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