Heidi Armstrong

Founder of Canine Athlete's Toolbox, trained in canine trigger point massage therapy

I completed 100 hours of training in canine trigger point massage therapy, including passing oral and written testing on canine anatomy, muscle physiology, and the canine trigger point map. Following my training, I completed an internship in the rehabilitation department of a board-certified orthopedic specialist and am a fully insured member of the American Board of Massage Professionals.

I am deeply grateful to my close friend, Ken Bain, LMT/MTI, who became my canine trigger point massage therapy teacher. Ken is one of the first people to map canine trigger points and traveled with the US world agility teams.

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Heidi's Personal & Professional Journey

Lifelong connection with horses and dogs

I’ve been enamored with dogs and horses for as long as I can remember. One of my earliest memories includes walking down the overwhelmingly crowded sidewalks of New York City holding my grandma’s hand and staring longingly at every dog that we passed—wondering if some kismet could allow for us both to stop at the same time so I could pet the dog.

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Overcoming Injury as a Professional Athlete

I retired from professional mountain racing following a life-changing knee injury in 2010 that resulted in 8 surgeries, 4.5 years on crutches, and arthrofibrosis, a chronic scarring condition.

My injury led me to my passion of helping athletes overcome the mental and emotional fallout of injury and create Injured Athlete’s Toolbox in 2012.

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Personal Experience with Canine Athletes and Rehabilitation

Bella, the Rally Master & Therapy dog
During my mountain bike racing era I rescued a whip smart red dog, Bella, who led me to agility and more because she needed jobs.

In 2006, Bella and agility led me to Ken Bain, LMT/MTI, who became a close friend and ultimately my canine trigger point massage therapy teacher and mentor in 2024.

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Cheza, the National Trick dog & Tiny Athlete Prodigy
In 2020, after Bella’s passing, Dan and I rescued Cheza (meaning “play” in Swahili). She captivates people with her merle spots, party face, and perpetually wagging hook tail. She spreads joy and smiles wherever she goes.

Cheza and I love learning tricks together. Her specialty is balancing, and, together, we perform some of the most difficult tricks we can dream up.

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As my friend Suzanne said,

“Caretaking at that level of any person or animal either deepens a relationship or damages it. Done properly, it is a new journey together into lands neither one of you wanted to travel, but at least you’re together!”

It’s not lost on me that both Cheza and I are the recipients of knee surgery and rehabilitation. For each of us, everything felt like it was going wrong and then it turned right in a way I would never have been brave enough to dream up.