Effect of postoperative underwater treadmill therapy on functional recovery in dogs undergoing intervertebral disc surgery: a retrospective matched cohort study.

Postoperative UWTM therapy significantly shortens time to independent ambulation in dogs after IVDD surgery.

This retrospective matched cohort study evaluated the effect of postoperative underwater treadmill (UWTM) therapy on neurologic recovery in dogs undergoing surgical decompression for intervertebral disc disease (IVDD). Thirty-four dogs were included: 17 receiving supervised UWTM twice weekly for 6 weeks and 17 matched controls receiving owner-guided home exercises. Groups were matched 1:1 by breed, surgery type (hemilaminectomy or ventral slot), and body weight (within 10%). Neurologic function was assessed preoperatively and weekly for 6 weeks using the Olby Open Field Score (OFS), with improvement quantified as change from baseline (ΔOFS). Both groups demonstrated improvement over time; however, from week 2 onward, the UWTM group consistently demonstrated greater ΔOFS compared to controls (week 2: +4 vs. +2; week 3: +6 vs. +3). The primary outcome—time to regain independent ambulation (OFS ≥12)—was significantly shorter in the UWTM group compared to controls (range 7–35 days vs. 14–42 days; Mann-Whitney U, P = .0069). No UWTM-related adverse events, including wound complications or infections, were recorded. The authors conclude that structured postoperative UWTM therapy offers a safe and effective adjunct to surgical management of IVDD, accelerating neurologic recovery and ambulation. These findings support integrating UWTM into routine postoperative rehabilitation protocols for IVDD patients, though the retrospective design and small sample size are notable limitations.

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