Iliopsoas Injury

The Iliopsoas (pronounced like ill-ee-oh-soh-az) is a grouping of muscles comprised of the Iliacus and Psoas Major, which originate in two different spots but then fuse into one common tendon way up in the groin and attach to the femur. Their job is to flex the dog's hip (bringing their knee forward and up to their belly), rotate the hip outwards, and stabilize the lower spine. Highly active or sporting dogs frequently experience Iliopsoas Injury since the activities they participate in are high intensity like jumping, sprinting, or rough play and are more likely to overstretch the Iliopsoas.

The Iliopsoas is attached to the lumbar spine, pelvis, & femur

There are some conditions that can make your dog more likely to experience an Iliopsoas injury like Hip Dysplasia, Intervertebral Disc Disease, or Cranial Cruciate Ligament Tear/Rupture (sometimes incorrectly referred to as an ACL) but a dog’s overall fitness level and lack of preparation for high intensity activity can also be primary causes.

Just like us, if the dog’s body is not properly strengthened and cross-trained for these activities before attempting, they are more likely to overwork the body and incur an injury.

Dog sports are very similar to human professional sports in that structured and staged exercises are done to work up to a certain level of ability. Human professionals also routinely warm up and stretch before exerting themselves to their full potential but this is all too often overlooked in our canine athletes.

Even if they are otherwise very well-muscled and fit, a dog that has poor flexibility and core strength will be significantly more likely to experience Iliopsoas injury than a dog that has been cross-trained and warmed up before exercise.

Signs and symptoms of Iliopsoas injury vary, with some being extremely difficult for dog parents or even veterinarians to notice. Sometimes, a change in the dog’s gait is the only outward sign. Dogs with significant injuries/pain often stand with their lower back rounded and their hind legs brought closer to their front legs in an attempt to avoid the painful stretch their normal posture requires. This injury is usually diagnosed by palpating the dog’s groin muscles along with evaluating symptoms, though it can also be identified via Ultrasound Imaging or Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI).

Just like human medicine, Physical Rehabilitation is the treatment of choice for muscle strain.

Previously, clients were advised to keep their pets on strict crate rest, but this is no longer recommended. Instead, treatment starts by managing the dog’s pain including pain in other areas of the body caused by compensating for this injury. Pain management is key, as a painful dog will not be able or willing to participate in the exercises necessary to recover. As part of your consultation, we will discuss all current medications that your dog is on and if their pain is not adequately managed, we will refer you back to your regular veterinarian to adjust their medication as needed. We will alert you to any signs of pain seen in clinic, but make sure to keep us updated on your dog’s comfort level at home with daily routines as well.

In addition to medications, Thermotherapy, Therapeutic Ultrasound, Therapeutic Laser, Massage, and Stretching are excellent modalities to relieve the pain your dog is experiencing.

Once we feel that your dog is comfortable enough to start exercises, we will create a customized plan of foundation exercises to carefully reintroduce the Iliopsoas to normal movements and functions. It might seem counterintuitive to work this injury, but specific exercises are

integral to bring blood flow and movement back to this tight and overstrained muscle group. As your dog starts to tolerate more of these exercises, we will introduce more challenging exercises to strengthen not only the injured muscles, but also other supporting muscle groups. This balance is essential to return to normal function.

Consistent rehab sessions are best, but the custom homecare plan we create for you and your pet to do at home is also an essential part of your dog’s optimal recovery.

These controlled and measured exercises will help your dog get better, but if your dog is allowed to return to normal exercise, free play, or even their sport too soon, they are likely to quickly re-injure themselves and lose any progress gained by the previous weeks or months of therapy. Sticking to the prescribed exercises and patience with the process are a necessity.

Remember that every dog is different in how their body heals, so the length of time required to heal from this injury is unpredictable.

The goal is always to prevent injuries like this, but once they occur, we can help get your dog feeling and moving better, faster. If left untreated, Iliopsoas injuries can become a chronic source of lameness and pain, so professional rehabilitative services started directly after diagnosis are always recommended for this type of injury. Think your pet might have an Iliopsoas Injury? Let’s get you in for a consultation to find out! Give us a call at (949) 444-2451 to schedule with our Certified Canine Rehabilitation Practitioners and Veterinarians so we can get your best friend back to doing what they love most.