title: Rehabilitation and physical therapy for selected orthopedic conditions in veterinary patients.
abstract: A specific diagnosis is needed to perform optimal rehabilitation of orthopedic problems. A well-planned rehabilitation program is important for orthopedic patients when surgical repairs are mechanically weak (eg, when repairing fractures in skeletally immature patients or when repairing tendons or ligaments). Joint immobilization is sometimes used to protect weak surgical repairs. The duration of immobilization should be minimized, particularly in situations with potential loss of joint motion. Evidence-based information regarding specific modalities and techniques for rehabilitation of injured dogs and cats is generally lacking. The choice of modalities and techniques must be based on common sense, knowledge of rehabilitation techniques, and clinical experience.
authors.affiliation: Joint Base San Antonio, Lackland, San Antonio, Texas 78236, USA.
authors.forename: Andrea L
authors.initials: AL
authors.lastname: Henderson
authors.affiliation: Department of Small Animal Clinical Sciences, College of Veterinary Medicine, University of Tennessee, 2407 River Drive, Knoxville, TN 37996, USA.
authors.forename: Christian
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Latimer
authors.affiliation: Department of Small Animal Clinical Sciences, College of Veterinary Medicine, University of Tennessee, 2407 River Drive, Knoxville, TN 37996, USA. Electronic address: dmillis@utk.edu.
authors.forename: Darryl L
authors.initials: DL
authors.lastname: Millis
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D050723:Fractures, Bone / Q000601:surgery / Q000662:veterinary; D007592:Joint Diseases / Q000628:therapy / Q000662:veterinary; D018482:Muscle, Skeletal / Q000293:injuries; D026741:Physical Therapy Modalities / Q000662:veterinary*; D014730:Veterinary Medicine / Q000379:methods*
keywords: Ligament; Muscle; Orthopedic conditions; Shoulder; Tendon