The approach to pain management and muscle strengthening in patients with musculoskeletal or neurologic problems - including the post-op orthopedic patient - is typically multimodal.
In addition to the pharmacologic options we have for controlling pain and inflammation, the various modalities we can implement in rehabilitating patients include thermal therapies, acupuncture, therapeutic exercises, laser therapy, therapeutic ultrasound, TENS / neuromuscular electrical stimulation, treadmills, water therapy, and pulsed electromagnetic field therapy.
In the recent webinar on Feline Osteoarthritis, I shared a case study of one of my feline patients - "Jack" - a 2 year old DSH who underwent surgery (FHO) to treat a femoral head fracture. Postoperatively, he developed a non-weight bearing lameness and atrophy of the thigh musculature. "Jack" was a champ - have a look at his treatment plan and how some of these modalities were applied in his care!
