Physiotherapy

What is Physiotherapy?

Veterinary physiotherapy is a multimodal practice that focuses on maintaining and developing musculoskeletal health in canine patients using scientifically proven techniques. The basic definition of physiotherapy is “to assist the body to heal itself.” This is supported by the therapist having built a knowledge and developed a broad and in depth understanding of the musculoskeletal system and the functions of the canine body.

Physiotherapy, is a branch of medicine that specifically focuses on the treatment of physical injuries and disorders. The essence of gaining a good knowledge of the anatomy and physiology is essential for aiding in the healing of the body as it means the physiotherapist has an ability to work with all matter such as bone, muscle, tendons, ligaments, lymph and blood.

An animal’s function, performance and wellbeing are derived from their anatomical and physiological abilities. Physiotherapy optimises the body’s natural healing processes. The optimum rate of healing can be slowed down or stopped altogether by other factors such as age, illness, or other influential conditions. All techniques are non-invasive and work to improve mobility by increasing flexibility and muscle strength whilst providing benefit of pain and inflammation reduction. It involves the use of physical exercises, massage, stretching, soft tissue mobilisations and electrotherapies to effectively target different conditions.

Here at Snowy’s, we have our own in-house Veterinary Physiotherapist (IMSc) – Imogen Golding who is dedicated to the healing and wellbeing of your canine.

Imogen also has a huge passion for anatomy and the muscular structures that we work so closely with.  Snowy’s have a multitude of equipment used for strengthening, balancing, helping with co-ordination and educating gait patterns.  Imogen works closely with our clients and their pets to provide a full in house rehabilitation program and a further established treatment plan that owners can continue with at home.  These would include various exercises and regimes tailored to individual cases.  Within Snowy’s we are able to optimise the use of our vari-traks and pods in addition to this, we also provide LASER, PMFT, Indiba as well as hot and cold treatments which can be built into a physio treatment package to enhance and optimise healing processes and gain quality of life for each case.

Snowy’s wide range of equipment alongside physiotherapeutic intervention optimises and accelerates recovery, if you would like to know more about these services, please contact us on; 01233 434068 or info@kentcaninetherapycentre.co.uk or Imogen directly at imogen@kentcaninetherapycentre.co.uk

            

Common conditions helped with physiotherapy:

  • Hip dysplasia
  • Spinal conditions
  • Cruciate injury/ surgery
  • Osteoarthritis
  • OCD (Osteochondritis Dessicans)
  • Fractures
  • Soft tissue injury (e.g. Bicipital tenosynovitis)
  • Patella luxation
  • Elbow dysplasia
  • Muscle strains and tears
  • Tendon injury/ rupture

What physiotherapy can target:

  • Pain
  • Inflammation
  • Proprioceptive deficit
  • Muscle build and strength
  • Muscle tone
  • Emotional wellbeing
  • Lymphatic function

Our equipment:

  • Class IV LASER
  • INDIBA radiofrequency
  • PMFT
  • Vari-tracs
  • Stance analyser
  • Hot/ cold treatment
  • Poles/ Cavaletti's
  • Weave blocks