The Durable Vet Brief

DON’T LET YOUR FIRST LIFT BE A PATIENT.

Think about the first hour of a typical veterinary shift.

You may lift a patient.

Get down on the floor.

Restrain an animal.

Lean over an exam table.

Push, pull, reach, squat or twist.

And many of us go from car → coffee → full-speed clinic without physically preparing for any of it.



Athletes warm up before asking their bodies to perform.

Veterinary professionals should too.

TRY THIS BEFORE YOUR NEXT SHIFT

You don’t need a full workout.

You need about 3-minutes to move through some of the patterns your body is about to use all day.



1. SQUAT — 6–8 reps

Sit your hips down and back, then stand tall.

Why: Prepare your hips and legs for getting low, lifting and repeatedly moving between standing and the floor.

2. HIP HINGE — 6–8 reps

Push your hips backward while keeping your trunk controlled, then return to standing. (Use a dowel or broomstick to ensure a neutral spine)

Why: Rehearse using your hips instead of repeatedly doing all of your bending through your back.



3. BAND ROW — 8–10 reps

Keep a resistance band nearby (in the break room). Pull your elbows back, gently bringing your shoulder blades together.

Why: Activate the upper-back muscles that help support you during all of the forward-reaching and bent-over work ahead.

That’s it.

No sweating.

No changing clothes.

No 30-minute workout.

Just a few minutes to tell your body:

Work is about to start. Let’s get ready for it.

LEADERS: MAKE IT EASIER

This doesn’t have to be another thing you tell your team they should do.

Make it easy.

Put a resistance band somewhere visible.

Take three minutes together before the first appointments.

Have a team member lead it. (Lead by example!)

Make preparing for physically demanding work a normal part of the culture—not something people only think about once they start hurting.

Durability isn't just about asking people to take better care of themselves.

It’s also about creating workplaces that make healthy behaviors easier to do.

YOUR CHALLENGE

Tomorrow, don't let your first squat, hinge or pull happen while you're handling a patient.



Give yourself three minutes first.

Three minutes won't make you fit.

But it can help you start your shift more physically prepared for the work you're about to ask your body to do.

WANT TO BUILD MORE OF THIS INTO YOUR CAREER OR CLINIC?

The Project Vetspan Cohort is designed for veterinary professionals and leaders who want practical strategies to improve their own durability—and create healthier, more durable teams.

We’ll turn concepts like ergonomics, exercise, fueling, recovery and stress resilience into specific actions you can actually implement in veterinary life.

-Small group

-4–6 weeks

-Ergonomics, fueling, stress reduction, recovery, and movement

-Implementation-focused, not theory-heavy

-Practical physical and emotional tools

-Strategies for you — and your team — to thrive in veterinary medicine

Stay strong,

— Aaron

Aaron Shaw, OTR/L, CHT, CSCS

Founder, Project Vetspan

P.S. To learn more about physical and emotional durability training for your team, schedule a call with me here.

A little science behind it

Most warm-up research comes from athletic populations rather than veterinary professionals, so I can't claim that three minutes before a shift will prevent injuries. But the broader evidence supports warm-up as a strategy for preparing the body for subsequent physical performance, and recent international consensus describes warm-up as a purposeful preparation intended to improve physiological readiness for activity.

References:

Kłobuchowski W, et al. Exercise-Based Strategies from Warm-Up to Training: A Systematic Review of Performance Enhancement and Injury Prevention. Sports. 2026.

New Here?

You may have missed these previous resources:

✓ Veterinary Ergonomics Checklist

✓ Veterinary Clinic Fueling Tips

✓ 3 Exercises for a Stronger, More Durable You

✓ Before Your Next Surgery

Need a copy? Simply click the links or reply to this email and I'll send it your way.