Physiotherapy and rehabilitation in the "not dog or horse"

Here is the introduction to the course.

We will spend time taking a first look at the variation of species and their structural differences.

We will explore how skeleton shape represents how they use the body. From this we can work out how the patient needs the body to function for normal behaviour and movement for them.

Here we start to delve deeper into anatomy and look at the pedal anatomy and variation and how it helps their movement.

We then start to look at various gaits and explore movements.

Here we explore other species movement. Namely Alpaca, Skunk, Cow, Birds, Elephant and Wallaby

We are now exploring behavioural differences between species. Understanding why behaviour varies and how, helps us build a plan. We can use specific behavioural traits to gain movement therapy we desire in our exercise plan.

We can also learn to better read our patients stress levels and how to make them feel more calm by being sympathetic to their behavioural needs.

In this lecture we focus on cats and rabbits.

We continue to explore the behavioural differences in species and how it effects how we work.

We look more closely at Skunk, Alpaca, Cow, Elephant and birds.

We also delve into Elephant body language to explore some more depth.

We explore how diet varies from species to species and look at how this effects our treatment options.

We look at how we need to be aware of dietary needs as some will effect mobility.

We see how diet variance can be used to our advantage in our treatment plan.

We explore the Cat, Rabbit, Skunk, Alpaca, Cow, Elephant and Birds

We now start to explore how to approach the new patient.

We start to explore how to assess and treat.

You will be able to watch a cat assessment and treatment.

We will start to explore what you need to discuss with the owner/keeper.

In this lecture we will be looking at:

• How to take a good patient history

• Drugs they may be on

• The assessment process

• Patient relaxation

We will explore the questions you need to ask the owner in more detail

Watch another cat treatment

Learn to do a relaxing head massage for those animals who are relaxed by face touch and choose to present their heads first.

Here we explore:

• Muscle assessment

• Grimace scale (this helps us identify pain and discomfort in various species)

• Skin health

• Joint health

• Conformation (this varies immensely in breeds but will be an issue in species too)

We look more specifically at neck, back, forelimbs and hindlimbs

We explore gait analysis

You will learn how to do a basic neurological exam and see this on a cat.

Body condition scoring is essential to working out if a patient is carrying excess weight. This is terrible for mobility. We add more detail on this subject with an Elephant as the example case.

we start to look at building our rehabilitation programs, including walk regimes and exercises.

We start to look at:

• The importance of building fitness and preparing for exercise

• Rehabillitaion options

We explore manual therapy

We will be looking at the use of electrotherapies including:

• PEMF (pulsed electromagnetic field therapy)

• Ultrasound

• TEN's

• Muscle stimulation

• Red light and LASER

• Emerging therapies

We are exploring land based exercises that can be implemented. Some example videos are included.

We explore more land based therapy options

We explore more exercise therapy options.

More examples of land based exercises

This was a video I previously filmed to share on social media, so I thought I would pop it here for you to enjoy too. It really is a great tip and any animal who is happy having their heads touched, truly love it.

I am hoping to bring The Puppy Massage Techniques to Udemy as an online course so watch this space and point your clients to it for them to learn how to do safe effective full body massage at home.

This information will enhance your work. By helping them do the basics, you can set them up with focused areas and feel more confident that they can achieve it, since you are now not needing to teach the basics. This will allow a more successful rehab out come for everyone and owners love doing it!

It  also ensure that the clients who think they are learning by looking over your shoulder, are now supported in a safe way and learn their limitations.

The Puppy massage DVD was well supported by vets including T.V. vet Paul Manktelow and president of the British Veterinary Nursing Association. Fellow physios have also purchased it for their clients as they have found it such a helpful resource.

For more information on Animal Physiotherapy Ltd, please visit www.animalphysiotherapy.org.uk