2009 APA Conference Week Abstracts - Australian Physiotherapy ...

Animal Physiotherapy Group
Physiotherapy in the small animal intensive
care setting
Nicholson HL
The University of Queensland, Brisbane and Animal Physiotherapy
Services, Sydney
This presentation will combine a summary of the PhD topic
‘Physiotherapy in the canine intensive care setting’ with
examples of the practical application of techniques on small
animals, including a cat with laryngeal paralysis, a wombat
with aspiration pneumonia, and a dog with tick (Ixodes
holocyclus) poisoning. Topics discussed will include the
causes, characteristics and risk factors for the survival of
recumbency in dogs presenting to four veterinary referral
hospitals in Sydney in a 12-month period, and a literature
review of involuntary canine recumbency. The short-term
effects of recumbency in dogs will be discussed and case
studies of the administration of continuous positive airway
pressure and manual chest physiotherapy will be presented.
The session will conclude with recommendations for future
research and an opportunity to ask questions.
Advanced diagnostic imaging modalities in the horse:
magnetic resonance imaging and nuclear scintigraphy
Smith CL
Veterinary Teaching Hospital Camden, University of Sydney, Camden
Lameness in horses causes enormous economic losses
within the equine industry and also has important animal
welfare implications. New diagnostic imaging modalities
including nuclear scintigraphy and magnetic resonance
imaging can help identify the site and cause of difficult
lameness problems in horses. Magnetic resonance imaging
and nuclear scintigraphy has been a valuable diagnostic tool
in human medicine for over 20 years and is now available
in Australia in some equine veterinary clinics. Nuclear
scintigraphy involves injecting a technetium-labeled
radiopharmaceutical intravenously. A gamma camera then
identifies sites of increased radioisotope uptake, which
indicates active bone remodeling. It is of particular benefit
in cases in which the lameness is difficult to localise, such as
in the upper limb. MRI should be considered in horses that
have a lameness that has been localised to a specific region
but convention diagnostic techniques such as radiographs
and ultrasound have failed to provide a definitive diagnosis.
MR imaging is very sensitive and specific, and gives detailed
information about both soft tissues and bones. Magnetic
resonance imaging and nuclear scintigraphy can provide
invaluable information in horses that have complicated
lameness problems. A thorough clinical and lameness
examination including diagnostic nerve blocks, radiographs
and ultrasound is imperative to ensure case selection for
MR Imaging or nuclear scintigraphy is optimal. Improving
our ability to accurately pinpoint the cause of lameness will
improve treatment and hopefully improve the prognosis for
return to function in these horses.
A randomised double-blind comparative study of
the dorsal movement of the thorax relative to the
scapula as achieved by four different
physiotherapeutic techniques
Steed C
Topline Physiotherapy
Horses frequently incur injury around the scapulothoracic
and shoulder regions. Shoulder lameness resistant to standard
treatment and causing a loss of performance, particularly in
high intensity stretch-shortening cycles (such as collection
and jumping) may benefit from active assisted physiological
mobilisations (AAPMs) of the scapulothoracic joint.
Physiotherapists have long implemented such techniques
in the management of human musculoskeletal disorders.
Animal physiotherapists have applied these principles and
use a variety of AAPM techniques to evaluate dysfunction
and provide treatment. Despite clinical practice in animal
physiotherapy, little research evidence exists in the equine
field to support the efficacy of these techniques. Therefore,
this study aims to evaluate the effectiveness of four different
AAPMs in their ability to influence the motion of structures
of the scapulothoracic region. Changes in the equine wither
height was considered to reflect alterations of mobility of
the scapulorthoracic complex. The four AAPM techniques
evaluated were: Thoracic lift, Thoracic Rounding,
Cervicothoracic Dorsoventral Flexion and Thoracolumbar
Sacral Rounding. Twelve thoroughbred geldings aged
between 7 and 15 years, reportedly over 15’3hh (160
cm), and currently in work for at least 3 hours per week
were randomly allocated to one of 4 groups. Each group
received the techniques in a different order to control for
training or stretching responses. The horse owner ensured
square stance in the crush during each measurement. Two
assistants measured wither height. The researcher applied
the AAPM and was blind to the measures collected by
the recording assistant. Each AAPM was measured twice.
Results demonstrated a significant increase in wither height
associated with both the Thoracic Lift and the Thoracic
Rounding techniques, p < 0.01. These findings reveal two
effective techniques for mobilisation of the scapulothroacic
complex resulting in significant changes to equine wither
height.
Rehabilitation following traumatic cauda equina
transection and sacral displacement in a young puppy:
a year in review
Steinman L
Four Foot Physiotherapy/Capital Animal Physiotherapy, Canberra
Physiotherapy is regularly used in neurological cases with
good outcomes. This retrospective case study presents
a Rhodesian ridgeback puppy, referred by its treating
veterinarian for physiotherapy evaluation and treatment for
a severe spinal injury. The injury was sustained 2 hours after
birth when the puppy was bitten by his mother who was
recovering from anaesthetic post caesarean. He presented at
8 weeks, with bilateral hind limb paresis and LMN damage
to bladder, perineum and tail indicating some complete
cauda equina transection with other parts incompletely
transected. Significant neurological compromise included
absent reflexes (deep pain, withdrawal, patellar) left hind
leg and severely reduced reflexes in right hind (slight deep
pain and withdrawal, no patellar reflex). Radiographs
showed a sacroiliac fracture and separation with ventral
The e-AJP Vol 55: 4, Supplement 5