I want to be a physio-dog-therapist when I grow up!

I've been putting in a lot of hours lately supervising Jude's at home physio exercises. Each week she visits the human physio, Sarah, and gets new exercises to add to the collection - what's annoying is that Sarah gets all the kudos for the improvements with Jude's shoulder while I go unrecognised! It's me who gets up at 5:15 every morning and supervises the workout (even when it's cold and I'd rather be in my warm bed) and it's me who supervises the evening workouts too.

Well I've had enough of playing second fiddle, and have come up with some new exercises to add to the collection - here are some of my favourites:

1. Row exercise. Jude does the basic exercise while lying on the bed or fitball with her arm hanging down the side. My new version is that I place my head between her arm and the bed/fit ball and lift her arm away from her body quickly. I know this is having an impact because Jude yells (with joy I'm sure) when I help with this one.

2. The shrug. Jude holds her arm out at 20 degrees from her side holding a weight in her hand, then shrugs the shoulder in a pattern specified by her human physio. My adaptation is to add challenge - I do this by grabbing the weight in my mouth to increase resistance. Jude's not keen on this exercise yet - I'll keep trying to convince her of the benefits. 

3, Abdominal strength. This is a complementary exercise - might as well get as many muscles working at once as possible don't you think? While Jude is lying on the floor raising her arms and shoulders over her head, I sit on her stomach - to build up her abdominal strength! If it seems like she's handling that easily I wriggle around and dig in my boney feet. 

4. Moral support. Another thing I like to do while Jude is lying on the floor is to lie down right beside her, lean against her (to keep her warm - it is winter you know) and lick her ear or whatever part of her face I can reach. 

I think you will see from readng this that I am well suited to a career as a physio - in fact I'll probably get early entrance into the course via La Trobe's 'Aspire' program, and recognition for prior learning / credit for all the practical experience I have, don't you think?