Conditions

Veterinary Physiotherapy & Canine Rehabilitation

Treatment & Rehabilitation techniques

The type and amount of treatment your pet will need depends on several factors such as physiacl condition, type and stage of injury and age.

Treatment can include a combination of

Soft tissue/massage techniques
Joint mobilisation
Electrotherapy
Exercise therapy
Home exercise programme

Soft tissue/massage techniques

soft tissue mobilisation, myofascial massage and trigger point release can help to alleviate muscle tension and soreness originating from muscles and the connective tissue. It helps to restore normal muscle length and normal mobility in your pet. Primary muscle tension can occur from overstretching injuries. Secondary muscle tension can occur through compensation for other problems such as long-term lameness, surgery, arthritis and old injuries.

Regular soft tissue treatments can help maintain comfort in more elderly or arthritic dogs. It is also useful for owners to learn some of the massage techniques in order to continue the benefits in between physiotherapy treatments.

Agility and working dogs benefit greatly from regular check-ups/soft tissue treatments. These can help to:

Warm up muscles & joints prior to heavy work
Cool down/ remove lactic acid after working
Improve muscle & joint range of motion
Pick up any potential problems early

The warm up is an important part of your dogs training/competition routine and should not be underestimated. Especially if a dog has a known area of old injury it crucial that the dog's muscles are ready to work. This involves certain massage techniques, general cardiovascular work and discipline specific warm-up tasks.

A cool down massage routine can also help to alleviate any delayed onset muscle soreness (DOMS) which can occur after working.

Joint mobilisation

Joint mobilisation is essential for the best management of any degenerative joint disease/arthritis. It helps promote healthier cartilage and minimises any joint stiffness that can result from lack of use and immobility.

It is a vital aspect of many post-operative therapy regimes including cranial cruciate ligament repair, femoral head and neck excision and after spinal injury/surgery.

Benjie

Passive forelimb protraction strectch

Limb flexion

Passive joint mobilisation to improve flexion range of motion in the hip, stifle and hock joints

Electrotherapy

This can include:

Electrical muscle stimulation:
This is occasionally used after injury or surgery to support weak muscles until your pet is able to establish full functional weight bearing. It can help speed recovery and at the very least can minimise any further muscle wasting. It is an important part of any rehab following peripheral nerve injury or where a dog has flaccid muscles after certain spinal injuries.

Laser:
Low level therapeutic laser or cold laser is a form of phototherapy that is utilised in the management of acute and chronic injury. It can help tremendously with pain relief and reduction of inflammation and swelling. It is also very beneficial in the treament of trigger points and muscle pain. It works differently to therapeutic ultrasound but has similar benefits. It is fast and effective and invloves no clipping of the hair and no contact gel so less mess!

Low level therapeutic laser therapy

TENS:
Transcutaneous Electrical Muscle Stimulation. This is a form of pain relief. It involves the application of electrodes to the patient which supplies a gentle therapeutic electrical current to block the pain signals to the brain via the spinal cord.

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Exercise therapy & rehabilitation

Exercise therapy can take many forms and depends on the stage of recovery your pet has reached and the type of injury/condition they have sustained. Exercises are designed to promote healing and restore normal movement and function as much as possible. It may involve the facilitation of normal movement patterns by the correct handling of the physiotherapist. It can also invlove the use of equipment such as gym balls, wobble cushions and cavaletti rails.

Barney having physio with his owner.

We used the peanut ball to help Barney stand and improve his balance after he had a spinal injury

Home exercise programmes

The best outcome after any surgery or injury is achieved through early physiotherapy intervention and continued home exercise inbetween physiotherapy visits. Owners are advised on appropriate stretching and rehab exercises to do with their pet at home to help improve their recovery further.

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