Q: What are the educational and licensure requirements for physical therapists?
A: Physical therapists enter the profession with a master's degree and many further their education by attaining a doctoral degree. The core curriculum for physical therapy requires 2-2 1/2 years. Each student completes 4-6 months of clinical internships prior to graduation. Every therapist must pass a national licensure examination.
Q: How do physical therapists offers services to animals?
A: Animal physical therapy is not a replacement for traditional veterinary medicine. Physical therapists offer another option to health care for the benefit of animal patients. It is recommended that physical therapists work in collaboration with veterinarians using a team approach to examination and intervention. Acquiring a veterinary referral prior to client evaluation is the preferred model of practice.
Q: Is animal physical therapy a new approach within veterinary medicine?
A: The idea of applying rehabilitation principles and techniques to animals is not new in the United States. In fact, many of the treatment protocols for humans were developed in the 1960's using animal models. The very foundation of our traditional physical therapy practice is linked to veterinary medicine.
Interest in the practice of animal physical therapy gained momentum in the late 1980's and throughout the 1990's due to the influence of classic texts, national presentations, legislation by the APTA and AVMA, the formation of the Animal Physical Therapist Special Interest Group as well as research and client demand.
Q: What is the Team Approach to Rehabilitation?
A: The team approach involves a group evaluation, or an assessment of the same client by two or more clinicians within a short time of each other. The initial team documents their findings, meet and decide together the most effective plan for intervention. This holistic approach allows for a variety of perspectives on health care issues. The team offers the client a detailed transdisciplinary assessment as well as providing the most cost efficient services to resolve the underlying cause of the problem.
Q: Who might be included in a Rehabilitation Team for animals?
A:
- Veterinarian Physical Therapist
- Veterinary Technician Physical Therapist Assistant
- Owner Behaviorist
- Nutritionist Anesthesiologist
- Acupuncturist Chiropractor
- Trainer
Q: What are the benefits of Physical Therapist intervention with animals?
A:
- Improved recovery from injury or surgery
- Return to typical performance or work
- Enhancement of natural healing processes
- Reduced pain
- Increased speed and quality of movement
- Improved strength and endurance
- Minimized secondary trauma side effects of injury or surgery
- Improved biomechanics and posture
- Increased flexibility
- Prevention of future injury through owner/trainer education
- Positive psychological effects for pet and owner
Q: What are common conditions addressed by Physical Therapist intervention?
A:
- Post-surgical: orthopedic, neurological
- Soft Tissue injury
- Spinal dysfunction
- Gait abnormality or Lameness
- Joint injury
- Contractures
- Managing performance issues in the canine and equine athlete
- Rehabilitation for degenerative disease
- Pain Management
- Edema and circulation deficiency
- Wound Healing
- Respiratory Complication
- Peripheral Nerve injury
- Critical Care Recovery
- Geriatric issues - Hospice
Q: What does a Physical Therapist evaluation involve?
A: An extensive initial evaluation may take an hour or more depending on the animal and the problem to be addressed. The medical history, veterinarian contact, diagnosis, results of testing, past treatment and results, current medication or remedies or supplements, routine function or "work", social/home considerations, and history of present illness would be discussed prior to any intervention.
Objective tests and observations would be made to help identify the impact of the injury or disease. Typical areas of assessment are gait, posture, balance, functional skills (stairs, standing up, rolling), sensation, pain, range of motion, asymmetry, muscle girth, edema, skin integrity, neurological screen, behavior, strength, vitals (pulse and respiratory rate), skeletal alignment, palpation, weight bearing.
Based on the evaluation results, the physical therapist would develop a treatment program to resolve specific problem areas in the most efficient manner. A treatment plan, goals and prognosis are usually established in the first session. Prior to providing any services the client and veterinarian would provide input and agree to the program.
Q: What are common interventions that Physical Therapists can provide?
A:
- Massage
- Manual Therapy including Joint Mobilization and Manipulation
- Range of Motion and Stretching
- Gait Training
- Individualized Conditioning and Strengthening Programs
- Hydrotherapy
- Magnetic Field Therapy
- Adaptive Equipment
- Orthotics
- Postural Drainage and Percussion
- Relaxation Techniques
- Acupressure
- Physical Agents -
- Heat: Moist heat, Diathermy, Infrared
- Cold/Ice
- Ultrasound, Phonophoresis
- Electrical Stimulation: FES, TENS, Hi-volt, Low volt, Interferential, Iontophoresis
- Laser
- Home Care Instruction
- Functional Training
- Neuromuscular Facilitation and Re-education
- Wound Care
Q: What is the potential risk in animal physical therapy?
A: Physical therapy treatment is a non-invasive and conservative intervention. The primary "tools" of therapists are their knowledge and experience, their hands and their eyes.
When using massage, joint mobilization, range of motion and stretching, therapists adjust their pressure to tolerance just as with human practice. Physical agents, such as electrical stimulation and ultrasound when used appropriately by experienced licensed professionals, are quite safe as has been shown with human patients over the past century. In many cases, the amplitude is lowered to 1/2 or 1/3 of what is used for humans. Whenever an animal reacts to a device, even to turn their head toward a device, it is recommended that the treatment be stopped to avoid creating discomfort to the animal.
Exercise programs may be challenging to an animal yet are closely monitored to assess effectiveness. Often the programs would be carried out at home, and the owner would actively participate and accept responsibility for the care of the animal.
Q: Where might physical therapists provide services to animals?
A: There are many opportunities for physical therapists to work with veterinarians. Veterinary colleges across the country may employ therapists in clinical, teaching and research positions. Private practices and larger teaching hospitals, depending on their caseload could offer full time positions to physical therapists. Consultant and part-time services could be provided to ambulatory and rural private practices. Other areas for practice include zoos, wildlife shelters, rehabilitation centers, equine and canine performance centers, racetracks and wildlife parks, rodeos, Three Day Events, Field Trial Championships, and the Olympics.
Q: What legal considerations should be considered before providing animal physical therapy?
A: The words "Physical Therapy" and "Physical Therapist" are protected in every state. Offering "animal physical therapy" services or using the title "animal physical therapist" is illegal for anyone other than a licensed physical therapist. As this field of practice moves forward, it is important to respect licensed professionals who have earned the title Physical Therapist just as veterinarians have earned the title DVM. One suggestion for veterinarian and veterinary technicians is to use the wording "animal rehabilitation" instead of animal physical therapy so that miscommunication can be avoided.
Q: Who can provide animal therapy?
A: The AVMA guidelines state that "Veterinary physical therapy should be performed by a licensed veterinarian or, where in accordance with state practice acts, by
- a licensed, certified, or registered veterinary or animal health technician educated in veterinary physical therapy or
- a licensed physical therapist educated in nonhuman animal anatomy and physiology, under the supervision of, or referral by, a licensed veterinarian who is providing concurrent care."
