Rehabilitation of the Canine Forelimb

Abstract

The goal of rehabilitation is to restore function and mobility and reduce pain associated with chronic disease. In human medicine, physical therapy is standard of care for acute and chronic injuries and an integral component of postoperative recovery. Although there is a dearth of evidence-based veterinary medical studies in rehabilitation therapy and modalities for forelimb injuries in dogs, some extrapolation from human medicine can be made and applied. When developing a rehabilitation and therapeutic plan, the biomechanics of the affected limb and timeline of tissue healing of the target tissue and/or joint are important to consider.

Keywords: Extracorporal shockwave therapy; Hydrotherapy; Photobiomodulation (laser therapy); Therapeutic exercise; Therapeutic ultrasound; Tissue healing; Veterinary rehabilitation therapy.