Physical Therapies

By: Naturally Wild Holistic Animal Care

 

 

Injuries and ill health can occur in numerous ways, through trauma to the body, overworking, or various diseases. Time will generally allow the body to heal itself, but it can often be incomplete, slow or leave an imbalance that affects the rest of the body. There are many therapies available today that can help improve these imbalances and bring about better health.

 

The physical therapies that we have available aremassage, bowen therapy, craniosacral therapy, muscle manipulation and therapeutic exercise and conditioning.

 

These therapies can provide the following benefits:

• Improved neurological function
• Increased flexibility and injury prevention
• Recovery following surgery and/or immobilization
• Animals with degenerative changes such as arthritis
• and many more

Initial consultations usually last 1hr and involves examination of movement, range of motion and tissue assessment as well as discussion of contributing factors. Costs per session are $50 at my locations or $70 for a mobile service (discounts available to pensioners or groups).

Canine Myofunctional Therapy (Massage)
Canine myofunctional therapy involves a variety of techniques, from a detailed assessment of the body through observing stance and gait, hands on palpitation of the body and comparisons of passive range of motion, to improving muscle (and other tissues) function and balance through various massage techniques and further range of motion and stretching routines.

 

Bowen Therapy for Animals
Bowen is a dynamic, remedial body technique, which is extremely gentle and very relaxing. It empowers the body’s own healing resources achieving balance and harmony, resulting in fast and lasting relief from pain and discomfort.

 

Craniosacral Therapy
Also known as cranial sacral therapy or cranial osteopathy, craniosacral therapy is a healing technique that uses gentle, light touch to release pain, tension and restrictions in the body to improve the functioning of the central nervous system. Working with the subtle rhythms and movements of the different body systems the therapist gently works to pinpoint and correct source problems caused by illness, trauma and injuries, even ones that occurred long ago.

 

Muscle Manipulation (Hatchard’s Way)
Animal's bodies comprise of a series of muscles, ligaments, tendons, blood vessels, nerves and fascia – for efficiency each of these have an optimum resting place or groove from which it operates. When they get out of alignment from their designated groove they give problems ranging from pain to an inability to function with certain limbs. This method removes misalignments, which then permits the blood to flow normally again, bringing much needed oxygen to that part of the body. In addition, releasing the pinched nerves usually brings instantaneous relief from pain.

 

Therapeutic Exercise and Conditioning
There are varieties of exercises that can be used during a rehabilitation or conditioning process. The type of exercises depends upon the patient's condition and the goals such as proprioceptive/balance training, weight bearing, gait training, strengthening and fittness/endurance training. Various types of exercises include the use of cavaletti rails (walking over beams at various heights), theraballs, balance boards/weight shifting, weave poles, resistive exercises using weights, stairs, ramps, dancing, wheel-barrowing, sit-to-stands.