Q: I am interested
in physical therapy for animals. How do I get information to get
started?
A: First, if you are not already a physical therapist, you should
pursue completing a degree in
physical therapy. If you already are a physical
therapist, the Orthopaedic Section, APTA, Inc.
has several special interest groups (SIGs). The
Animal Physical Therapist Special Interest
Group (formerly the Veterinary Physical Therapy Special
Interest Group) now has
approximately 300 members. They publish a newsletter in
Orthopaedic Physical Therapy
Practice (a publication of the Orthopaedic
Section).
Q: What is Physical Therapy?
A: Physical therapy has been a traditional medical intervention for over 75 years. Physical
Therapy encompasses a spectrum of services: examination, intervention, consultation,
education and research.
Examination includes taking a history, systems review and a variety of tests and measures in
order to determine diagnosis, prognosis and intervention. Physical therapists assess aerobic
capacity and endurance, joint motion and integrity, muscle strength, arousal and cognition,
assistive and adaptive devices, cranial nerve integrity, environmental barriers, body mechanics,
gait, locomotion, balance, skin integrity, motor function, neuromotor development and sensory
integration, orthotics, protective and prosthetic devices, pain, posture, reflexes, circulation and
edema.
Physical therapists alleviate impairment and functional limitation by designing, implementing
and modifying therapeutic interventions that include: therapeutic exercise, functional training,
manual therapy, massage, gait training, home care instruction, neuromuscular re-education,
adaptive devices and equipment, wound management, electrotherapeutic modalities and
physical agents.
Prevention of injury, impairment, functional limitation and disability is also part of physical
therapy. This includes promoting and maintaining fitness, health and quality of life in all age
populations.
Physical therapists are active as consultants in a variety of settings. They are also involved in
educational programs throughout the country. Research is pursued within our profession as
well as in collaboration with other health professions and disciplines related to physiology and
biomechanics.
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: What specialty areas are available within physical therapy?
A: There are specialty certification examinations in Cardiopulmonary, Clinical
Electrophysiology,
Geriatrics, Neurology, Orthopedics, Pediatrics, Sports Physical Therapy.
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: Is animal physical therapy practiced in other countries?
A: There are professional organizations for animal physical therapy in the following ten countries:
United Kingdom, Canada, Australia, South Africa, Netherlands, Sweden, Finland, New Zealand,
Germany and the United States.
Q: What is the Animal Physical Therapist Special Interest Group (SIG)?
A: The SIG is a group of physical therapist interested in sharing information and promoting the
field of animal physical therapy. The group is a part of the Othopaedic Section of the APTA.
The SIG was officially approved in June of 1998. Since that time, the SIG has developed a home
study courses and courses in Equine Physical Therapy and Canine Physical Therapy. A
directory listing over 1200 physical therapists in the US is available for a network and referral
base. A SIG newsletter is published quarterly and is available to veterinarians and veterinary
technicians.
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
Dentist Farrier
Saddle Fitter Specialists in Botanical Medicine
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
1) a licensed, certified, or registered veterinary or animal health technician educated in
veterinary physical therapy or
2) 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."
Q: Are there any states that address the practice of animal physical therapy?
A: Even though there is national support for the practice of animal physical therapy, each state
determines it own regulations.
In the Idaho Veterinary Practice Act there is a clause that lists physical therapy under
"therapeutic options or alternative therapies". It further indicates that, "Before any therapeutic
option or alternative therapy is performed on an animal by a veterinary technician or an allied
health professional, a veterinarian must first perform a diagnostic evaluation of the patient to
rule out the use of conventional forms of veterinary medicine".
In the New Mexico PT Practice Act, veterinarians are included on the list of primary health
provides which are identified as their legal referral sources.
Consultation services between veterinarians and physical therapists are permitted in
Massachusetts and Pennsylvania through their veterinary practice acts.
Q: Where can you find training to provide rehabilitation services to animals?
A: The Animal PT SIG offers home study courses as well as 3-day programs on canine and equine
rehabilitation. The University of Tennessee offers a course on canine rehabilitation for PT's and
veterinarians. Tufts University presented "Animal Expo 2000" which included sessions on
rehabilitation for veterinary technicians. Continuing education courses are also offered frequently
by other animal physiotherapy groups such as ACPAT, the Netherlands, and CHAP(Canada).
In 2000-2001, there have been or are plans to provide presentations on physical therapy for
animals at almost every major veterinary conference including: American College of Veterinary
Surgeons, Veterinary Orthopedic Society, American Association of Equine Practitioner's,
American Veterinary Medical Association, Western Veterinary Conference, North American
Veterinary Conference, and Association of Equine Sports Medicine.
Private clinics such as the Rochester Equine clinic and Healing Oasis offer training in
rehabilitation for animals. Northeast Seminars offers programs in equine and canine
rehabilitation. Also, Midway College in Lexington, KY has a 4-year program in Animal Therapy.
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