Services
Evaluations
At the first appointment, a comprehensive, full-body evaluation will be performed on your pet. This will allow a thorough evaluation of the primary issue in addition to evaluation of any compensatory problems. Evaluations will be approximately 1.5 hours. Your pet will never be forced into anything. I believe strongly in patience and positive reinforcement.
As a mobile business, I will come to your home to perform evaluations and treatments, where your pet will be most comfortable. Re-evaluations will be performed every 10 visits or 30-60 days to assess progress.
Follow ups
Follow up appointments will be approximately one hour. Treatments are individualized and based on how your pet is doing that day. Follow up visits will consist of a combination of manual therapy, therapeutic exercises, and modalities as needed.
Mobile PT for your furry friend in and around Steamboat Springs!
Treatments
Manual Therapy
Manual therapy techniques can help reduce pain and swelling, improve range of motion and mobility, and promote tissue healing. Physical therapists are extensively trained in manual therapy techniques. Manual therapy includes:
- Effleurage & pétrissage
- Myofascial release
- Cross friction massage
- Trigger point release
- Lymphatic drainage
Joint mobilization can improve joint mobility and range of motion, and reduce pain and swelling. Joint compressions can also improve pain and swelling as well as stimulate mechanoreceptors and improve weight-bearing.
Poor flexibility can occur with prolonged immobilization (e.g. casting, crate rest), postural issues, muscle imbalances, sedentary lifestyle, trauma, and a variety of orthopedic and neurological disorders.
Stretching is used to increase soft tissue/muscle flexibility. It can improve range of motion, and help to prevent injury and the development of contractures.
Passive range of motion (PROM) may be limited by a number of structures including tight muscles, restriction in the joint capsule or surrounding ligaments, or as a result of pain. Passively moving a joint gently and repeatedly can improve extensibility of tissue and increase range of motion. PROM may be used after surgery to regain motion at a joint or to maintain or gain as much motion as possible in geriatric dogs.
Therapeutic Exercise
Therapeutic exercise is the use of specific exercises to help improve active range of motion, weight-bearing, strength, endurance, gait, and functional mobility. Physical therapists are extensively trained in choosing appropriate exercises based on the primary tissues involved, acuity of injury, weight bearing status and several other factors.
Your pet will be guided through a progression of individualized exercises during their appointment. Different pieces of equipment can be used to facilitate exercises which I will bring to your home during appointments. Owners will also be taught exercises to perform between visits. Performing the prescribed home exercise program regularly with your pet will improve outcomes. This makes you a vital part of the rehab process! It can also be a great way to bond with your dog!
Good range of motion is required to be able to perform functional activities such as changing positions, going up and downstairs, or posturing to potty. We first try to achieve good passive range of motion if a limitation is present. Your dog will then be taught how to move in their full available range. This can benefit gait and functional mobility in addition to helping to prevent muscle and joint tightness and compensations.
Strengthening helps prepare the body for return to full activity with reduced risk of re-injury. Having good strength allows the body to perform functional activities without compensation. Strengthening can help improve your pet’s ability to walk longer distances, get in and out of a car, go up and downstairs, and improve their overall health and independence.
Neuromuscular reeducation can be performed with orthopedic or neurological disorders to help improve the body’s ability to know where it is in space and how to move properly. Balance exercises can help maintain and improve postural control, improve core strength, and prevent injuries.
With neurological patients, neuromuscular reeducation may be performed to prevent non-functional movement patterns, optimize neuroplasticity, or facilitate or inhibit neuromuscular activity.
Your pet will be guided through specific exercises that help to reduce or eliminate lameness and normalize gait. Gait training can reduce risk of tripping and falls, improve efficiency to conserve energy, and reduce abnormal stress on the muscles and joints. Equipment such as cavaletti poles can be used.
Clients will be educated on home exercises to perform in between appointments. Clients will also be educated in any activity modifications that may be appropriate for your dog/pet, home set up and assistive device training.
Modalities
Modalities can be used with orthopedic, neurological, and post-surgical conditions to help reduce pain and swelling, increase strength, and promote tissue healing.
Laser therapy can be used for a myriad of impairments. Laser can improve wound healing, increase collagen deposition, increase nerve cell regeneration, decrease inflammation and edema, decrease pain and reduce muscle spasms.
NMES can be used with orthopedic, neurological, or geriatric patients to facilitate muscle strengthening. There is some evidence that NMES can help with pain and swelling as well.
TENS is most often used for pain management and swelling reduction. It uses electrical stimulation to block pain signals and increase endorphin production. It can be used on its own or in conjunction with other modalities such as heat or ice, or during exercise.
Cryotherapy, or icing, can help decrease inflammation and pain, and reduce muscle spasms. It is important in managing post-surgical swelling, especially in the first two weeks after surgery.
Heat can help reduce pain, increase circulation, reduce muscle tension, and improve soft tissue extensibility.
And sometimes you just need a break for belly rubs!