How Physical Rehabilitation Can Help Pets
Therapeutic Exercise
E-Stim - Electrical Stimulation
NMES – Neuro-Muscular Electrical Stimulation
Therapeutic Ultrasound
Class IV Laser Therapy
Underwater Treadmill
Cryotherapy
V-OP - Veterinary Orthotics and Prosthetics
Kinesiology Taping
Conditions Commonly Treated
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
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
