Rehab medicine

Question 1

What is rehabilitation medicine

Answer 1

physiotherapy (physical therapy in vet med)

laser therapy

ultrasound

acupunture

chiropractic

hydrotherapy

Question 2

when & why is physical therapy used

Answer 2

after an injury or limitation on the animal (such as sx) to help recover full usage of affected area as well as alleviate inflammation, pain & scar tissue formation

Question 3

Post op rehab is important T or F

Answer 3

True!

Question 4

What are core strenght exercises/proprioception for equines & canines

Answer 4

Equine: usuall baited stretches or passive RoM movements

Canine: trained to stand on variety of surfaces using food rewards

Question 5

Whare are both core strength & proprioceptive exercises important when rehabing from injury

Answer 5

engages atrophied muscles & recruit the muscles to work appropriately again

Question 6

what can be used for equine proprioception exercises

Answer 6

ground poles

Question 7

what else an be used in all spp to encourage larger range of motion

Answer 7

weighted devices

Question 8

Can hydrotherapy be used in cats

Answer 8

Yes!

Question 9

what are the goals of hydrotherapy

Answer 9

adds resistance w/o adding load on joints

in equine & canine good recovery from tendon issues (e.g. suspensory injury in horses)

post op orthopedic recovery because of bouyancy (e.g. TPLO, FHO)

obese pts. provides muscular workout w/o joint strain

Question 10

Do you need an expensive hydrotherapy unit for hydrotherapy?

Answer 10

No any body of water large enough for pt will do!

Question 11

what can massage therapy do

Answer 11

works on musculoskeletal system

use on any species

assist with tension, stimulates blood flow, improves lymphatic drainage

Question 12

what is a goniometer

Answer 12

measures increase or decrease in angle of joint

Question 13

what is a flexible arch

Answer 13

measures muscle atrophy or asymmetry

Question 14

what does a TENS machine do

Answer 14

electrical stim of muscles

aids in nerve regeneration

allows positive contraction of muscles to prevent atrophy

temporary analgesia via “gate theory”

Question 15

what is gate theory

Answer 15

gate control theory of pain:

non-painful input closes the gates to painful input which prevents pain senastion from traveling to CNS

Question 16

what is laser therapy

Answer 16

non-invasive

intense beams of light of specific wavelengths to help reduce pain

LASER: Light Ampllcation by Stimulated Emission of Radiation

Question 17

Are there different uses for lasers

Answer 17

Yes!

Surgical

Therapeutic

Question 18

What are the 2 common classes of lasers used in vet med

Answer 18

Class IIIB

Class IV

Question 19

what are some effects of lasers

Answer 19

Reduced therapy time – quicken the reproduction of cells and their growth.
Safely treat pain – influences and increases the metabolic activity of the cells.
Effective for pain relief – reduces swelling from bruising or inflammation.
Helps to increase circulation to damaged cell sites.
Minimizes scar formation from surgery, cuts, burns, etc.

Question 20

difference between Class IIIB & IV lasers

Answer 20

Class IIIB – can be held right up against the skin without risk of
burning

Class IIIB laser – longer treatment times (more time consuming)
Class IV laser - must always be in motion to avoid overheating of tissues.

Question 21

how do you know how to use a laser

Answer 21

Some lasers are “point and shoot” using a set template. Others
have a techniques chart
K Laser (brand) – has an easy to follow chart for lasering different structures.

Question 22

what are the effects of laser on scar tissue

Answer 22

laser is instrumental in laying down the scar tissue in such a way as to reduce adhesions, allow greater flexibility, and
provide a smoother flatter scar.
Time period for this is 10 days to 6 months. After 6 months, the scar tissue is too well formed to be restructured or influenced.
After 30 days, laser can be used in combination with ultrasound and
massage friction therapy to have moderate success restructuring the scar tissue.

Question 23

how does ultrasound therapy work

Answer 23

ultrasound waves act as a deep tissue heating agent and can penetrate as deep as 5 cm into underlying tissues without excessive heating of the skin.
Therapeutic ultrasound is beneficial to animals with decreased joint mobility, muscle soreness and tightness, calcium deposits, hematomas, arthritis, tendon and ligament inflammation, and excessive scar tissue.
Use sparingly – can only use once a week, as opposed to the laser, which can be used daily in some cases.

Question 24

disadvantages of ultrasound

Answer 24

Labour intense – can only work small areas at a time
Need LOTS of ultrasound gel
Excess fur can hinder the penetration of the sound waves
Clients may not want patches shaved into their animal to allow treatment
The crystal is delicate and can be damaged easily
Probes needed are 1 mHz and 3 mHz
Cost usually $1000 – 2000 for a good one.

Question 25

What about acupuncture & chiropractic

Answer 25

both have been scientifically proven to increase flexibility, improve posture, reduce pain & stiffness

Question 26

Most pt tolerate acupuncture extremely well T or F

Answer 26

True!

Question 27

what is chiropractic used for

Answer 27

Treatment of joint dysfunction
Repetitive use (such as riding) or compensation for a limb injury can throw the joints of the body out of alignment
Chiropractic medicine aims to restore joint flexibility, motion, and correct imbalances or “subluxations”

Question 28

What is kenesiotaping

Answer 28

new modality

Kinesiotape provides stability and support to muscles, tendons, and joints without restricting mobility.
Different strengths and brands (K Tape, Rock Tape)

Question 29

what is the organization that involves vet rehab medicine

Answer 29

International Association of Veterinary Rehabilitation and
Physical Therapists. (IAVRPT)
www.IARVPT.org