Small animal physical rehabilitation and complementary medicine

Question 1

What is Physical Therapy?

Answer 1

Use of “therapeutic exercises, physical modalities, aquatic therapy, thermal therapies and assistive devices with the goal to restore, maintain and maximize physical strength and function.

Question 2

What is the difference between physical therapy and physical rehabilitation

Answer 2

Physical therapy is the human term. Many states limit the term physical therapy to only human med.

Question 3

What is physical rehabilitation used for?

Answer 3

To preserve and improve function, especially with aging
To manage pain- acute and chronic
To return to function following an injury or surgery
To train and condition for specific activities
To provide comprehensive management for patients

Question 4

What are some non-surgical indications for rehab (disease examples)

Answer 4

OA, degenerative myelopathy, FCE, ANNPE, other neuropathies

Question 5

What are some orthopedic post surgical indications

Answer 5

Stifle surgies- TPLO, TTA
Patella surgeries
Hip surgies
fracture repairs, OCD, soft tissue repair
amputees

Question 6

What are some neurological post surgical indications

Answer 6

Ventral slot
Hemilaminectomies
Stabilization- post fracture or A-A luxation.

Question 7

T/F Rehab can also be used for canine athlete and working canines with or w/o injury

Answer 7

True

Question 8

What are the sections of the holistic patient approach?

Answer 8

Goals of rehab, Physical limitations, environment at home, owner ability/willingness and personality of animal

Question 9

What is the first thing you should do when you meet a new patient?

Answer 9

Observe patient outside in a neutral environment.
Observe personality, gait, posture, physical ability (patient and owner)

Question 10

What are the phase of wound healing?

Answer 10

Phase 1- Acute or inflammatory
Phase 2- subacute or proliferative
Phase 3- consolidation phase
Phase 4- organizational phase

Question 11

How long does each phase of healing last?

Answer 11

Phase 1- day 1-5
Phase 2- day 5-21
Phase 3- day 21-60
Phase 4- beginning day 61 onward

Question 12

what phase(s) is the most likely for reinjury?

Answer 12

Phase 2 and 3.Th patient feels better but is not healed

Question 13

What are the main goals of most clients for rehab

Answer 13

To improve pain and quality of life

Question 14

What are the functional movements that need to be evaluated in a PE

Answer 14

Gait- lameness, compensation
Positional- stance analysis, strength (stand for 1+ min), sit posture
Transitional- from a sternal to sit or stand (important for daily function), stair

Question 15

What are the therapies for decreased ROM?

Answer 15

Manual therapies, modalities, active exercieses

Question 16

What are the therapies for increased ROM?

Answer 16

Laxity- brace and orthotics

Question 17

T/F in a ortho/ Neuro evaluation you should only focus on the known diagnosis

Answer 17

False- there are usually comorbidities, further diagnostics/consult/second opinion are usually needed.

Question 18

What are the common comorbidities

Answer 18

Obesity (BCS4-5/9 ideal)
Other systemic disease process- cardiovascular, respiratory, cancer
Combo of ortho and neuro

Question 19

Where are the common areas of compensatory issues

Answer 19

Behind scapula, iliosoas, thoracolumbar, sacroilieal area.

Question 20

What are some considerations when designing a rehab plan?

Answer 20

Pain level, phase of healing, exercise restriction, contraindications, owner schedule/ commitment

Question 21

What Therapies can be used when pain is present? For acute and chronic

Answer 21

Acute- modalities, manual therapies
Chronic- modalities, exercises, manual therapies