Physical Rehabilitation
Introduction
Physical Rehabilitation consists of the evaluation and treatment of your pet by our rehabilitation therapist and team. Therapy is indicated for a variety of conditions such as: pre-operative or post-operative surgeries (orthopedic or neurological), arthritis, dysplasia, tendonitis, bursitis, muscle strains and spasms, ligamentous sprains or tears, spine disorders such as disc problems or facet joint dysfunctions, and obesity. Treatments are given to decrease pain and swelling and to address and improve range of motion, strength, balance, and endurance which will all carry over to improve the overall functional well-being of your pet. The overall goal is to return your dog to the highest level of function in the shortest amount of time to improve your pet’s quality of life. Here at Veterinarian Medical and Surgical Group (VMSG), we offer comprehensive rehabilitation services which are rendered by trained and certified rehabilitation specialists.
Rehabilitation Evaluation
Your initial visit will consist of a comprehensive evaluation of your dog by our rehabilitation therapist. This visit may last for 60-90 minutes and include an evaluation of your dog’s neuromuscular system, functional level, gait analysis, weight bearing status, muscle mass, joint range of motion, edema and pain. Following the evaluation, this visit will also include the necessary treatment for that day depending on what your pet needs.
Comprehensive Rehabilitation Services Offered by VMSG
Client Education
Our approach is to teach as much as we can to our clients so that the treatment of their pet can also be carried over into the home. Time is taken to educate clients about their pet’s condition and home exercises and instruction are given so they can help their pet recover faster at home.
Aquatic Therapy
Exercising in water has been shown to be an effective way to improve strength, endurance, swelling and range of motion in a safe, low impact environment. The buoyancy of the water takes the stress and pressure off the joints and the resistance of the water promotes maximum muscle movement with minimal pain, thereby providing an excellent environment for exercise. For example, water height raised to the level of the hip reduces body weight by 60%. The most effective means to have aquatic therapy is through the use of an underwater treadmill.
Cold Therapy
Cold packs are used for acute inflammation and pain control.
Heat Therapy
Hot packs are used for muscle relaxation and pain control, reducing muscle spasms, and preparing tissues for exercises by promoting circulation.
Manual Therapy
Manual therapy is a hands-on approach to improve musculo-skeletal function through a variety of techniques. Passive range of motion, stretching/flexibility, soft tissue mobilization/massage, trigger point release, edema massage, scar mobilization and joint mobilizations are among the techniques used to effectively achieve improved musculoskeletal function and use.
Therapeutic Exercise
Therapeutic exercises are land-based exercises to target the strengthening of muscles to address very specific problems. The initial evaluation will lend us the knowledge to know precisely what your pet can benefit from and which exercises would be of greatest help. Knowing which exercises to do and how to do them properly is imperative in safely returning your pet to his/her optimal function.
Balance Therapy
Balance therapy utilizes techniques to work on core strengthening, coordination, and balance. VMSG is fully equipped with the necessary tools to work on balance through the use of physioballs, peanut balls, wobble boards, and air-filled discs.
Neuromuscular Electrical Stimulation NMES is used to help re-educate muscle function through the use of electricity. It is widely used to prevent atrophy and is also effective in reducing pain and muscle spasms.
Laser
Light Amplification by Stimulated Emission of Radiation (LASER) is the use of light energy to affect underlying tissues. The physiological effects of laser include increasing cellular proliferation to speed the healing for muscles, tendons and ligaments. Furthermore, it alters the pain threshold to increase comfort (due to the release of endorphins) and is helpful for wound healing and cartilage formation by accelerating the inflammation phase, increasing the vascularity of the healing tissue and enhancing immune cells to combat invading pathogens.
Transcutaneous Electrical Nerve Stimulation
TENS is a pain-relieving modality which uses electricity to target the endorphin receptors in the specific area of pain. It may be used as an adjunct to pain medication.
The Veterinary Medical and Surgical Group’s Physical Rehabilitation Department is anchored by Certified Rehabilitation Specialists and Board Certified Surgeons allowing for a unique service in our area.
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