Physical Therapy and Rehabilitation Flashcards
What is physiotherapy?
Use of physical techniques that have a direct impact of healing tissues and exercises that promote proprioceptive learning with some overlap between the two
Who are physiotherapists and what do they do?
Nurses/vets with specific experience and training or qualified physiotherapists with animal experience and/or holders of a conversion qualification
Work under the instruction of a veterinary surgeon once the vet has seen and diagnosed the condition
What is important to tell the client prior to physiotherapy treatment starting?
Cycle of examination, therapy and re-examination
If this isn’t made clear they can think that you don’t know what you’re doing
What is massage used for?
Pain relief
Used on limbs with decreased motility due to mechanical restriction/post surgery/disease
Preventative
Relaxation and improved circulation and lymphatic drainage
What is massage often used in conjunction with as a warm up?
Range-of-movement exercises
What are the disadvantages of massage?
Time consuming and physically demanding on the therapist
What are some different massage techniques used?
Stroking = hands move proximal to distal
Effleurage = hands move distal to proximal with medium pressure
Compression and wringing = higher pressure targeted at individual muscles, compress and hold for 15 seconds
Percussion = cupped hand/hacking over areas of increased tone with specific attention to spasmic nodules
What effect does cryotherapy have?
Constricts vessels and provides analgesia
What are the advantages of cryotherapy?
Can be used even if the patient isn’t ambulatory
Most effective at managing acute inflammation
How long should cryotherapy be applied for?
20 minutes
What are the methods of performing cryotherapy?
Plastic bag with water/ice mix Cryogel packs Jackets and filler flasks Ice bath emersion Vapour coolant
What is important to look out for when performing cryotherapy?
Frostbite
What effect does thermotherapy have?
Constricts vessels and provides analgesia
What are the advantages of thermotherapy?
It can be used when the patient isn’t ambulatory
Once initial swelling has decreased heat helps vasodilation
What are the disadvantages of thermotherapy?
Will make swelling, heat and pain worse