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Veterinary physiotherapy is a science based profession, which takes an holistic approach to each patient by providing functional assessment following veterinary referral. Physiotherapy for animals can be used alongside veterinary care to help in the treatment or long-term management of many musculoskeletal or neurological injuries and conditions. It can assist rehabilitation of the animal, with the aims of reducing pain, improving movement, and restoring normal muscle control and function. Physiotherapy can also be used for performance development of the animal athlete, helping to try to minimise the risk of injury whilst maximising the performance of competitive or working animals.
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NAVP members are highly skilled in a variety of different treatment techniques. After having carried out a thorough assessment of your animal, they may typically use a combination of the following approaches in order to help with any problems identified:
1. Manual therapies: these include a wide variety of different massage and soft tissue techniques, joint mobilisations or manipulations, myofascial release, stretches etc.
2. Electrotherapies: the use of therapeutic machines such as ultrasound, laser, pulsed electromagnetic field therapy, H-wave, TENS, interferential, microcurrent, and electrical muscle stimulation.
3. Remedial exercise programmes: individual exercise programmes are utilised to help to encourage correct movement patterns and improve muscle strength, endurance, suppleness, proprioception (the animal's awareness of where it's limbs and body are in space), balance and stability as may be required.
4. Management advice: frequently owners may need additional advice on therapeutic handling of their injured animal, or perhaps how to make appropriate adaptations to an animal's home environment and general management in order to assist in their rehabilitation.
1. Manual therapies: these include a wide variety of different massage and soft tissue techniques, joint mobilisations or manipulations, myofascial release, stretches etc.
2. Electrotherapies: the use of therapeutic machines such as ultrasound, laser, pulsed electromagnetic field therapy, H-wave, TENS, interferential, microcurrent, and electrical muscle stimulation.
3. Remedial exercise programmes: individual exercise programmes are utilised to help to encourage correct movement patterns and improve muscle strength, endurance, suppleness, proprioception (the animal's awareness of where it's limbs and body are in space), balance and stability as may be required.
4. Management advice: frequently owners may need additional advice on therapeutic handling of their injured animal, or perhaps how to make appropriate adaptations to an animal's home environment and general management in order to assist in their rehabilitation.
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Clinical reasoning and informed interpretation are the required basis for any intervention. NAVP members will approach each case on an entirely individual basis, with a thorough history taking and examination guiding the choice of an optimal individual treatment plan. Nothing is ever prescriptive but instead based around constant assessment and reassessment of the presenting issues and always taking into full account each animal's unique presenting circumstances, management, and behaviour.
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Current legislation to safeguard the welfare of animals states that animals may only be treated by a veterinary surgeon, or by somebody authorised by a veterinary surgeon, and all NAVP members adhere to this legislation. NAVP members are recognised by veterinary insurance companies when submitting a claim to recoup physiotherapy treatment costs for an animal.