Underwater Treadmill

45 MINUTES

Our underwater treadmill is a large chamber with a moving floor and adjustable water level. The patient enters the treadmill through a door while the chamber is empty. The door is then closed, and warm water is pumped in to the appropriate height, then the treadmill is started and the patient begins to walk through the water. The patient can be observed through the clear sides and door of the treadmill. As the patient builds strength, optional resistance jets can be turned on to increase the intensity of the exercise. The water supports the patient, and puts minimal stress on the joints. This reduces pain and discomfort allowing the patient to strengthen muscles, develop coordination, and build endurance.

Dogs with orthopedic or neurological injuries that decrease their ability to walk on land benefit greatly from the use of the Underwater Treadmill. The intensity and challenge of treadmill work can be varied to provide exercise appropriate for a wide variety of patients, from the weakest of debilitated geriatric patients to canine athletes training for competition.

Dry Needling

15-45 MINUTES

Dry needling is a manual pain management technique where sterile acupuncture needles are inserted directly into myofascial (muscular) trigger points to relieve pain. Trigger points are composed of tightly contracted knots within the muscle that cause pain within the body. Trigger points are located by palpating the muscle, then needles are inserted into the center of each trigger point. Research studies have shown that inserting such needles into trigger points causes biochemical changes within the body, which relax the contracted muscle and help reduce pain.

Laser Therapy

30 MINUTES

Laser Therapy uses laser light to alter cellular function. A focused beam of laser light is directed into an area of damaged or painful tissue to stimulate the body's response, relieve pain, and increase healing. Laser light penetrates deeply into the body, where it transfers energy into the tissue. Specific wavelengths of light have been shown to dilate blood vessels, increasing oxygen delivery, and also to increase the rate of absorption and use of oxygen by the cells.

Laser Therapy has been shown to help with a variety of conditions. At PetPT, we use this modality primarily for pain management. Both acute and chronic pain respond well to laser therapy, and commonly treated conditions include muscle pain, disc (spinal) pain, arthritis, nerve injury, and postoperative pain management.

Prolotherapy

30 MINUTES

The word "prolotherapy" is a contraction of Proliferation Therapy. It involves the injection of an irrittant into tissue to stimulate the body's inflammatory response. This response is useful in weakened or damaged tissue because the inflammatory response results in the creation of new fibrous scar tissue that strengthens and stabilizes the affected area. The irritant solution usually contains both hyperosmolar dextrose (sugar) and lidocaine (local anesthetic).

Prolotherapy is helpful for acute ligament injury as well as chronic musculoskeletal weakness and pain. This includes traumatic patellar luxation and cruciate ligament injury, arthritis/degenerative joint disease, tendons and cartilage injury. It is used most commonly in middle aged to geriatric dogs, especially those from whom anesthesia and surgery are considered high risk.