Canine Rehabilitation and Sports Medicine

Backstory

Back in 2011 when I completed my certification in the USA, Canine Rehabilitation just wasn’t a thing in Veterinary Medicine. At least not here in Australia when I first introduced it into my practice.

To my surprise however, our clients caught on pretty quickly. They seemed to grasp the connection between human physiotherapy and pets needing that same support after injury and surgery with little promotion needed on our part.

The vets on the other hand were a little more sceptical to begin with. But that changed pretty quickly once they started seeing results.

After achieving some impressive outcomes for our patients through these new modalities, we began to integrate them into our treatment plans which then eventually led to adding a full service Rehab and Sports Medicine department to our practice a few years later.

Practice Innovation and Expansion

Fast forward to today and canine rehabilitation is gaining traction as a catalyst for practice innovation and expansion.

Over the years, I’ve fielded numerous inquiries from fellow veterinary professionals wanting to explore the potential of Canine Rehabilitation Services for their practice. Common questions revolved around profitability, integration into practice workflows, implementation strategies, associated costs, equipment and required training.

What I share here are insights garnered from my own journey navigating the world of Canine Rehabilitation and the wins and challenges it presents.

Ultimately – Canine rehabilitation therapies when strategically integrated into general practice not only enhances patient care but also presents opportunities for practice growth and differentiation.

Thinking About Introducing Canine Rehab Into Your Practice?

Building a full suite of rehab services into your practice takes time, dedicated learning through Certification and significant investment in equipment, team development and infrastructure.

My advice is – build the foundations first

Step 1: Learn to perform a thorough Musculoskeletal Examination.

What is a Musculoskeletal Examination?

This is an exam that involves assessing the muscles, tendons, ligaments and bones of the musculoskeletal system – performed separately from a standard clinical exam.

All the information is then considered from a holistic perspective.

This ensures that any secondary compensatory issues that may present more prominently at the time are not mistaken for the primary concern.

A musculoskeletal exam is best performed by a veterinarian with further knowledge and / or qualifications in Rehabilitation to support the techniques applied during the exam.

These include:

Gait and Posture Analysis
Lured movements
Weight shifting exercises and
Manual Palpation

The changes to tissue structures, reduction in change of motion and pain responses shown by the patient can lead to the diagnosis of injuries and degenerative conditions such as:

Medial Shoulder Instability
Iliopsis Strains and tears
Partial Cruciate tears
Hip Dysplasia
Early stage IVDD
Elbow dysplasia and more

These techniques can be learned with the correct support and guidance along with the necessary practical opportunities.

Step 2: Invest in a Class IV Laser

This is the foundational equipment for creating your first rehab service offer. Laser therapy can be applied to a multitude of conditions for healing and pain management.

And best of all it can be safely performed by any trained member of your team.

Case uses for Laser Therapy

Offering Laser Therapy presents a wonderful opportunity for your nurses to take on a more active role in patient comfort and healing while at the same time creating an additional income stream for your practice.

Reflecting on my experience with introducing Laser into our practice, we found that not only was it highly accepted by our clients, the investment we made in both equipment and training was recouped in a surprisingly reasonable timeframe.

The uptake of both these services is high depending of course on how well they are integrated into your case management protocols, packaged and promoted to your clients and embraced by your team.

If you’ve read this far and are interested in starting out in rehab, check out our training and integration packages below.

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Veterinary Rehab Startup Programs

Our training programs are specifically designed to learn how to seamlessly integrate Musculoskeletal Exams and / or Laser Therapy into your practice for incredible benefits all around.

What’s Included:

On site hands on training conducted over your preferred number of days
Comprehensive Training Modules: Gain in-depth knowledge and hands-on experience on performing Musculoskeletal Exams and integrating laser therapy into your practice protocols.
Integration Roadmap: Receive a detailed plan on how to seamlessly incorporate these advanced techniques into your practice, positioning yourself as a leader in the field.
Internal Training Guides: Help your team learn the benefits of the modalities so that they can communicate more effectively with clients and promote conversions to this amazing therapy
Pricing and Positioning strategies for maximise uptake, conversions and profit
Marketing and Promotional Strategies and resources: Learn effective strategies to promote these new services to attract more clients and solidify your practice’s growth.

These trainings officially launch in April 2024 so if you’re interested in learning more, please feel free to reach out via my contact form to book an online discussion of your needs.

Frequently Asked Questions

Are these trainings suitable for smaller practices?

Yes. Learning to perform MSK exams and or introducing Laser Therapy can add value to any sized practice. It really just depends on whether you or someone on your team is interested in learning these skills.

What extra space will I need to perform Laser Therapy treatments?

All you need to offer laser treatments is a separate closed off area such as a consulting room.

What ongoing support is provided?

All our training programs come with an associated community forum for ongoing mentoring and support.