Physical Rehabilitation Goals
Physical rehabilitation aims to restore, maintain, and improve a patient’s function and quality of life. Rehabilitation is often used after orthopedic injuries, surgery, neurological injury, and to manage chronic conditions such as arthritis. Range of motion, proprioception and balance, strength and pain management are areas that can be addressed. The most important goal is to increase and maintain your pet’s quality of life.
Range of Motion
Range of motion (ROM) exercises are the most basic part of a rehabilitation plan. The goals are to increase and/or maintain joint ROM and maximize muscle flexibility. These exercises are done either passively or actively.
- Passive ROM exercise – The owner moves the joint through the pain-free range of motion. This is done without muscle contraction.
- Active ROM exercise – This puts joints through range of motion with active muscle contraction.
- Examples include: cavaletti poles, climbing stairs, walking in water, sand, and grass.
Harnesses are available to support your pet when walking. Our specially trained veterinarians can help to ensure the equipment is measured, ordered and fit correctly.
Proprioception and Balance
Proprioception is awareness of body position. Proprioception and balance can be diminished following surgery or can decline over time as the patient ages. Exercises to improve can be achieved with balance boards, exercise balls, and weight-shifting drills. This exercise plan can provide a good foundation for increasing function, strength, joint mobility, and limb use.
Strengthening Exercises
Strengthening exercises can be added after a solid base of ROM, consistent limb use, proprioception, and balance has been established. Exercises include walking up and down an incline, climbing stairs, dancing, swimming and pulling/carrying weight.
We now have a Stance Analyzer. This allows us to accurately measure weight distribution and how much weight each leg is bearing. We can then monitor your pet’s progress alongside their strengthening exercises.
Chronic Pain
We offer laser therapy using a Class 4 Companion Animal Laser. This is another ‘tool in the toolbox’ to addressing pain and inflammation. Laser therapy is a wonderful service in helping post-surgery patients, chronic arthritis, and other conditions to get the relief they need. Also, it feels great!
Underwater Treadmill
We offer underwater treadmill services. This is a great way to help your pet recover from surgery, spinal injuries and to help them lose weight!