CFC NEWS FIRST NEWSLETTER!
The Canine Fitness Centre Ltd 509-42nd Ave SE, Calgary, AB 403-204-0823
Serving Calgary and area dogs in need of Physical Rehabilitation since 2004 - and loving every minute of it!
PHYSICAL THERAPY, PHYSIOTHERAPY & ANIMAL REHABILITATION IN CANADA... Human physical therapy in Canada began in and around the First World War, when large numbers of wounded servicemen began arriving back home from overseas and found themselves unable to cope with life’s demands. Intensive one-‐year physical therapy training courses were set up in 1916 as the naDon realized that medical care and surgery were not enough to restore severely wounded men into healthy, funcDonal members of society. Physical therapists in those days administered light and heat therapy, as well as hydrotherapy, electrical treatments, massage, and passive, acDve and resisted exercises.
These early physical therapists were registered and monitored by the Canadian AssociaDon of Massage and Remedial GymnasDcs (a forerunner of the Canadian Physiotherapy AssociaDon – CPA) for the maintenance of high standards of educaDon, quality of treatment, and professional conduct. As demand grew, educaDonal advances progressed, and the first school of physiotherapy was established in 1929 at the University of Toronto, offering a two-‐year diploma course. McGill University offered the first baccalaureate degree in 1954, but it was not unDl the 1970’s that the 3 to Human
Physical Therapy in Canada began in and around the First World War.
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KEY CONCEPTS Rehabilitation: “The process of restoring a person’s ability to live and work as normally as possible after a disabling injury or illness”
Physical Therapy/ Physiotherapy: “Physiotherapy is the primary health care profession that promotes wellness, mobility and independent function. Physiotherapists have advanced understanding of how the body moves, what keeps it from moving well and how to restore mobility”
4-‐year baccalaureate degree was established as the minimum educaDonal requirement in order to pracDce physiotherapy on human paDents. The current entry-‐level educaDonal requirement for a physical therapist to pracDce in Canada is a 2.5-‐ year full Dme, year-‐round Masters degree (following a prerequisite Bachelors degree), and by 2020, all university physical therapy programs will change their curriculum to a Doctorate in Physical Therapy (DPT), which will be the minimum educaDonal requirement for an entry level physical therapist.The 3+ year DPT is currently being offered in the United States and transiDonal-‐DPT courses are available for pracDcing therapists who want to upgrade to this degree). Newly graduated physiotherapists (a term widely accepted as being interchangeable with the Dtle of physical therapist) possess extensive knowledge and understanding in human anatomy, physiology, psychology, orthopaedics, manual therapy (so_ Dssue mobilizaDon, and joint mobilizaDon, manipulaDon, and stabilizaDon), kineDcs, bio-‐mechanical sciences, neurology, cardio-‐respiratory sciences, therapeuDc techniques and tools, and exercise prescripDon. In addiDon, recent physiotherapy graduates are adept in client health management and case management, as well as in research evaluaDon, design, and implementaDon. Currently in the field of human physical therapy, a
But what about my dog?
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professional competency exam must be passed upon graduaDon, and conDnuing educaDon is a mandatory requirement for licensure. Most physical therapists seek to expand their knowledge in a specialized area of their profession by means of conDnuing educaDon opportuniDes. Some of these special interests are reflected in (but not limited to) the official divisions of the CPA: orthopaedics, sports, neurosciences, cardiorespiratory, women’s health, private pracDce, leadership, acupuncture, seniors’ health, paediatrics, internaDonal health, pain sciences, oncology, and animal rehabilitaDon. Human paDents in Canada have direct access to physical therapist in private pracDce sedngs, in other words, they do not require a physician’s referral to be able to seek services from a physiotherapist. Physical therapists are authorized and capable of making a clinical diagnosis prior to administraDon of treatment. In hospital sedngs, physiotherapists treat paDents by physician referral due to pracDcal and policy reasons, but they also carry out physical diagnoses, establish problem lists, and set therapy goals and treatment plans. Regardless of this autonomy of pracDce, physical therapists conDnue to work collaboraDvely with medical doctors and other allied health care professionals in order to ensure that all aspects of a paDent’s health care are addressed in a paDent-‐centred model of care provision.
