Physical Rehabilitation

Just as people sometimes need physical therapy for various orthopedic and neurological conditions, pets occasionally need this valuable treatment. Rose Rock Veterinary Hospital is proud to offer physical rehabilitation, using accepted physical methods and home exercise programs, to return pets to active lives.

Physical rehabilitation is available to help in treating:

• Orthopedic conditions such as osteoarthritis, hip dysplasia, anterior cruciate injuries, luxating patellas or post-surgical recovery;
• Neurologic conditions such as intervertebral disk disease, fibrocartilagenous embolism, or trauma
• Weight management

Physical rehabilitation includes a combination of exercises, joint mobility, massage, neuromuscular stimulation, and other modalities such as treadmills and therapeutic laser.

If you are not a client of Rose Rock Veterinary Hospital we would be glad to work with your veterinarian on a referral basis. Together we will try to achieve the best possible results for your pet. Ask your regular veterinarian for a referral for physical rehabilitation or acupuncture.

Therapeutic Exercise

Exercise is an important part of rehabilitation. The purpose of the exercises is to improve muscle strength and mass, flexibility, and balance. Exercise also enhances cardiovascular performance and helps to prevent further injury. There are a variety of exercises that we do in house as well as teach you to do at home. Some of the exercises include assisted walking, stair climbing, physioball exercises, wobble board exercises, weave poles and Cavaletti rails. An exercise plan is developed specifically for each individual patient's condition and goals of therapy.

Massage and Joint Mobility Therapy

Massage and joint mobility therapy are used with other modalities to relieve tension and improve muscle function. Massage will help the patient with reducing pain, improving circulation, reduce muscle knots and spasms, and reduces anxiety and stress. These therapies also stimulate the lymphatic system to help reduce local swelling and edema. Massage will assist with breaking down adhesions and scar tissue. Massage techniques are used to relieve muscle tightness resulting from injury, surgery, poor conformation, or athletic performance.

Neuromuscular Stimulation

Neuromuscular stimulation is the use of an electrical current to stimulate muscle contractions. A current is delivered through electrodes placed on the skin over a muscle or muscle group. This therapy is great for post surgical patients who are non-weight bearing or have limited use of certain muscles. Neuromuscular stimulation is used to prevent muscle atrophy or to increase the strength of a muscle that is not being utilized.

Transcutaneous Electrical Nerve Stimulation is used therapeutically for pain management and to increase circulation and promote healing. Electrodes are placed on the skin and deliver a low voltage intermittent stimulation to the surface nerves of the skin. Benefits of transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation include acute and chronic pain relief, reduced post exercise soreness and reduced edema.

Therapeutic Laser

Rose Rock Veterinary Hospital offers therapeutic laser for patients with certain medical conditions. Arthritis, acute and chronic pain, back injuries, sprains and strains, inflammation and edema, and wound healing are all improved with the use of therapeutic laser. This non-surgical treatment requires no sedation and is extremely safe. No side effects are experienced by your pet, and results are often immediate. Therapeutic laser treatment can be combined with other medications your pet may be taking for a particular condition and the treatment speeds healing. For more information about this exciting treatment, speak to one of our staff members.

Land Treadmill (Coming Soon)

A land treadmill is similar to a human treadmill. With the treadmill the climate, time, duration, speed, resistance, and frequency of exercise can be controlled. A land treadmill will develop muscle strength and stamina for the rehabilitation patient and provides versatility in their exercise regimen. It is used to condition dogs for competitive sports or to exercise dogs in adverse weather conditions.

Underwater Treadmill (Hydrotherapy) (Coming Soon)

The Underwater Treadmill provides low impact exercise in a reduced gravity environment. The benefit of hydrotherapy is that it combines the heat therapy of warm water with strengthening exercise while eliminating impact and concussion to the joints. Due to the buoyancy of the water, the underwater treadmill provides the ability to strengthen the animal's muscles in an environment with little or no pressure on the joint.

A controlled environment is provided by the underwater treadmill that can be adjusted to the pet's needs, including water height, treadmill speed and jets for added resistance. When first introduced the dog or cat proceed at a slow pace, thus eliminating the fear that may be incurred during the first session.

There are many benefits of the underwater treadmill. Weak, unbalanced and arthritic pets can move around more freely without falling. It allows an earlier return to exercise after surgery. The underwater treadmill can also be used for weight loss and conditioning.

Acupuncture

Acupuncture is the treatment of conditions or symptoms by inserting a very small needle into specific points on the body in order to produce a response. The specific acupuncture points have been well charted for both humans and animals. The original concept was from ancient Chinese scholars who believed the points were connected with each other and various internal organs by meridians or channels. Today we know that many of these channels trace the paths of the body's major nerve system.

Each acupuncture point has a specific action when stimulated. A combination of points can be stimulated to take advantage of synergistic reactions between them. The patient's tolerance and the condition being treated will dictate which acupuncture points are stimulated, the depth of the needle insertion, the type of stimulation applied to the needles, and the duration of the treatment session.

Acupuncture is a modality we use at Rose Rock Veterinary Hospital only after a proper diagnosis has been made. We will also conduct an ongoing assessment of the patient's condition and response to prior treatment before proceeding with further treatments.

In veterinary medicine, there is evidence that acupuncture is beneficial in treating disorders of the reproductive, musculoskeletal, neurologic, pulmonary, gastrointestinal and dermatologic systems. Conditions that most often are treated with acupuncture are traumatic nerve injuries, intervertebral disk disease, degenerative myelopathy, central nervous system disorders, asthma, lick granulomas, and chronic pain caused by degenerative joint disease. Acupuncture can also be used postoperatively to decrease pain resulting in improvement to the patient's comfort level and may speed up the post op recovery period. In some cases it can potentially reduce or eliminate the need for chronic medication.