Fascia Has “Mechanical Memory”

Fascia adapts to how a dog moves — for better or worse.
• Repeated patterns or trauma can cause collagen to remodel and stiffen (Schleip et al., 2012).
• Example: after a cruciate injury, a dog may develop altered fascial patterns that persist long after the muscles have healed.

🟢 Fascia Talks to the Nervous System

Fascia contains more sensory receptors than many muscles (Tesarz et al., 2011).
This means:
• Restrictions constantly send signals to the brain.
• These signals reinforce protective or compensatory movement patterns, contributing to ongoing stiffness, soreness, or changes in gait.

🟢. Why Specialist Therapy Matters

Because fascia responds differently from muscle, dogs often need specific, skilled techniques such as:
• Myofascial release & clinical canine massage to restore glide, hydration, and elasticity (Schleip & Müller, 2013).
• Gentle stretching & controlled exercise to help fibres realign.
• Movement retraining to reset compensations and improve healthy motion.

⚠️ These methods should only be carried out by qualified Clinical Canine Massage Therapists or advanced rehabilitation practitioners trained in fascial techniques.

⬇️⬇️⬇️
In Summary
• Muscles act; fascia adapts.
• Muscles relax quickly.
• Fascia remodels slowly and holds on to restrictions.
• Long-term success in rehab comes from treating both.

This is what we mean by:

“Fascia remembers what muscles forget.”

References

• Barbe, M.F. & Roenker, N.L. (2021). Skeletal muscle and motor control: Functional anatomy in veterinary species. Veterinary Clinics: Small Animal Practice, 51(3), 417–432.
• Schleip, R., Findley, T.W., Chaitow, L., & Huijing, P.A. (2012). Fascia: The Tensional Network of the Human Body. Elsevier.
• Schleip, R. & Müller, D.G. (2013). Training principles for fascial connective tissues. Journal of Bodywork and Movement Therapies, 17(1), 103–115.
• Stecco, C., Macchi, V., Porzionato, A., Duparc, F., & De Caro, R. (2014). The fascia: The forgotten structure. Surgical and Radiologic Anatomy, 33(6), 533–534.
• Tesarz, J., Hoheisel, U., Wiedenhöfer, B., & Mense, S. (2011). Sensory innervation of human thoracolumbar fascia. Neuroscience, 194, 302–308.

🐾 Anyone fancy giving tracking a go with their dog?It’s one of the most rewarding activities you can do together l and i...
27/11/2025

🐾 Anyone fancy giving tracking a go with their dog?

It’s one of the most rewarding activities you can do together l and it’s suitable for all dogs!

⭐ What is tracking?

Tracking is a scent-based activity where your dog follows a ground scent trail to locate a specific person or item. It uses their incredible natural abilities and gives them a clear, confidence-building job to do.

⭐ Why is it great for every dog?

Because it works beautifully with dogs’ natural instincts:
🐶 Puppies — builds focus, confidence, and positive early experiences
👵 Senior dogs — provides mental stimulation without high-impact exercise
😟 Nervous or anxious dogs — reduces stress, supports emotional regulation, and boosts confidence
🐕‍🦺 Shy dogs — encourages independent problem-solving in a safe, positive environment
💪 Energetic dogs — offers an excellent outlet for both mental and physical energy

Tracking is empowering, enriching, and completely dog-led they get to use their noses, make decisions, and feel successful.

🌟 We are so lucky in the East Midlands?

We have many excellent trainers offering tracking, scentwork, trailing, and other fantastic activities.
If you’d like to try something new with your dog, there’s something for every age, breed, and personality.

Many of you know I’m a strong advocate for engaging your dogs in appropriate, enriching activities. If you’d like a list of ethical, highly recommended trainers or guidance on activities that suit your dog’s age, physical needs, and fitness level, just let me know at your next appointment. I’m always happy to help you find the right options to support your dog’s wellbeing

Here are a few photos of Bella at Charnwood Dog School we fully recommend them! 🥰🐾

🟢 Coat Changes in Your Dog & Myofascial Pain🟢Have you noticed your dog’s coat flicking up, sitting unevenly, or looking ...
27/11/2025

🟢 Coat Changes in Your Dog & Myofascial Pain🟢

Have you noticed your dog’s coat flicking up, sitting unevenly, or looking “ruffled” in a particular area?
This can be a subtle indicator of localised fascial dysfunction, commonly known as myofascial pain.

