This course, based on the canine patient, and aimed at veterinary surgeons and veterinary nurses in practice, will educate participants in:
- how pain is perceived;
- the processes involved in the development of chronic pain as a disease;
- and the effects that this may have on the patient’s ability to move and function.
The processes of inflammation and repair will be explained in practical terms so that the relevant rehabilitation therapy can be selected at the appropriate time. The consequences of not mobilising patients adequately will be explored, so that the need for physical rehabilitation for osteoarthritic, chronic pain and post surgical patients can be appreciated.
The theory and evidence behind a range of therapeutic modalities will be provided along with the indications, contraindications and limitations of such treatments. The modalities to be discussed in detail include thermotherapy, massage, hydrotherapy, Class 3B and Class 4 laser, infrared devices, ultrasound, extra corporeal shockwave therapy, electrical stimulation and therapeutic exercise.
There will be a substantial practical component to the course and participants will be introduced to the different types of exercise equipment that they might use in practice , and taught how to use a wide range of therapeutic modalities. In addition there will be practical sessions on how to approach a chronic pain or rehabilitation consultation from referral to report, physically assess a chronic pain or rehabilitation patient, to recognise normal and abnormal gaits, to analyse a range of outcome measures, prepare a therapeutic exercise program and consider how to set up a veterinary rehabilitation clinic. At the end of the four days, the participants should understand how to take a problem based approach and create progress guided protocols for osteoarthritic and surgical patients.