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 Modern day human physical
therapy
began in 1741 in France, in opposition to then-current methods of
immobilization and bed rest. Exercise, massage and joint movement were
found to help conditions such as scoliosis, cerebral palsy and various
injuries. With success for these conditions, physical therapy went on to
be applied to neurological conditions.
In 1895 the field of
physical therapy was officially launched in Britain,
followed by Australia, Canada, and finally America in 1921. In the U.S.
the true beginnings were treating injured soldiers in World War 1, and the
field progressed through WW II and the polio epidemics. By 1961, physical
therapy was the standard of care for treating patients with acute
injuries, chronic diseases, arthritis, neurological injury, disc disease
and spinal surgery, orthopedic injuries and problems and, of course,
sports-related injuries. PT delivers improved function, allows patients to
resume normal activities sooner, and preserves joint motion and muscle
strength.
So how does all this apply to
pets? |
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Reference
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Treadmill Video
Acupuncture
Electrical Stimulation
Therapeutic Exercises
Disabled Pet Household
Adjustments
Range of Motion
Rehabilitation Overview
Underwater Treadmill
Theraballs, Physiorolls, and
Balancing Boards
Therapeutic Ultrasound
Ultrasound Machine
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Well, dogs are active
members of our families and our society.
They experience similar
injuries as humans,
and similar wear and tear on bones and joints with age. The same
modalities employed in human rehabilitation are used for pets as well.
Working athletes such as police dogs, search and rescue, security and
assistance dogs are frequently in need of rehab. These dogs are often
worth thousands of dollars, and no expense is spared for their treatment.
Other dogs may participate
in agility, obedience, fly ball, Frisbee, field trial, hunting, herding,
conformation class or Schutzund training. All can cause injury, and all
these participants need to be in excellent health to win in competition or
perform well. Family pets may need rehabilitation as well. Arthritis, torn ligaments,
spinal disc disease, injuries to nerves or broken bones are all common in
canines. Horses are also frequent rehabilitation patients due to their athletic
lifestyles. |
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Canine Rehabilitation
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Begin as soon as possible after injury or surgery
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Underwater Treadmill
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Therapy
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Acupuncture
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Ultrasound
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Massage Therapy
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Electrical Stimulation
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Rehabilitation can help:
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Post-operative orthopedics
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Tendon and ligament injuries
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Spinal Cord injuries
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Post-fractures
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Herniated discs
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Degenerative neurological problems
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Paralysis
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Arthritis
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Obesity and poor conditioning
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Muscular degeneration
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Inflammation and swelling
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Signs a dog may need care
may be subtle-
slowing down, less enthusiasm to perform tasks, difficulty with turns or
obstacles, not sitting squarely, or slowness getting up are all early
signs of problems. Dramatic signs would be non-weight-bearing lameness,
paralysis or severe pain. A pet with any of these signs may need rehabilitation.
Although cats would
benefit from rehab just as other patients would, they
are more difficult to work with
in this setting. For quiet cats that will tolerate the poking and prodding
of equipment used for rehab, rehabilitation may be possible.
The veterinarian
performing canine rehabilitation is at a disadvantage
over his or her human physical therapist counterpart for several reasons. The most obvious is
that our patients can't talk or tell us where it hurts. They also don't
understand what to do or not to do, so we may need to be very clever to
get the patient to perform certain movements or exercises, to take it easy
for a few weeks, or even to get the pet to hold still during treatments! |
There are also big
differences in conformation
- for example, the injuries a racing greyhound might get would probably be
very different form those of a bulldog, and many breeds are prone to
specific orthopedic problems - hip dysplasia in large breed dogs, luxating
kneecaps in toy breeds, disc disease in dachshunds, for example. the
sloping back of a German Shepherd predisposes to hip problems while the
straight up and down knees of the Chow Chow make them much more prone to
knee ligament tears. Veterinarians performing rehab on pets need to know
and understand many variables between breeds and how certain activities,
such as running in a harness pulling a sled, affect the body.
The first step in
treating a problem is to get a thorough history
- what signs does the owner or handler see, what activities can or can't
the dog do, when do problems occur. Then a physical exam is done,
including checking every bone, muscle and joint for pain, heat, swelling,
spasm or atrophy. Each joint is put through its entire range of motion,
which is measured and recorded. Muscle/limb girth is also measure. Gait
analysis may be done, watching the dog at various speeds going straight,
in circles, and up and downhill. Reflexes and nerve function are evaluated
as well.
| A typical treatment plan may
include chiropractic treatment or acupuncture, medication, therapeutic
exercise,
massage, heat application and range of motion stretching.
 Treatments may be done at
the clinic, or by the owner at home.
For example, a dog that is partially paralyzed after back surgery may be
exercised
on a underwater treadmill twice a day to regain use of his hind
legs. Massage and range of motion exercises help keep the joints flexible.
E-stim might be used to maintain muscle strength while the dog cannot use
the limbs himself.
A dog with arthritis might
also need special exercises. When a joint hurts the dog tries not to use
the leg. Reduced
exercise and activity lead to muscle atrophy.
the weaker the muscles, the less they are able to assist the bones and
joints and the more the stress on the joints increases. This leads to a
vicious cycle of deterioration. Exercise improves circulation to the
joints, strengthens the muscles again and improves range of motion,
restoring function and reducing pain.
The veterinarian's job in rehabilitation
is to formulate a treatment plan
and then modify it as the patient improves: two minutes on the treadmill
twice a day this week, then four minutes next week. Ten minutes of walking
for the first week after surgery, then increased to 15 minutes. Ultrasound
the injured muscle for 15 minutes three times a day, followed by massage
and range of motion. Re-evaluation is
usually needed along the way. |
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Benefits
* Faster
healing of wounds and injuries * Reduced Pain * Increased muscle
strength, flexibility and range of motion * Improved Circulation *
Reduced muscle tightness and spasms * Improved cardiovascular health
* Reduced anxiety and stress * Weight loss * Regain or retain
function
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Acupuncture.
Electrical Stimulation.
Ultrasound.
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