Startline Veterinary Physiotherapy

04/11/2024

A few pics of our patients competing this past weekend!

Competition pics are a great way of assessing both physical symmetry and emotional state of the dogs during different movements and sections of the course.

Comfortable dogs are dogs that thrive ☑️

Great pics from Annaret Meintjes

02/11/2024

We are so excited for the launch of our official website! 💙 Thank you to all my clients for being apart of this process. One milestone at a time 🔝

Watch the space for some exciting new additions and announcements coming soon 🌟

See if you can spot your animal amongst the pages! 🐶🐱🐴

Visit the link in our bio! 🔗

https://startlinevetphysio.com/

31/10/2024

Kirsten is currently attending the International Veterinnary Rehabilitation Practitioners Symposium. Continuously learning and growing 💙🔝

21/10/2024

A TOUCH OF VALUE ✨

Startline physiotherapists perform detailed clinical examinations and develop carefully tailored treatment protocols and plans for your animals. ✔️

STARTLINE VALUE lies in the START.

We ensure our comprehensive assessments include thorough subjective history, gait analysis and physical assessment to make sure that no stone is left unturned!

Making sure that we spend more time on specific and effective treatments, that last. ☑️

Your animals can’t speak, let our hands do the talking for them 🫱🏻‍🫲🏼

17/10/2024

Good luck to our Startline patients competing at SEC REGIONAL TRIALS this weekend 🌟

Some (not all) pictured below, representing hard working owners! 💪🏻

Wishing you all safe travels and clean runs 👏🏻 🐾

Samantha Dore
Jenny Mitchell
Samantha Sampson
Lizbè Henze

08/10/2024

PHYSIO FOR WORKING CANINES ☑️

At STARTLINE we have the privilege of working with the canine team at 🐾 to ensure that their working dogs are prepared and maintained for the job!

These dogs are produced and trained for narcotics and explosive detection 💥

They are highly driven and will often work through multiple aches and pains to accomplish the task they are given ‼️

This collaboration between working dogs and physiotherapy ensures that:

1️⃣ Minor injuries are detected before they evolve
2️⃣ Hard-working bodies are kept mobile and comfortable
3️⃣ Targeted conditioning exercises are routinely performed to reduce injury risk

We are PROUD to be associated with a team that advocates for animal wellbeing and promotes healthy practices within working conditions 🏆

🇿🇦

04/10/2024

We could not be any more proud of this duo! Melanie De Klerk and Sinna 2nd in the WORLD today! ❤️🇿🇦🌍🥈

Congratulations to Melanie de Klerk and Sinna on their amazing round in the Team Large Agility round. Sadly no silver medals coming home as this was a Team round but Melanie has certainly earned herself major bragging rights.

29/09/2024

Samantha Dore and Roman had a killer weekend at Free State Regional Trials.
We are so proud of this boy! 💙

25/09/2024

GOODLUCK TO SINNA AND MELANIE COMPETING AT THE AGILITY WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP 🇿🇦🌍💙

At only 3 years old, Sinna is the 2024 Large KUSA South African Champion 🏆

Sinna has been treated by Kirsten and follows a specialized conditioning program to ensure his body is ready for the green carpet! 💚

We are so PROUD to have played a part in the preparation for his international debut in Belgium 🇧🇪.

Wishing safe travels for .deklerk and the rest of the SA Team! ❤️ ✈️

Melanie De Klerk

24/09/2024

🟠 THE BALANCE BETWEEN STRENGTH AND MOBILITY

For optimal performance in our equine athletes we require a delicate combination between SUPPLENESS and STRENGTH. This fine-tuned combination ensures that energy can be stored and released efficiently to produce power in movement.💥

It’s for this reason that we assess mobility of the spine and limbs during treatment to ensure that our patients are able to perform the full range of movement their work requires. ☑️

Stretching is HIGHLY recommended before and after work.

🐎 Stretching mobilizes the soft tissues of the musculoskeletal system to ensure full joint mobility and reduced risk of injury during work.

