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Rehabilitation

Effect of passive stretching on the range of motion of osteoarthritic joints in 10 Labrador retrievers

Summary:

Ten Labrador retrievers and their owners undertook a program to determine the effect of passive stretching on the dogs’ osteoarthritic joints, which had a restricted range of motion. The range of motion of the joints was measured before and after the 21-day study, during which the owners performed 10 passive stretches for a hold of 10 seconds twice daily. Goniometric measurements showed that the passive stretching had significantly increased the range of motion of the joints.

Conclusion:

The results show that passive stretching can effectively increase the range of movement of the osteoarthritic joints of labrador retrievers.

Author & Journal:T. Crook, C. McGowan, M. Pead, The Veterinary Record, April 2007
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Preliminary clinical experience of low-level laser therapy for the treatment of canine osteoarthritis-associated pain: A retrospective investigation on 17 dogs

Summary:

Laser therapy (aka photobiomodulation) is often used to treat OA in veterinary patients, but the evidence to support this treatment is weak. At the time of this publication, there was one single prior publication investigating laser therapy for dogs with elbow OA (Looney et. al, Can Vet J 2018). This study found that with the laser and protocol studied (980 nm, 5-12 W, CW, 1-2.4W/cm2, 10-19 J/cm2, non-contact mode, scanning method; treatment 2x week for 3 weeks then once a week for 3 weeks), laser-treated dogs (n=11) showed significantly (p=0.001) greater reduction in lameness compared to sham (n=9) treated dogs. NSAID dose was also able to be decreased in 9 of the 11 laser-treated dogs. The authors of the current study (Barale et. al) aimed to report the clinical outcomes following a different laser therapy protocol in dogs with OA.

Conclusion:

This retrospective report provides a basis for future investigations, needed to clarify whether laser therapy may be beneficial to treat canine OA-associated pain. The preliminary findings are promising and suggest that LLLT may help to reduce the analgesic administration and improving client satisfaction and the quality of life of dogs with OA.

Author & Journal:Loris Barale, Paolo Monticelli, Massimo Raviola, and Chiara Adami, Open Vet J., April 2020
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Canine Hip Dysplasia: Reviewing the Evidence for Nonsurgical Management

Summary:

This systematic review of available evidence for nonsurgical management of hip dysplasia considered 14 articles and scored nonsurgical management including: activity restrictions, weight management, acupuncture, modulation of joint disease by polysulfated glycosaminoglycans, mesenchymal stem cell therapy, and extra corporeal shock wave therapy.

Conclusion:

“Weight management is an effective and important component of managing dogs with HD and associated osteoarthritis. Techniques that modulate the progression of joint disease may also be beneficial for treating dogs with HD. Further studies are needed to investigate other methods of managing HD such as hydrotherapy and physical rehabilitation.”

Author & Journal:Shaw, Kristin Kirkby et al, Veterinary Surgery, 2012
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Integration of a physical training program in a weight loss plan for overweight pet dogs.

Summary:

To investigate whether a controlled physical training plan for overweight dogs during a weight loss program would improve cardiorespiratory fitness and better preserve lean body mass, compared with results for dogs undergoing a weight loss program based on caloric restriction alone.

Conclusion:

Conclusion:The controlled exercise plan used with a dietary weight loss program prevented loss of lean body mass in dogs. This finding supports inclusion of controlled physical training for obesity management in dogs.

Author & Journal:Vitger AD, et al. JAVMA 2016
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Low-level laser irradiation induces in vitro proliferation of mesenchymal stem cells

Summary:

To evaluate the effect of low-level laser irradiation on the proliferation and possible nuclear morphological changes of mouse mesenchymal stem cells.

Conclusion:

Low-level laser irradiation stimulated the proliferation of mouse mesenchymal stem cells without causing nuclear alterations. The biostimulation of mesenchymal stem cells using laser therapy might be an important tool for regenerative therapy and tissue engineering.

Author & Journal:Augusto Galvão Barboza,Carlos, et al, eintstein, 2014
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Effect of swimming on clinical functional parameters and serum biomarkers in healthy and osteoarthritic dogs.

Summary:

This study aimed to determine whether swimming could improve function of osteoarthritic joints in canine hip OA.

Conclusion:

Conclusion, swimming over 2-day period, 8 weeks continually, can improve the function of OA joint.

Author & Journal:Nganvongpanit K et al. ISRN Vet Sci 2014
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