10/20/2025
Cavalettis are one of my favorite exercises as it targets so many different systems, but doing it correctly matters!
🏃♂️ Height and spacing in cavaletti work MATTER.
They’re not just cosmetic details - they fundamentally change how your patient moves and what the exercise achieves.
📊 In this example, the cavaletti are set to their maximum height for this dog - roughly the height of the hocks. That setup demands full active flexion of both forelimbs and hindlimbs, and significantly increases ground reaction forces during trot on the weight-bearing limbs.
That’s a powerful therapeutic tool… but also a big ask.
Here’s what to look for 👇
🔎 Pelvis + spine alignment: Are they staying stable with relatively straight trunk alignment? Or is your patient compensating with excessive trunk sway, pelvic flexion, or spinal rotation and kyphosis to clear the bars?
If core stability can’t be maintained, the exercise is too advanced for their current stage. Adjust height, spacing, or gait speed to meet their ability and clinical goal.
💡 Remember: progression isn’t just about “making it harder.” It’s about dosing movement to build strength, control, and quality without sacrificing form.
Can you assess your patient’s biomechanics during cavaletti work - and adapt the exercise based on what you see?
For an excellent demonstration of how small changes in cavaletti setup influence form, check out Anna Lee Sanders’ blog and video with her dog, Hot Rod, on the Canine Conditioning Coach website.
📆 And don’t miss Anna Lee LIVE at the Vet Rehab Summit on 8 November, where she’ll dive deep into Recognizing Correct Biomechanics in Therapeutic Exercise - and how these subtle details can make or break your rehab outcomes.
