Rehabilitation
Welcome to Vanguard Veterinary Hospital’s Rehabilitation and Canine Sports Medicine Program.
Our Sports Medicine and Rehabilitation Center has the following equipment/treatment options:
Our Sports Medicine and Rehabilitation Center has the following equipment/treatment options:
- Shockwave (PiezoWave)
- Thermal Imaging
- Cryotherapy
- Laser Therapy
- Physiotherapy
- Underwater Treadmill
- Hydrotherapy Pool
- Acupuncture
- Electroacupuncture
- Neuromuscular Electro-Stim
- Transcutaneous Elecro-Stim
- Pulse Electromagnetic Field Therapy
- Gait and Lameness Analysis
- Stance Analysis
- Therapeutic Massage
- Manual Therapy
- Regenerative Veterinary Medicine (Adult Stem Cell)
- Back on Track
- Assisi Loop
- Pulse Electromagnetic Field Therapy
Rehabilitation and Sports Medicine Therapy is a fast-growing specialty in the field of veterinary medicine which was initially developed for the purpose of returning canine athletes back to full performance following an injury or surgical procedure. This specialty has found its way into private practice veterinary medicine due to the need for rehabilitative support for our companion animals. Beyond the need for therapy following surgery or injury, rehabilitation therapy can be extremely beneficial in improving quality of life of many of our patients. We strive to increase quality of life and pain management for patients who may suffer from osteoarthritic conditions, musculoskeletal, and neurological disease (Elbow and Hip Dysplasia, Wobblers Disease, Disc disease, Knee instabilities, etc.). Much like the physical therapy in human medicine, veterinary rehabilitation utilizes a multi-modal approach to address each patient’s unique issues. Pain management is one of the most important aspects of rehabilitation therapy. Quite simply, a joint or tissue cannot heal appropriately without addressing the source of pain. Canine Sport Medicine is a multi-discipline (orthopedics, exercise physiology, neurology, cardiology, pulmonology, nutrition, conditioning, and integrated therapies) approach to the canine athlete. Canine athletes are composed of dogs performing in work, training and competition beyond the normal activity seen in household pets. They come in multiple breeds and perform a high degree of varying activities within their performances. Vanguard should be seeing these athletes to provide evaluations to the owners/handlers on the dog’s physical capabilities and ways to improve performance.
When evaluating our patients there are several parts to an exam that your pet will be being assessed for:
Orthopedic health is imperative for overall movement and health. The pain from osteoarthritis can be exacerbated by overactivity, however a lack of activity can be detrimental as well. Additionally, to heal bone fractures and surgical sites, appropriate gradual weighting the bones is required to stimulate healing components. When joints are immobilized, (casting, splinting, crating, etc.) irreversible articular cartilage degeneration can start to occur within the first 1-3 weeks.
Neurologic health is also an important aspect that can be addressed with rehabilitation therapy. As we know from studies, spinal disc health declines as the patient loses mobility. This is particularly evident in patients recovering from a spinal cord injury. Through modality-based treatments, we can utilize specific exercises to improve motor strength and functional recovery. Dogs that do not move as they regain function can result in incorrect movement and further musculoskeletal dysfunction.
Disuse or failure to move can cause muscle contracture, scarring, shortening, and atrophy of the muscles and worsening weakness. Additionally, myofascial trigger points will develop and can be painful enough to alter joint and gait movement. Changes of flexibility and elasticity of the tendons and ligaments can occur which can predispose the patient to other injuries. There are proprioceptors in muscles, tendons, ligaments, and fascia. If these are lost in injury or surgery, the appropriate firing cannot occur and if not addressed the incoordination and improper muscle alignment will result in further injury, lack of coordination, and thus increasing anxiety and decreasing confidence in the patient.
When evaluating our patients there are several parts to an exam that your pet will be being assessed for:
- Myofascial (soft tissue) exam & orthopedic (bones and joints) exam
- Goniometry- Range of Motion exam to determine how joints are moving
- Gulick- muscle girth and muscle mass grading
- Kinematic movement (how the body appears in movement)
- Transition movements (laying to sitting to standing)
- Digitherm (thermal imaging)
- Body Weight evaluations
Orthopedic health is imperative for overall movement and health. The pain from osteoarthritis can be exacerbated by overactivity, however a lack of activity can be detrimental as well. Additionally, to heal bone fractures and surgical sites, appropriate gradual weighting the bones is required to stimulate healing components. When joints are immobilized, (casting, splinting, crating, etc.) irreversible articular cartilage degeneration can start to occur within the first 1-3 weeks.
Neurologic health is also an important aspect that can be addressed with rehabilitation therapy. As we know from studies, spinal disc health declines as the patient loses mobility. This is particularly evident in patients recovering from a spinal cord injury. Through modality-based treatments, we can utilize specific exercises to improve motor strength and functional recovery. Dogs that do not move as they regain function can result in incorrect movement and further musculoskeletal dysfunction.
Disuse or failure to move can cause muscle contracture, scarring, shortening, and atrophy of the muscles and worsening weakness. Additionally, myofascial trigger points will develop and can be painful enough to alter joint and gait movement. Changes of flexibility and elasticity of the tendons and ligaments can occur which can predispose the patient to other injuries. There are proprioceptors in muscles, tendons, ligaments, and fascia. If these are lost in injury or surgery, the appropriate firing cannot occur and if not addressed the incoordination and improper muscle alignment will result in further injury, lack of coordination, and thus increasing anxiety and decreasing confidence in the patient.