WHAT IS THE DIFFERENCE?

1️⃣ BEFORE work:
-Ballistic stretching (bouncing through range)
-Gentle stretching to end of range that is repeated consistently (3-5 repetitions)

2️⃣ AFTER work:
-Sustained stretching
-Gentle stretching maintained at end of range (held for 5-10sec per stretch)

The same principles apply to our canine patients 🐕

Are you prioritizing stretching to ❌ reduce injury and 🏆 improve performance?

Needing more information? Contact our team for assistance:
📲 DM or
📧 EMAIL: [email protected]

STARTLINE: STARTING STRONG, FINISHING FAST 🏆

🇿🇦

18/09/2024

CLIENT REVIEW🐴

“Kirsten came into my life at the beginning of 2022 and she was actually only treating my other mare, Demi, who really hated anything to do with physio/chiropractic work. From the get-go Kirsten made a plan to win Demi over and took everything slowly, which resulted in Demi now waiting at her paddock gate every time she sees Kirsten’s car or hears her voice.”

“In the middle of 2022, I got the honour of riding Clair de lune, as we call her at home, Lulu - who I now own. Lulu is a 17h, 16 year old SAW who is both tall and extremely long. Lulu held a lot of pain because of her conformation and due to not having much muscle. When Kirsten started treating Lulu it was a learning curve for me because I had never ridden a horse that big or long before and now I had to figure out how to build muscle on her as well. Kirsten helped me with so many exercises to get Lulu into the best shape possible and today she looks and feels better than she probably ever has in her life.”

“Kirsten is an amazing person and I am so grateful to have a physio that is so caring of my horses, by checking in on them and myself or coming at 7pm at night to tape them before travel. I could not have asked for a better person to treat my horses. Thank you Kirsten for everything you do for me and my fur baby’s.” - Carla Fall

It has been nothing but rewarding working with a rider-horse team that VALUE the role of physiotherapy in their horses quality of life and performance. 🧡

03/09/2024

Incredible filly to work with, incredible filly to watch! 💥

03/09/2024

🧡STARTLINE’S FIRST ANNUAL GIVEAWAY!💙
‼️ VALUED AT OVER R10000 ‼️

Whether you’re a dog owner, equestrian or just want to DIVE into this line up: WE’RE HERE FOR IT💥

We have collaborated with a few of our favorite LOCAL brands to bring you the best! 🇿🇦

SWIPE LEFT to view the prize lineup! 🤯

TO ENTER:
❤️ Like and Save this post

🗣️ Share this post to your story and tag

🫱🏻‍🫲🏼 Tag 3 animal lovers in the caption and mention the prize you’re most excited about!

‼️ Follow


equestriancentre








WINNER ANNOUNCED: 1st October 🎉

*Giveaway open to South African Residents only and applicable to Instagram and Facebook platforms*

24/08/2024

STARTLINE IS HIRING: STARTING 2025! 🚨

We are on the lookout for the next best veterinary physiotherapist to join our multi species mobile practice in Cape Town and Surrounds 🏆

Are you a SAVC registered Veterinary Physiotherapist ready to take your career to the next level?

📩 Send in your CV to [email protected]

23/08/2024

ACTIVE DOG OWNERS: THIS ONE’S FOR YOU! 🚨

CALLING ALL: sporting dogs, working dogs, weekend warriors, mountain goats, beach paddlers, wine farm trail runners or even lengthy promenade enthusiasts!

Benefits of physiotherapy for the 💥ACTIVE💥dog:

1️⃣ Injury prevention
-Physiotherapy can assist with effective conditioning, improving flexibility and ensuring proper joint functionality thereby reducing the risk of injury during high-intensity activities

2️⃣ Faster Recovery
-In the case of injury, physiotherapy can accelerate healing time and restore mobility more quickly!

