Why your veterinarian SHOULD recommend rehabilitation / physical therapy for your pet

Rehabilitation and physical therapy is a well-known and accepted practice in human medicine after surgery or injury. In fact, it is almost malpractice in human medicine, NOT to recommend physical therapy or rehabilitation!  The same principles are now working their way into veterinary medicine. 

Physical medicine goes beyond the diagnosis of disease, and looks at the impact of the disease on function.  In other words, how do we get that injured part back to normal function post surgery or post injury?

Why the need for rehabilitation? 

Human studies have shown that starting the first day after surgery, a 1 to 2 percent loss of strength occurs in the affected muscles. This translates into a 10 to 20% loss per week!  If the muscle is losing its strength per day and your dog is in a cast for four weeks, or holding his leg up for a week post surgery, you can imagine the weakness that is going to develop.  Rehabilitation combats this trend.

 Rehabilitation

• reduces, minimizes, mitigates disablements
• preserves and restores function
• maximizes independence 

Rehabilitation is a dynamic process with ever-changing outcomes and must be individualized, thus the need for a doctor and staff skilled in physical therapy and rehabilitative medicine.

The "drug" or "medicine" in rehabilitation is physical therapy. This can include things such as therapeutic exercise, manual therapy, wound management, thermal modalities (such as ultrasound), electro-therapeutic modalities (such as E-Stim or TENS), underwater treadmill therapy, and even orthotics and prosthetic evaluation.

 Benefits of physical therapy

• enhanced immune response,
• positive anabolic (i.e. muscle building) effects
• antidote to atrophy.

The first step in the process is patient evaluation.  For that the doctor will assess muscle function, neurologic function, and range of motion of the affected area by performing a neuromuscular examination.  An assessment of "physical reserve" for rehabilitation will also be done. This assessment shows how much physical therapy or how long a time your pet is able to do rehabilitation.  For example, some geriatrics patients may not be able to take a rehab/exercise program of three times a week.

If you or anyone you know has been bed-ridden following injury or surgery, just the "psychological benefits" of being up and moving around is not only helpful but welcome!  Physical therapy also counters the effects of steroids, (often used with disc disease for example) and is often helpful in pain management.

Areas other than post surgery or trauma rehabilitation include cancer rehabilitation (weakness, lethargy), cardiac rehabilitation (controlled exercise benefits), geriatric rehabilitation (cardiac and muscular strengthening exercise program) and chronic disease rehabilitation for such things as arthritis, chronic pain, loss of strength in the hind legs and elimination problems.  One area for younger dogs where we've had great results is with hip dysplasia!  We have had many success stories, even with bad discs or partial paralysis pets. Ask to see our "wall of graduates" pictures!

The goals of rehabilitation are improved quality of life, reduced pain and improved attitude by improving ambulation or restoring proper function. That is what we all want for that bundle of energy and love, our best friend, and family member!