Treatment
Therapeutic Interventions in Veterinary Rehabilitation
Therapeutic Exercise
Therapeutic exercise is the cornerstone of physical rehabilitation, has many benefits and is appropriate for a variety of conditions. Exercise can:

• improve cartilage and ligament health
• improve muscle mass and strength
• prevent or reverse osteoporosis, increase circulation
• decrease pain
• reduce obesity, and
• improve overall function and mobility

Types of exercise can include:

• Strengthening
• Flexibility
• Range of motion
• Balance and proprioceptive exercises to encourage weight shifting, dynamic balance and conscious awareness of limb position sense.
• Endurance training

Aquatic Therapy
Exercising in the water is a low impact activity that helps to improve strength, range of motion and endurance. The buoyancy properties of water minimize weight bearing stress to the joints which helps to prevent tissue injury, inflammation and pain. Aquatic therapy is appropriate for:

• post operative orthopedic procedures
• neurological conditions
• osteoarthritic patients, and
• obese patients.

Depending on the patient's therapeutic goals, the underwater treadmill and swimming pool can be used. The underwater treadmill promotes controlled weight bearing by varying the water level. The swimming pool is a non-weight bearing environment, especially effective for osteoarthritis and weakness associated with neurological conditions.

Manual Techniques
Manual techniques such as massage, passive range of motion and joint mobilization are important components of a rehabilitation program to help increase circulation, improve tissue extensibilitgy and joint mobility, promote relaxation and decrease pain.

Modalities
Superficial heat and cold applications are used as an adjunct to treatment often before or after exercise to relieve pain, increase circulation, promote relaxation, increase tissue extensibility or minimize inflammation.

Neuromuscular Electrical Stimulation is a modality used for stimulation of nerves to promote muscle contraction for strengthening, range of motion, decreasing inflammation and pain. It is especially useful in treating neurological conditions and in managing post operative pain and muscle weakness.

Please contact our rehabilitation specialists at 610-696-8712 to set up a consultation to set up a consultation appointment to design and implement an individualized rehabilitation program tailored to meet your pet's needs.