| Rehabilitation
REHABILITATION can add years to your dog’s
life
by
Susan Marino
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Massage:
One of the more pleasurable rehabilitation
modalities, there are manydifferent techniques
employed in massage that address sore
and painful muscles. Gentle strokes allow
body movement to be more fluid. TTouch
effectively helps animals deal with pain.
Acupuncture:
Those who practice this Oriental medicine
believe that the vital life force called
“chi” runs through twelve
main pathways called meridians. Each meridian
has an energetic function. Small needles
are placed along these pathways at acupuncture
points. Acupuncture has been used successfully
in management of both acute and chronic
pain. Today we understand the mechanism
of acupuncture better than we understand
that of many widely used drugs.
Chiropractic:
A method of care based on the body’s
innate ability to heal. This ability controls
all body functions. The body’s communication
runs through the nervous system pathways
so it is essential that the body alignment
be sound. The alignment is achieved by
manually adjusting the spine.
Flower essences:
I never leave home without my animal emergency
care. Flower essences work on a vibrational
level, by balancing the body’s electrical
energy system. Flower essences ease mental,
emotional and spiritual turmoil and are
most beneficial in times of stress.
Using
the tools of the trade
Therapeutic exercise is the foundation
of any rehabilitative process. “Humans
and animals are moving creatures,”
explains Dr. David Levine, Associate Professor
of Physical Therapy at the University
of Tennessee. After surgery there can
be pain and discomfort. Reduced activity
can cause joint stiffness, muscle atrophy
and generalized weakness as well as decreased
flexibility. Physical therapy can help
prevent these conditions and improve functional
outcomes. Although post surgery your animal
companion will follow a natural healing
process, animals heal much faster with
physical therapy. The tools of the physical
therapy trade include:
Aquatic therapy: Swimming
is one of the best all around exercises.
It allows sore joints to move through
a range of motion without bearing weight.
It is also valuable for general fitness
and weight loss. “We also like to
do preoperative conditioning,” says
Dr. McCauley. “Animals that have
preoperative conditioning are usually
more comfortable in the water after surgery,”
she says. The water is heated to a comfortable
88-92 degrees.
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The
underwater treadmill:
This machine
is quickly becoming a most valued rehabilitative
tool in physical therapy. The animal enters
the empty chamber and it slowly fills
with warm water. The animal bears much
less weight when immersed in water, and
the therapist determines the degree of
buoyancy by adjusting the depth of the
water. The treadmill encourages near full
extension of joints, which is an advantage
over swimming.
Electrical Muscle Stimulation (EMS):
EMS is used to increase circulation, loosen
muscle fibers, stimulate muscle growth
and reduce stiffness in joints. Electrodes
are placed on specific trigger points
on the animal’s body. The EMS unit
will send comfortable electrical impulses
through the skin that stimulate nerves
in the affected area.
Ultrasound:
Just as in human therapy, ultrasound has
been used very successfully in the treatment
of both acute and chronic pain. Ultrasound
waves increase tissue temperatures. This
allows for increased collagen extensibility,
blood flow and enzyme activity. Ultrasound
is also beneficial for chronic non-healing
wounds.
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