Foreword by Russell Woodman, DPT, MS, FSOM, OCS, MCTA
I have been a physical therapist since 1968.
During my thirty-three years of practice, I have had the good fortune to instruct
a number of individuals who entered our profession and developed into superb
clinicians, educators, administrators or researchers. While most merely perfected
their skills, Deborah Gross took her education to a new level; she became
an innovator. Her studies at Quinnipiac (particularly James Cyriax’s methodology)
stimulated her thoughts about how to apply orthopedic physical therapy principles
to the improvement of animal care. The result is this innovative and insightful
approach linking physical therapy to animal therapy.
Deborah sacrifices virtually all of her discretionary time
to continue her investigation into the bond between the two areas. After working
a full day with traditional physical therapy patients, she devotes a minimum
of four (often twice that amount of time) to her work with animals. When not
giving therapy to humans or animals, she teaches or attends lectures, takes
veterinarian courses and in between has found time to read a multitude of
articles on animal care. For Deborah this study is not just a passion, it
is truly an act of love.
Not unlike Monty Roberts, the famed horse whisperer, Deborah
seems able to communicate with her animal patients. She feels an unusual compassion
and empathy with her clients, especially canines. Dogs represent the majority
of her animal clientele.
A pioneer in the field, she encountered great skepticism
from her colleagues. She has overcome most of this skepticism by convincingly
presenting her work at conferences and teaching engagements, winning many
new converts to her beliefs. She has established a unique newsletter dedicated
to canine physical therapy.
It is truly an honor and a privilege to be the editor of
her wonderful book that firmly establishes the viable bridge between animal
and human therapy.
Excerpts from "Canine
Physical Therapy" by Deborah M. Gross
"There is a long, flourishing
alliance between man and dogs proven by both evolution and human culture.
Our experience with movies and television from a child acquaints us with such
characters as Lassie, Rin Tin Tin, Benji, Old Yeller, the 101 Dalmatians,
and countless others. Dogs are present in households throughout the country,
and it is commonplace to see a dog travailing in the back of a jeep with its
owners. The term ‘man’s best friend’ is more than appropriate.
I discovered a statistic that
there are approximately 58 million dogs in the United States. Twelve percent
of pet owners include their pets in their wills, according to the Santa Clara
Law Review. A survey conducted by the American Animal Hospital Association
in the spring of 200 yielded some surprising results on how well people view
and care their pets. Sixty-seven percent of respondents disclosed they visit
their pet’s veterinarian more often then they visit their own personal physician.
Fifty-three percent of the respondents acknowledged taking time off of work
to tend to a sick pet, and almost one half stated they spend between five
hundred and one thousand dollars per year on veterinary care."
"A thorough history of the
problem, compliant, or injury is essential. It is important for owners to
recognize any subtle as well as major changes in the dog that may signal discomfort,
irritation or pain. The therapist’s role is to draw out these changes from
the owners during the subjective portion of the initial evaluation.
Once the history is taken, the
dog is observed. Following the observation, active range of motion, passive
range of motion, strength and gait are assessed."
"The forelimbs take approximately
sixty percent of the weight of the dog’s body. The attachment of the upper
limb is purely muscular, and maintains a limited range of motion to provide
stability instead of mobility."
"The hip is the largest
and strongest bone in the dog’s body. The hip is a diarthrodial ball and socket
joint. The normal acetabulum should have at least 50 percent of overlap of
the femoral head. If the acetabulum articulates with less than 50 percent
of the femoral head, it is referred to as canine hip dysplasia."
"Strengthening of the forelimb
or upper extremity requires a focus on stability, especially with existing
cases of instability such as a united anconeal process. Post surgical rehabilitation
of the forelimb requires stabilization through weightbearing.
Improved range of motion and
strength are usually the goals the rehabilitation of the hindlimb. The hip
demonstrates a great deal of hip flexion and extension as the dog moves.
Theraband for gait training:
tying theraband to the forelimbs at various locations will provide resistance
while the dog is walking or trotting. Theraband distal to the elbow or closer
to the carpus, will provide a greater resistance to the muscles of the elbow
and shoulder."
Joint Mobilization of the Spinal and Peripheral
Joints
"Movement to the
dog is life. Despondence and depression are often seen in dogs that have been
immobilized after surgery, trauma or abused neglect. Movement at both the
vertebral column and peripheral joints is essential for a proper functioning
dog."
This chapter discusses different
mobilization techniques for the vertebral column and the peripheral joints.
"The goals of physical
therapy intervention with cases of biceps tendonitis include inflammation
reduction, range of motion, elimination of the fiber restriction at the tendon,
strength restoration, and a return to the previous level of activity. To address
the inflammation, phonophoresis may be utilized with an anti-inflammatory
medication. Ice and deep friction massage are also used."
"Rupture of the cranial
cruciate ligament (CCL) is one of the most commonly encountered orthopedic
problems. Treatment of the instability is primarily surgical. Recent studies
have demonstrated that atrophy begins immediately after surgery and maybe
objectively measured as early as 2 weeks postoperatively. Specific muscles
demonstrating atrophy include the quadriceps femoris, biceps femoris, semitendinosous,
and semimembranosus. Physical therapy should be initiated immediately and
will include a variety of treatments: ice, edema massage, range of motion,
gait training, neuromuscular electrical stimulation, agility work, strengthening,
swimming, and more."