🐕 This is BB, demonstrating how targeted myofascial release techniques can reduce fascial restrictions and resolve associated coat pattern changes.

Top photo:
Myofascial restrictions around the sacrum.

Bottom photo:
BB also presented with myofascial restrictions and altered coat patterns around the left Rhomboideus, and along the left forelimb retractor chain (Teres major/minor, Deltoids, Supraspinatus).

These changes can be seen clearly in the bottom-right ‘before’ photo, compared with the ‘after’ photo on the left following treatment and Myofascia release techniques.

If you look at the comparison images, you can see how the coat lies differently once underlying fascial tension has been released and the tissue has remodeled.

🟢 What Is Myofascia?

Myofascia is a continuous, three-dimensional network of connective tissue that surrounds and supports muscles, joints, bones, and organs.
It plays vital roles in:
• Proprioception – your dog’s awareness of body position
• Nociception – detection of pain
• Structural support and efficient movement
• Force transmission throughout the body

It is an extraordinary system—complex, dynamic, and far more influential to movement and comfort than many people realise.

🟢 Understanding Myofascial Pain

Myofascial pain arises from the muscles and surrounding fascia.
It is common in dogs with:
• Musculoskeletal dysfunction (e.g., arthritis)
• Compensatory movement patterns
• Soft-tissue injuries
• Post-surgical adaptations
• Trauma or repetitive strain

The pain can be local or referred, and is often accompanied by trigger points and fascial restrictions.

🟢 Why Do These Coat Changes Occur?

Myofascial restrictions can alter the way the coat lies. This often mirrors the shape or direction of the underlying restriction.

You may see:
• Hair flicking up or standing proud
• Small “coat kicks”
• Areas of unusually curly or unusually flat coat
• A patch that doesn’t settle smoothly when stroked

These patterns occur because dysfunctional fascia loses its ability to slide and glide, pulling on the skin and affecting the hair follicles above it.

🟢 What Does This Mean for Your Dog?

Coat pattern changes can suggest:
• Underlying muscle or soft-tissue dysfunction
• Compensatory loading
• Trigger points
• Joint-related discomfort

You may also notice twitching, flinching, or local skin reactivity when you touch these areas.

🟢 How Can Myofascial Pain Be Treated?

Clinical massage and myofascial release, when performed by a trained professional, can significantly improve fascial mobility and reduce chronic discomfort.

As a Canine Musculoskeletal Therapist, I am trained in:
• Direct & indirect Myofascial Release (MFR)
• Myofascial cupping techniques

These approaches help create space within the connective tissues, improving elasticity and restoring normal function.
The ultimate goal is better mobility, improved comfort, and enhanced quality of life for your dog.

If you would like to book an appointment or discuss how clinical massage and Myofascia release could help your dog, please get in touch:

📧 [email protected]
📞 07418 082 240

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West Bridgford
Nottingham
NG2

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East Midlands Clinical Canine Massage

Using 4 disciplines of massage, Swedish, Deep Tissue, Sports, and myofascial release with over 50 techniques, I help to rehabilitate soft tissue injuries commonly seen as lameness as well as supporting orthopaedic conditions such as arthritis and hip/elbow dysplasia and dogs with neurological conditions. It is a non-invasive, natural form of pain relief which can relieve discomfort, improve mobility and promote psychological well-being. Massage can help address the dogs; Gait, Posture, Activities of Daily Living, Behaviour and Performance.

I help a wide range of dogs including family, senior, nervous dogs, dogs that are overweight or dogs that have undergone post surgery. I am passionate about the health and wellbeing of the performance and working dogs such as those that do agility, canincross, flyball, obedience, sled dogs, gun-dogs and show dogs. and specialise working with these dogs, at my clinic.