Animal Rehab and Canadian Physiotherapists... The Animal Rehab Division of the Canadian Physiotherapy AssociaDon, formerly named The Canadian Horse and Animal Physical Therapists AssociaDon (CHAP), was first established in 1994 as an organized group of physical therapists interested in using their professional skills to treat animals. In 1994, CHAP was the third such group of its kind in the world, following the lead of Great Britain in 1984 and the Netherlands in 1989. In 2004, the Animal Rehab Division was officially recognized as a special interest group of the CPA. Currently, there are 13 countries with animal physiotherapy groups/divisions which form part of their naDonal physiotherapy associaDon. Other countries include South Africa, Sweden, Spain, Finland, Australia, the United States, Switzerland, Ireland, Belgium, and Germany. All of these animal physiotherapy associaDons fully recognize that addiDonal educaDonal is necessary for a physical therapist to engage in the pracDce of animal rehabilitaDon. Each of these countries has taken the iniDaDve of creaDng its own educaDonal system and sedng of standards to train physical therapists in animal rehabilitaDon / physiotherapy / physical therapy. In North America, there are three cerDficaDon programs available to train physiotherapists to apply their skills to animal paDents. The two exisDng programs in the
United States are offered to physical therapists, veterinarians, and animal health technicians or equivalent. These programs aiempt to bolster the different aspects of knowledge of each professional group of students. The Canadian animal rehabilitaDon program (offered by the Animal Rehab Division of the CPA) limits its enrolment to physiotherapists, and focuses enDrely on teaching this single group of professionals, animal principles (mostly canine and equine) such as anatomy, biomechanics, pathology, clinical condiDons, common veterinary surgical and clinical intervenDons, and handling skills, as well as physiotherapy assessment and treatment techniques for these species. England and Australia boast the world’s only post-‐ graduate (Masters) degree programs. In the case of The Royal Veterinary College in England, the program offered is a Master of Science in Veterinary Physiotherapy, whereas at the University of Queensland in Australia, the students graduated with a Master of Animal Studies in Animal Physiotherapy. These courses limit enrolment to physiotherapists, and they are two-‐year course-‐based programs with a research component and a publishable clinical thesis requirement. No similar university level program currently exists in North America, and only a handful of physical therapists have completed either one of these Masters programs abroad.
Health care options are expanding for your canine companion!
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Animal Rehab...
WELLBEING
Assessment & Treatment With the splashy underwater treadmill, the colorful therapy balls, and gadgets that require electrodes, sunglasses, slings, or hypoallergenic gel, it could be easy to believe that ‘rehab’ is all about the toys! But that view-point could not be further from the truth! There is so much more to animal rehab than meets the eye!
The type of clinical pracDce in the field of animal rehabilitaDon is quite diverse. In general, physical therapists have established collegial partnerships with veterinarians throughout North America. Some therapists work out of veterinary clinics, others do house-‐ calls (or barn-‐calls), some have a home-‐based office/barn, and others operate businesses or are employed by stand-‐alone rehabilitaDon referral centres. Regardless of the type of clinical sedng, the Animal Rehab Division strongly advocates that rehabilitaDon of animals be provided by properly trained physical therapists upon veterinary referral if an animal is lame, injured, or requires post-‐surgical services. Physiotherapy in the human health care field is o_en complimentary to other health care services, and the Animal Rehab Division believes that it is with this same professional approach and conduct that animal rehabilitaDon should be delivered. Members of the Division can obtain professional liability insurance specific to the treatment of animal paDents, and the Division encourages direct communicaDon between the referring veterinarian and the physiotherapist providing animal rehabilitaDon services to their paDents in order to ensure that both professional health
care providers are aware of the clinical condiDons, advisements, treatments, and/or prescripDons provided by the other. At the present Dme, the pracDce of animal rehabilitaDon is not regulated by any Canadian provincial physiotherapy regulaDng group. For this reason, the Animal Rehab Division is presently engaged in discussions with various provincial veterinary regulatory bodies, such as the Alberta Veterinary Medical AssociaDon, to work towards the establishment of guidelines for the delivery of animal rehabilitaDon by physical therapists in order to provide the best and most professional services possible to ensure the well being of animal paDents. At this Dme, the terms and Dtles of physiotherapy / physical therapy and physiotherapist / physical therapist are restricted to licensed physiotherapists engaged in the pracDce of human physical therapy, and hence the term animal rehabilitaDon is currently used to describe the pracDce of physical therapy in animals. However, the term animal rehabilitaDon is not a protected term, and lay persons engaged in massage, chiropracDc, and aquaDc therapy have been applying this term to their pracDces, causing confusion for the public as well as for referring veterinarians.
