Manual and Physical Therapies in Veterinary Medicine

Manual and physical therapies are becoming increasingly important in modern veterinary medicine. These non-invasive treatment approaches offer a valuable complement or even an alternative to drug and surgical interventions. The focus here is on alleviating pain, improving mobility and promoting healing in a variety of conditions.

Definition and Techniques for Manual and Physical Therapies

Manual therapies include a range of techniques in which the therapist uses their hands to apply mechanical pressure and movements to the animal’s soft tissues and joints. The most important techniques include:

• Massage: Promotes blood circulation, reduces muscle tension and improves general well-being.
• Chiropractic: Focuses on the spine and aims to release blockages and restore natural mobility.
• Manual lymphatic drainage: Supports the lymphatic flow and helps reduce edema.

Treatment Areas

Manual therapies are used for a variety of indications, including:

• Orthopedic diseases: for example, in hip dysplasia, arthritis and herniated discs.
• Neurological disorders: including paralysis and nerve compressions.
• Postoperative rehabilitation: To shorten the recovery time after operations and minimize complications.

Physical Therapies in Veterinary Medicine

Physical therapies are based on the application of physical agents such as heat, cold, light, electricity and water to treat diseases. The most common methods include:

• Thermotherapy: Application of heat or cold for pain relief and anti-inflammation.
• Laser therapy: Use of light beams to stimulate cell regeneration and pain reduction.
• Electrotherapy: Use of electrical currents for muscle stimulation and pain relief.
• Hydrotherapy: Use of water in the form of swimming or underwater massages to support rehabilitation.

Indications and Modes of Action

Physical therapies can be beneficial for many diseases:

• Pain therapy: particularly effective for chronic pain such as osteoarthritis.
• Anti-inflammation: Through the application of cold (cryotherapy) or certain laser therapies.
• Muscle building: Supporting muscle rehabilitation after injuries or operations.

Combined Therapy Approaches

An integrative approach that combines both manual and physical therapies can be particularly effective. For example, the combination of massage and laser therapy can both promote muscle relaxation and accelerate the healing of tissue damage.

Practical Implementation in Practice

Before starting a manual or physical therapy, a thorough examination and diagnosis by the veterinarian is essential. The therapy plan should be individually tailored to the animal and its specific needs. Regular sessions and a continuous adjustment of the therapy approach are often necessary to achieve optimal results.

There are numerous case studies that prove the effectiveness of manual and physical therapies in veterinary medicine. For example, in a dog with severe osteoarthritis, regular use of hydrotherapy and massage resulted in a significant improvement in mobility and quality of life.

Conclusion

Manual and physical therapies are valuable tools in veterinary medicine that offer holistic and often gentler treatment alternatives to traditional methods. Their application can achieve significant improvements in the well-being of animals both in pain therapy and in rehabilitation. The combination of these therapy forms often results in a synergistic effect that accelerates healing and sustainably improves the quality of life of the animals.

Source

Hands on – Manual and Physical Therapies in Veterinary Medicine 2024; 06(01): 36-42 DOI: 10.1055/a-2314-4056.