Inside our bear physiotherapy program

Years spent in tiny cages leave deep physical scars. Legs weaken. Spines twist. Joints seize. At our sanctuaries, physiotherapy gives bears the chance to heal.

Under the guidance of a specialist animal physiotherapist, our teams work across China and Vietnam to develop individual plans that are as rewarding as they are effective. The bears are always in control, and often seem to love their sessions just as much as we do.

Why physiotherapy is vital

Many of the bears we rescue are older and have spent years – often decades – in cramped metal cages. This lack of movement can cause muscles to waste away and joints to seize. Some bears arrive with amputated limbs, the result of snare traps or untreated injuries. Others show signs of neurological damage or spinal conditions, the long-term consequences of extreme neglect.

Physiotherapy helps rebuild what was lost. Through gentle, structured exercises, we can restore strength, improve mobility and reduce pain. It’s not about fixing what’s broken – it’s about supporting the bears to move more freely and enjoy life again.

Tailored therapies for individual needs

Each bear’s program is different, but we typically focus on three main areas: spinal disease, arthritis, and care for amputated limbs.

Spinal disease

Spinal disease is common in bears who have been unable to stretch or walk properly for years. They may drag their paws, scrape their nails, or struggle with balance. Early intervention is key.

To support these bears, we build up the muscles along their spine and encourage safe movement with a range of exercises:

• Obstacle courses with logs to lift their legs over
• Tunnel walks that require entering forward and backing out
• Vertical stretches using food rewards (only where safe)
• Warm-up massages to loosen spinal muscles

Each activity is monitored to track progress and make adjustments. Some bears show remarkable improvement after just a few sessions.

Arthritis

Older bears often suffer from arthritis in their knees, hips, elbows or spine. This can make daily movements like climbing or even walking painful.

Our arthritis care focuses on:

• Digging tasks to build strength around joints
• Hanging enrichment tools that encourage stretching and grasping

• Targeted massage to ease tension in protective muscle groups
• Hydrotherapy where bears can move gently in water

Amputations and stump care

Bears missing limbs often develop imbalances and strain in other parts of the body. We help them strengthen their remaining limbs and, where possible, encourage use of stumps.

We use techniques such as:

• Diagonal strengthening to support natural walking patterns
• Seated row exercises using resistance bands
• Custom-designed tools, like Velcro sleeves, for bears without paws

One bear even learned to place her stump into a training sleeve each morning, eager for her session to begin.

Tools we use

Our physiotherapy dens are equipped with everything we need to help bears move more confidently:

• Cavalletti-style logs for lifting and stepping
• Resistance bands and metal pull toys
• Infrared heaters for warming muscles pre-massage
• Custom-designed pools for hydrotherapy
• The ‘vending machine’ that dispenses food with a tug

Annual assessments: prevention and planning

Every year, each bear is invited to participate in a standardised physio assessment. These sessions are carefully scored based on performance, effort and mobility. A drop in score helps us catch problems early and tailor new plans before issues worsen.

Bears scoring below 75% are reviewed, and some are enrolled in full physio programs. It’s just one more way we’re ensuring long-term, proactive care.

Measuring progress

We track improvement using a mix of clinical data and daily observation. Our teams assess range of motion, strength, balance and enjoyment. A 15% score improvement often indicates success – but the biggest sign of progress? A bear who queues up eagerly for their next session!