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New Research Supports Progressive Instability Training in Canine Rehabilitation and Conditioning
March 24, 2026

New Research Supports Progressive Instability Training in Canine Rehabilitation and Conditioning

Improving movement in canine rehabilitation and conditioning is only part of the goal. A broader view includes improvements in how dogs stabilize, coordinate, and control their movement. A new study published in Veterinary Competitive Orthopaedics and Traumatology gives additional insight into the role of progressive instability training in strengthening the systems that support better spinal stability and neuromuscular control in dogs, including core stability, neuromuscular coordination, and postural control.

This recent study provides evidence supporting the use of progressive instability training in canine rehabilitation and conditioning programs. Different exercise platforms were used, from stable to more progressively unstable. The influence they had on spinal stability and muscle activation in dogs shed light on the value of controlled instability as a therapeutic training stimulus.

Study Overview

 There were three types of exercise platforms used:

The greater the platform instability, the more spinal movement dogs require to maintain a standing position. The increase in postural demand required greater neuromuscular coordination and greater engagement of stabilizing muscles. While these adjustments are subtle, they require meaningful demands on the systems responsible for balance and postural control.

Increased Activation of Core Stabilizers

One of the study's most important findings was increased activation of the rectus abdominis muscle when dogs stood on the TRAX Peanut compared with more stable platforms.

Core musculature plays a central role in:

  •  Stabilizing the spine

  •  Supporting efficient locomotion

  •  Maintaining posture during dynamic movement

The fact that there was increased abdominal activation while on unstable surfaces suggests that the type of surface facilitates targeted engagement of the core musculature. This is essential for both conditioning programs and rehabilitation.

Redistribution of Muscular Effort

When dogs stood on unstable equipment, a shift in muscle recruitment patterns was also observed. This type of engagement is often a key therapeutic goal in rehabilitation programs focused on restoring spinal stability. While abdominal muscle activity increased, other muscle groups showed decreased activity, including the biceps femoris and epaxial muscles.

The fact that core stabilizers are most important in helping dogs with instability-based exercises, rather than compensating through the back or hind limbs, was a new and important observation. From a clinical perspective, the results may indicate that more balanced muscle engagement improves spinal stabilization. `````````````````````````````````````````````````````````

Implications for Clinical Rehabilitation

Rehabilitation professionals already knew that progressive instability creates a progressive therapeutic challenge. The results of this study reinforce that principle.

Rehabilitation and conditioning objectives can be enhanced by structured instability training, including controlled instability exercises. In practice, many rehabilitation professionals already use controlled instability exercises to restore neuromuscular coordination and spinal stability.  Other objectives can include:

  •  supporting recovery following orthopedic or neurologic injury

  •  enhancing proprioception and postural awareness

  •  building foundational strength for working or athletic dogs

With appropriate equipment that provides varying degrees of instability, clinicians can gradually adjust the difficulty of the exercise while maintaining controlled therapeutic progressions.

Connecting Research to Clinical Practice 

Instability-based exercises have already been widely used in sports conditioning and canine rehabilitation. The current study provides valuable data supporting these clinical practices. For clinicians, this type of finding supports the rationale for why progressive exercise design remains such an important part of rehabilitation planning. It demonstrates measurable changes in postural demand and muscle activation if a dog comes into contact with an unstable surface.

This supports the need for instability training as a deliberate therapeutic tool rather than simply a training challenge. This is important information for conditioning specialists and veterinary rehabilitation professionals.

Additional studies in canine sports medicine and rehabilitation will help connect practical clinical strategies with measurable physiological outcomes.

Paw Prosper focuses on science-backed canine rehabilitation and offers innovative tools like the K9FitBone and TRAX Peanut through its FitPaws brand. They support safer recovery, stronger movement patterns, and improved long-term musculoskeletal health in dogs, emphasizing evidence-informed equipment and education.


Access the Full Published Study: The Effect of Progressively Unstable Equipment Used in Canine Fitness and Rehabilitation on Standing Postural Control and Muscle Activity