Biko Sports Bands for Athlete and Working Dogs

Biko Sports Bands are designed to build strength, improve endurance, and enhance conditioning in performance and working dogs through progressive resistance training.

While Sports Bands focus on elastic resistance during movement, Biko Weight Cuffs provide a different form of targeted conditioning. Below, you’ll learn how each product supports fitness and conditioning and when and how to integrate the products in your dog’s conditioning program.

Biko Sports Bands

The Biko Sports Bands integrate resistance training into your athlete and working dog’s conditioning program. The Biko Sports Bands are the “only” resistance training tool currently available for professional- and amateur-handled canines.

More and more veterinary sports medicine practitioners and dog trainers/handlers are incorporating resistance training for strength development and endurance conditioning. Whether your dog is a professional or amateur athlete or working dog, the Biko Sports Bands offer a significant advantage to fitness routines. They are affordable, portable, and help decrease the risk of sports-related injuries by improving muscle strength.

How the Biko Sports Bands Work

The Biko Sports Bands run from the dorsal midline D ring of a standard Roman harness to the tarsal area of the dog’s hind limbs. As the bands lengthen, the resistance increases, mimicking everyday movement as well as sport-specific activities. The functional movement patterns created by the resistance bands aid the canine athlete in developing and maintaining optimum strength and endurance.

The bands come in three resistance strengths in a color-coded system of progressive resistance: lime green (light), orange (medium), and royal blue (strong).

The Biko Sports Bands should be part of your athlete and working dog’s conditioning program.

Incorporating elastic resistance training into your dog’s conditioning program

When starting a new exercise program, muscles work in ways they may not be used to. For that reason, we recommend starting all athlete and working dogs on the lightest resistance (lime green), regardless of their current level of conditioning.

General Guidelines:

• Start with three (3) sessions per week using the light resistance.
• Work up to a 20-minute walk before increasing to the next level (orange).
• Maintenance use is typically once or twice weekly.
• Never use the day before or after competition.
• On training days, always use the bands after training, not before, to avoid fatiguing muscles prior to work.

The Biko Sports Conditioning Bands are not intended for:

• Dogs with acute painful conditions
• Dogs with active lameness of any limb or acute iliopsoas strain (iliopsoas injuries would always be the Biko Progressive Resistance (PR) Bands)
• The Biko Sports Bands may be used for end-stage strengthening once the injury is completely resolved

Biko Sports Bands in Action

Biko K9 Weight Cuffs

Biko K9 Weight cuffs offer the benefits of both a weight training modality for rehab patients and a conditioning tool for athlete and working dogs:

• Improves range of motion and gait
• Builds strength and muscle mass
• Increases bone density
• Increases proprioception

For Athlete and Working Dogs: Weight training with weight cuffs improves performance by increasing muscle strength and power.

How The Biko K9 Weight Cuffs Work

The weight cuffs are worn above the tarsal joint of the hind limbs. The weights are determined by the dog’s body weight. Your veterinarian, PT, or handler will advise you on the appropriate weights to use on your dog.

Weights range from ½ ounce to 4 ounces. Training should progress from lighter weights to heavier ones.

To Achieve Maximum Benefits

Use the Biko k9 weight cuffs for controlled short durations of time, at paces that are low impact. For example, leashed walks and controlled trots. When using both Biko K9 weight cuffs and the Biko Sports Bands on your dog, always use separately, at opposite times of the day, or on different days.

Weight cuffs are not intended for dogs with:

• Achilles tendon injuries
• Tarsal joint injuries
• Metatarsal or hind limb digit injuries.

Weight cuffs are typically not used on the dog’s forelimbs because dogs place 60% of their body weight through their forelimbs. Putting more weight on their forelimbs may be harmful. However, there are conditions where using weight cuffs on the forelimbs are indicated. Your veterinarian will advise when and how to use.

WEIGHTED WALKING PROTOCOLS

• Patients under 25lbs:
  Weeks 1 to 5 – train on 1/2ounce weight cuff
  Weeks 6 to 10- train on 1 ounce weight cuffs
• Patients 25lb to 45lbs:
  Weeks 1 to 5 – train on 1 ounce weight cuffs
  Weeks 6 to 10 train on 2 ounce weight cuffs
• Patients over 45lbs:
  Weeks 1 to 3 – train on 2 ounce weight cuffs
  Weeks 4 to 8 – train on 3 ounce weight cuffs
  Weeks 9 to 13 – training on 4 ounce weight cuffs.

Whether you are using the Biko K9 Weight Cuffs for rehabilitation or conditioning, training should always be from lighter weights to heavier ones.