How Physical Rehabilitation Can Help Pets
 
 
Therapeutic Exercise 

• Manual exercise, range of motion and stretching.  These exercises can be performed laying, standing or using equipment such as theraballs, peanuts, balance boards, wobble boards and cavaletti rails.
• These exercises are tailored to each patient to help improve muscle strength, tone, coordination and mobility.

 
E-Stim - Electrical Stimulation

• E-stim uses gentle electrical current to help quiet and reset neural pain conduction pathways to alleviate acute or chronic pain. 
• Iontophoresis: By adding conduction gel containing polar ionic medications (generally Dexamethasone and Lidocaine) you can use the gentle electrical current to draw these ions deep into the tissue/region/post-op site for immediate and effective pain relief. 

 
NMES – Neuro-Muscular Electrical Stimulation

• Similar to e-stim, this uses a lower frequency current to create muscle contractions. 
• Used to help recondition/rebuild severely atrophied muscle groups in combination with therapeutic exercise.

 
Therapeutic Ultrasound

• This modality uses ultrasonic waves to heat deep tissues.  Once heated, you can achieve increased flexibility of the tissues.
• Used in combination with stretching and therapeutic exercise to help relieve muscle contractures and frozen/contracted joints. 
• Phonophoresis:  Can also be used with conduction gel and polar ionic medications to carry them deep into the tissues for immediate pain relief.

 
Class IV Laser Therapy

• Infared light from the laser is used to penetrate tissues and greatly increase cellular activity, resulting in increased cellular metabolism. 
• This change in the cells caused a reduction of pain, increased healing and regeneration of nerve tissue. 

 
Underwater Treadmill

• High water level creates increased buoyancy allowing pet to exercise with less effort and less stress on joints.
• Low water level used to create resistance for muscle building and conditioning.
• Hydrotherapy:  Oncotic pressure of the water and circulation from the jets can help reduce edema and improve circulation.

 
Cryotherapy

• Circulating cold water helps reduce swelling and inflammation after exercise, injury or surgery. 

V-OP - Veterinary Orthotics and Prosthetics

• Supportive devices and braces to aid in recovery from injury or surgery. 
• Rigid support for amputees or pets with congenital deformities.

Kinesiology Taping

• Assists with myofascial release to help relieve pain.
• Helpful for improving circulation and lymph flow to reduce edema.
• Helps correct posture when overcompensating for injury/deformity.

 
Conditions Commonly Treated

• Acute injuries (tendon, ligament, bone)
• Chronic conditions (osteoarthritis, contractures, congenital deformities)
• Post-operative recovery (orthopedic, spinal, soft tissue)
• Weight-loss (nutrition counseling and individualized exercise program)
• Diabetes Management (regular exercise can reduce insulin requirement)
• Degenerative neurologic conditions (D.M., L.S. stenosis, G.O.L.P.P.)
• Pitting Edema/cellulitis (primary or secondary)
• Athletic conditioning/return to function
  

 
 
Please call with any questions as to how rehabilitation can benefit a specific patient/condition. 
 
Sarah Zuker, DVM, CCRP
4915 Mackinaw Rd.
Saginaw, MI  48603
Phone:  989-793-8728