3️⃣ Enhanced Performance
-Physiotherapy provides a detailed assessment and conditioning program designed specifically for your dog to ensure that weaknesses are identified and addressed along with improving muscle balance, strength, endurance and coordination for improving performance during activities

4️⃣ Pain Management
-Active dogs suffering from chronic conditions such as muscle strains or arthritis can be assisted through effective pain management techniques thereby additionally reducing reliance on medications

5️⃣ Improved Balance and Coordination
-Targeted conditioning greatly improves your dog’s ability to navigate tough terrain or unexpected obstacles or challenges in both sporting or recreational environments

6️⃣ Maintenance of Long-Term Joint Health
-Joints undergoing larger degrees of stress can predispose to the onset of degenerative joint disease. Physio reduces the rate of progression of joint disease and assists with maintaining proper joint function.

Preparing your dog for intense activity and ensuring that their bodies are maintained properly and functioning well throughout their activities is a vital component of OVERALL LONGEVITY. 💫

At STARTLINE we ensure that your dog is PREPPED AND READY for more adventures 🚀

📸 Photo by Tam White

16/08/2024

MEET THE FOUNDER
of Startline Veterinary Physiotherapy 💙🧡

Introducing Kirsten, the heart of the practice, with a passion for animal physiotherapy and the implementation and development of specialised conditioning techniques for above-standard clinical outcomes.

Kirsten qualified in 2021 and has been practicing alongside top veterinary specialists and mastered sporting athletes in both the equine and canine fields ever since.

She is currently continuing her studies in the field of veterinary physiotherapy whilst actively pursuing competitive dog agility with her working-bred, smooth fox terrier, Stig.

Kirsten based the company name on emphasising THE START.

The START of development in young animals, the START of rehabilitation after injury, the START of conditioning before competition and the START of better practices within animal care.

We’re all at the starting point in some way, you just need to make your way to the line 🫱🏼‍🫲🏽

12/08/2024

WHY MANUAL THERAPY ⁉️
HOW DOES IT WORK ⁉️

At Startline we pride ourselves in relying on our hands to do the hard work! 💪🏼

Benefits of Manual Therapy include:

☑️ PAIN RELIEF (massage and myofascial release decrease@muscle tension and promote endorphin release: the body’s natural pain killers)

☑️ IMPROVED MOBILITY (joint mobilisation and stretching improve joint range of motion and flexibility, beneficial for elderly patients or post-surgical patients)

☑️ ENHANCED CIRCULATION (improved blood flow aids in delivering nutrients and oxygen to tissues which promotes healing and reduces inflammation)

☑️ MUSCLE RELAXATION (manual therapy assists with reducing muscle tension and reducing spasm to improve overall comfort levels)

☑️ STRESS REDUCTION (manual therapy generates calming effects leading to reduced stress and anxiety for improved well-being)

☑️ IMPROVED FUNCTION (by addressing imbalances and restrictions, normal movement patterns are restored and overall functional ability and quality of life are improved!)

Manual therapy takes up the most space in our tool box 👋🏼🧰

06/08/2024

A lovely dive into why we highly recommend in hand core exercises! 🐴

Exercises in standing - another great paper published recently measured muscle activity in 4 hindlimb muscles during 6 exercises.

Lateral tall pull aka hindquarter rocking increases middle gluteal and tensor fascia lata activity on the same side and gracilis, on the inside of the opposite hind leg.

Straight tail traction activates gracilis but not any other, as we have seen from another research paper checking pain reactions in the back and pelvis muscles.

Pelvic rounding reflex switches glutes and biceps femoris on, and extension reflex doesn't activate them.

So what does it tell us? That we can pick the right exercise to select muscles, and to know how to progress and regress exercises. Also that gracilis is really interesting and involved, probably in a stability role, and shouldn't be forgotten!!

https://doi.org/10.1016/j.eqre.2024.100013

Elósegui, M., Cediel, R., Goyaga-Elizalde, J. and Hernández-Fernández, T., 2024. Evaluation of the electromyography activity of hindlimb muscles during core exercises in horses. Journal of Equine Rehabilitation, p.100013.