Therapeutics
Therapeutic Exercise
Therapeutic exercise is an important part of the rehabilitation process at Animotion Animal Rehabilitation Center’s Stoughton, MA facility. Your pet will enjoy greater stability, flexibility, mobility and core strength following guided exercises using physioballs, cavaletti rails, balance boards, weave poles and obstacle courses. The purpose of these exercises is to improve flexibility, muscle strength and mass, improve balance, enhance cardiovascular performance and prevent further injury.
We use various exercises during the rehabilitation process. The types of exercises depend upon the animal's condition and goals of therapy.
Types of exercise we use include:
- Supportive Exercises
- Balance Training
- Assisted Ambulation and Gait Training
- Strengthening Exercises
- Flexibility Exercises
- Weight Bearing Exercises
Therapeutic Massage Therapy
Therapeutic massage therapy is often incorporated into our therapy for its effects on the health and psychological well-being of your pet.
The benefits of massage include:
- Reduces pain
- Improves circulation
- Stimulates the lymphatic system and reduces edema
- Decreases anxiety and stress
- Reduces muscle spasms and painful triggers
- Breaks down adhesions or scar tissue
- Supports the immune system
- Strengthens bond between you and your pet
Therapeutic Laser Therapy
A therapeutic laser utilizes specific wavelengths of light (red and near-infrared) to stimulate healing. Therapeutic lasers supply energy to the body as light is transmitted through the layers of skin and stimulates and accelerates the healing of damaged cells. Therapeutic lasers are painless tools used for post-operative care, treatment of arthritis, skin wounds and other selected conditions and causes no adverse effects on healthy cells.
During each painless treatment, the energy from the laser increases circulation, drawing water, oxygen and nutrients to the damaged area. This creates an optimal healing environment that reduces inflammation, swelling, muscle spasms, stiffness and pain. It can also accelerate tissue repair and cell growth, reduce scar tissue formation and help the immune system fend off infection. Furthermore, laser therapy can improve circulation and nerve function in certain conditions. As the injured area returns to normal, function is restored and pain is relieved, allowing your pet to quickly return to his or her normal activities.
What Conditions Does Laser Therapy Treat in Conjunction with Physical Rehabilitation?
Wound healing, as well as pain caused by musculoskeletal disorders such as:
- Cruciate ligament injury
- Hip dysplasia
- Elbow dysplasia
- Intervertebral disc disease
- Degenerative myelopathy
- Neck pain
- Back pain
- Paralysis
- Loss of motor control
- Osteoarthritis
- Post-operative fracture repair
- Degenerative joint disease
- Inflammatory conditions
What You and Your Pet Can Expect
Pets typically do not need to be sedated for laser therapy treatments and the experience is usually pleasant and comforting. Most pets do not need to have their fur clipped. Improvement is sometimes seen after the first treatment; however, most pets require several treatments to achieve maximum benefits. Your veterinarian at Animotion Animal Rehabilitation Center will recommend a laser treatment plan specific to your pet's condition.
Therapeutic Ultrasound
Therapeutic Ultrasound is used as a treatment modality (method) to exert thermal, mechanical and chemical effects on the treated surfaces to enhance and facilitate healing. Veterinarians have been using this treatment approach since the early 1970's. The sound waves of therapeutic ultrasound are produced by applying an electric current to a crystal, causing the crystal to vibrate at a certain frequency. the vibrations of the crystal within the head of the ultrasound probe create pulse or continuous waves (energy) that pass through the skin and vibrate the tissues. The ultrasound probe is applied directly against the pet's skin using water-soluble ultrasound gel.
Therapeutic ultrasound can be used to increase the stretch in fibrous tissues, such as tendons, which can help increase range of motion around a joint. Therapeutic ultrasound can also be used to soften and break down scar tissue that is interfering with movement. By deep heating the tissues, this procedure increases blood flow to the area. This in turn can increase local blood flow and reduce inflammation and swelling. Therapeutic ultrasound can also decrease pain and muscle spasms, as well as speed up wound healing.
Most treatment sessions last 15-30 minutes and most patients are treated for two to three sessions per week until the condition is resolved.
For more information regarding Therapeutic Ultrasound please contact one of our therapists.
