Animal Rehabilitation
Physical rehabilitation functions to increase your pet's range of motion, improve balance and overall muscle strength, and reduce pain. My rehabilitation program helps to ease the affects of disease or physical weakness by means of special physical exercises, massage, heat/cold therapy, electrotherapy, and/or ultrasound therapy. This therapy is helpful in treating pets with neurological diseases, hip pain, soft tissue sprains/strains, and arthritis, as well as those recovering from orthopedic surgery. Any animal experiencing stiffness, trauma, pain, muscle atrophy, imbalance, or inflammation can benefit.
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Benefits of Rehabilitation Include:
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Veterinary Rehabilition may benefit:
- Arthritis
- Neurological diseases/injuries
- Post-orthopedic and neurological surgeries
- Hip Dysplasia
- Joint/tendon injuries
- Degenerative disc disease, Degenerative joint disease
- Muscle disorders
- Weakness in limb(s)
- Amputation
Physical rehabilitation in animals is based on similar principles as therapy in people. Depending on the condition being treated, various exercises are performed to increase range of motion, improve balance, and overall strengthen muscles. Pain reduction is also an important part of rehab and can be accomplished with a variety of mechanisms such as massage, ultrasound, electrical stimulation, and ice/heat therapy. Initially rehab treatments may be aimed towards decreasing pain and inflammation; then improving range of motion and balance; and, later, improving performance, stamina and muscle size.
What are some typical exercises? One of the most important early exercises involves passive range-of-motion. This exercise targets specific joints or muscles with limited flexibility and, by doing repetitive stretches several times a day, improves range of motion and flexibility. Several weeks later active exercises can be added, such as weight shifting, balancing exercises, and sit-to-stands. As balance and strength return, more challenging exercises can be introduced, such as Cavaletti or obstacle courses.
Rehab is also very helpful when recovering from orthopedic and neurologic/spine surgery. In such cases, rehabilitation is geared toward healing and recovery in a controlled manner over a period of several months to achieve the best possible surgical outcome. In addition, various neurological diseases, soft tissue sprains/strains, or any condition involving stiffness, trauma, pain, muscle atrophy, imbalance, or inflammation will also benefit from rehab. Secondary or compensatory problems will also often improve as primary problems are addressed.
What are some typical exercises? One of the most important early exercises involves passive range-of-motion. This exercise targets specific joints or muscles with limited flexibility and, by doing repetitive stretches several times a day, improves range of motion and flexibility. Several weeks later active exercises can be added, such as weight shifting, balancing exercises, and sit-to-stands. As balance and strength return, more challenging exercises can be introduced, such as Cavaletti or obstacle courses.
Rehab is also very helpful when recovering from orthopedic and neurologic/spine surgery. In such cases, rehabilitation is geared toward healing and recovery in a controlled manner over a period of several months to achieve the best possible surgical outcome. In addition, various neurological diseases, soft tissue sprains/strains, or any condition involving stiffness, trauma, pain, muscle atrophy, imbalance, or inflammation will also benefit from rehab. Secondary or compensatory problems will also often improve as primary problems are addressed.