Animal Physiotherapy techniques

Question 1

What are the two things that make up the therapeutic basis of physiotherapy?

Answer 1

a) Physical techniques that have a direct impact on the healing tissues
b) Exercises that promote ‘proprioceptive learning’ - learning how to use limb again (walk again)

Question 2

Name the physical techniques that have direct impact on the tissues:

Answer 2

a) Massage
b) Cryotherapy
c) Thermotherapy
d) Range of motion - passive, active assisted and active ROM
e) Stretching - static, prolonged static, ballistic

Question 3

Massage:
What conditions does this help with?
How does it help athletes in particular?
Pro and cons?

Answer 3

Function:
-Helps with patients with decreased mobility (disease, post-op, mechanical restriction)

Athletes:

• Preventative against injury in athletes (warm up)
• preparatory for performance (enhance)
• helps recovery from soreness and fatigue

Pros:
Used for isolated area eg. limb

Cons:
Time consuming + physically demanding

Question 4

Massage:
What is the therapeutic basis for massage?
What are the different methods for massage?

Answer 4

Therapeutic basis:

• Through relaxation
• Induce pain relief via lowered stress and maybe endorphin release
• Direct activation of neuropeptide release from CNS
• Improved circulation + lymphatic flow (esp return)

Methods for Practical Massage:

1. Stroking (proximal to distal)
2. Effleurage (distal to proximal with medium pressure)
3. Compression and winging (Petrissage - high pressure targetted at individual muscles + hold for 15secs)
4. Percussion (cupped hand + other areas of increased tone, esp to spasmic nodules (trigger points)

Question 5

Cryotherapy

What is the therapeutic basis for cryotherapy?

Answer 5

Method:

• Cold treatment
• Constricts vasculature + gives analgesia directly to nerves
• Can be used coming out of surgery (starting immediately) + with patient not ambulatory (walking)

Most effective for acute tx of inflamm
Eg. hamstring injury - vasocontrict - cut down inflamm in muscle belly- better recovery rate

Methods:
20mins tx and monitor for frostbite
Examples: Simple bag with ice, Cryogel packs (re-freezable)