As advances in veterinary medicine take place and as more refined diagnosDc tools and techniques become available to animal paDents and more sophisDcated surgical techniques are developed, greater emoDonal and financial investments are generally placed on animal ‘family members’ in our society. Therefore, expectaDons of longer animal life-‐spans and increased quality of life are being demanded by the general public. The addiDon of non-‐tradiDonal and alternaDve therapies to the more tradiDonal veterinary medicine pracDces for the treatment of animal paDents appears to be an important step towards improving the overall quality of life and life-‐span of these animals. Physical therapists trained in animal rehabilitaDon can provide a wealth and diversity of knowledge and skills to complement the services provided by veterinarians. Physical therapists have a strong background in professional conduct which encourages teamwork, as well as in the applicaDon of safe pracDces, science-‐based knowledge, and efficacious treatments and techniques. For more informaDon on the Animal Rehab Division, contact
[email protected].
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Canine Fitness Centre Stats
TREATMENT OPTIONS
% cases
80 60 40 20 0
Ortho
Neuro
Ortho+ Neuro
The knowledge-base of veterinarians and physical therapists is fundamentally different! Where Vets Excel: Where PTs Excel: • Medical Diagnostics • Internal Medicine • Surgery • Drug therapy options • Understanding of all disease processes • Knowledge of all systems • Knowledge of multiple species WHERE DO I GO?
What does it mean for you and your dog?
Assessment • Musculoskeletal & Functional Diagnosis & Manual • Palpation therapies • Exercise prescription • Conservative management of ortho & neuro conditions • Inter-professional Collaboration
TRADITIONAL VET
REHAB THERAPIST
TRADITIONAL VET
REHAB THERAPIST
Go To Your Vet My dog is lame. My dog has been injured. My dog just doesn’t seem right.
Ask for a Rehab Referral My dog just had a spine, joint, or muscle surgery. I don’t want to do surgery.
Go to your Vet My dog needs vaccinations. My dog is sick. My dog is lethargic. my dog’s whole health needs evaluating.
Ask for a Rehab Referral My dog has arthritis. My dog has a disc problem in his spine. My dog is lame.
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WHY NOT PHYSIO? An argument for the application of the science of physical therapy to the animal patient. The animal industry has always been closely akin to the human field of medicine in many aspects. Surgical and diagnostic procedures, techniques, and equipment developed for humans are swift to appear in veterinary practice shortly there after. Many medicines are developed, tested, and put into common use in the veterinary field, to eventually become human pharmaceutical options in the future. The two fields have always been closely related. So, why not physio as well? Animals develop similar pathologies to humans (e.g. arthritis, cruciate tears, ruptured discs, back or neck pain), their basic physiology is the similar, and their anatomy is remarkably similar as well. Given these factors they respond just as well to physiotherapy techniques and modalities, and often do so faster than humans do! Who hasn’t seen a dog with a limp, one who has troubles getting up from lying or sitting, or another that has had a recent joint surgery? If it were you, you’d seek help from a physical therapist! What’s involved with physio? Physical therapists have numerous ‘tricks up their sleeve’.
Physical Rehab for Dogs Physical rehabilitation aids in the prevention of injury and recovery from trauma, therefore expanding the physical potential and quality of life of our canine companions.
They have a unique, in depth assessment model that allows them to not only look at the problem area, but at all of the inter-related areas that are affecting function and movement. They have the most in-depth knowledge and training in modalities (e.g. such as ultrasound, laser and electrical muscle stimulation, to name a few) than any other practitioner. Application of this equipment must be precise in order to accomplish goals such as injury healing, wound healing, or muscle retraining. Physical therapists also know a great deal of techniques in manual therapy. This is hands-on treatment to joints and muscles to gain more movement, better movement or pain free movement. Mobilizations, manipulations, massage, stretching and range of motion are all subcategories of manual therapy. Last but never least is exercise. It is often the most important part of any rehabilitation program. Specific exercises tailored to the injury in question can make a significant effect on any dog’s recovery. Sometimes exercises are led by the therapist, some are prescribed for a home program, and sometimes water can be utilized as with the use of an underwater treadmill! The science
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What are you waiting for? of physical therapy has so much to offer the healing of neurological and musculoskeletal disabilities. It can be utilized in more cases than are commonly thought of! When it comes to physio (or what is commonly termed as ‘rehabilitation’ when used on animals), you want to find a qualified person. Physical therapists, veterinarians, vet techs and physical therapy assistants are the only ones allowed to take training in animal rehab courses. Make sure that the person you trust with the rehab of your animal has the proper qualifications. And the next time you see your pet looking uncomfortable, stiff, or after a joint surgery, ask your veterinarian about physio. Chances are it could help!
THE CANINE FITNESS CENTRE LTD. 509 - 42nd Ave SE Calgary, AB Canada (403) 204-0823
