TREATMENTS AND SERVICES
Treatments and services differ between each individual client, giving a bespoke rehabilitation plan on how your animal copes and improves. Throughout each session the use of dynamic and static assessment is used, palpation to identify muscle and joint quality and range of motion assessments to show your animals limitations. The use of massage and various electrotherapies, in conjunction with stretching and a tailored remedial exercise programme is what you can expect from each session.
DYNAMIC AND STATIC ASSESSMENTS
Dynamic and static assessment plays a key role in establishing any imbalances and asymmetries present, this should be done whilst your horse or dog is in walk and trot. Throughout the assessments videos and photographs will be taken of your animals movement and conformation, this helps Laura highlight any areas when viewed in slow motion out of the treatment time, along with keeping a documentation of how your animal progresses throughout sessions.
Brief overview of what is looked at during a dynamic and static assessment:
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conformation
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muscle asymmetry
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ability to track up and stride length
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impulsion - highlighting any stiff movement
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asymmetry within movement - any lameness present
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foot placement
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straightness
and much more.....
PALPATION
Palpation is essential in understanding your animals muscle quality and where issues may be undetected. This is combined with what was viewed during the dynamic and static assessment, highlighting compensatory implications. During palpation, Laura will be able to identify if your animals muscles are in a state of hypertonicity (tension), where areas are built up and where muscle wastage is present.
Some of the common terminology used within identifying muscle quality:
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Hypertrophy - enlargement of muscle mass
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Atrophy - muscle wastage
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Hypertonicity - when the muscle is in the state of being stretched; tight; taught
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Spasm - involuntary muscle contraction
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Oedema - swelling that is an abnormal accumulation of fluids within tissues
MASSAGE
Massage is the key element for veterinary physiotherapy treatment, which is constantly being perfected in order to get the best results possible.
Positive effects of massage include:
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reduce muscle tension
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prevent stiffness
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reduce pain, stress levels and blood pressure
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prevents injury
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stimulates and strengthens musculature
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increases performance
and much more...
JOINT RANGE OF MOVEMENT AND STRETCHING
Joint ROM is performed to show the animals natural joint ability, highlighting their limitations as well as feeling for arthritis, swelling, heat and enlargement. Stretching is then introduced by taking the joints and muscles out of their limitation. Stretching has always been an important component within any musculoskeletal programme, whether it be for rehabilitation, fitness or athletic. Many owners may not realise how important stretching can be throughout your animals day to day life. It can also be easily performed when using a treat and if shown correctly.
A few of the benefits stretching can have:
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Loosen tight muscles
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Improve flexibility, postural balance, performance, circulation
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Aid in recovery from training/competition
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Prevent injuries and muscle soreness
and much more...
REMEDIAL EXERCISE PROGRAMMES (REP)
The ultimate goal of an REP is to return the animal to their previous activity and/or level. The REP is tailored to each individual client with their condition, progression, aims and what the end goal is. There are many different REP activities that can be used in order to target different mobility, proprioception and coordination problems; whether they are equipment or non equipment based. REP programmes are created to make sure they are easy and affective for owners to perform, ensuring that the owners are comfortable and understand the given tasks with the repetitions and frequency on a day to day bases.
ELECTROTHERAPIES
TENS MACHINE
Transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation (TENS) helps with acute and chronic muscular pain. The TENS helps improve muscle spasm, oedema, pain, nerve damage and encourages muscle re education. When shown correctly on how to use it, owners are able to utilise this machine in their day to day routine for their animals.
PEMFT
Pulsed electromagnetic field therapy (PEMFT) is used to help with pain, soft tissue injuries, reduce oedema and bruising, helps with the repair of fractures and has an influence on neurological conditions/injuries. There are many different settings which enable the PEMFT to cover all of these issues.
Depending on the case, the PEMFT will be available on hire with T&C's.
RED LIGHT THERAPY
Red light therapy delivers an energy boost to the cells, providing a wide range of health benefits. Red light is able to help with joint pain, muscle soreness, inflammation, injuries and wounds as well as osteoarthritis.
Now also using the well known Photizo in treatments for red light therapy.