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Rehabilitation

Exercise enhances memory consolidation in the aging brain.

Summary:

Exercise has been shown to reduce age-related losses in cognitive function including learning and memory, but the mechanisms underlying this effect remain poorly understood. Memory formation occurs in stages that include an initial acquisition phase, an intermediate labile phase, and then a process of consolidation which leads to long-term memory formation. An effective way to examine the mechanism by which exercise improves memory is to introduce the intervention (exercise), post-acquisition, making it possible to selectively examine memory storage and consolidation. Accordingly we evaluated the effects of post-trial exercise (10 min on a treadmill) on memory consolidation in aged canines both right after, an hour after, and 24 h after acute exercise training in concurrent discrimination, object location memory (OLM), and novel object recognition tasks.

Conclusion:

In summary, the results of this study indicate that acute and chronic exercise are both effective against the functional deficits associated with cognitive aging. Exercise may therefore be a viable training mechanism to improve cognitive reserve in the brain and bolster resiliency against the consequences of brain aging.

Author & Journal:Snigdha S, et al, Front Aging Neurosci 6(3):1-14, 2014
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Comparison of short- and long-term function and radiographic osteoarthrosis in dogs after postoperative physical rehabilitation and tibial plateau leveling osteotomy or lateral fabellar suture stabilization.

Summary:

To compare short- and long-term functional and radiographic outcome of cranial cruciate ligament (CrCL) injury in dogstreated with postoperative physical rehabilitation and either tibial plateau leveling osteotomy (TPLO) or lateral fabellar suture stabilization(LFS).

Conclusion:

No significant difference in outcome as determined by ground reaction forces or radiographic OA scores were found between dogs with CrCL injury treated with LFS or TPLO.

Author & Journal:Au, KK, et al, Vet Surg 39:173-180, 2010
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A meta-analysis of the efficacy of laser phototherapy on pain relief.

Summary:

Laser phototherapy has been widely used to relieve pain for more than 30 years, but its efficacy remains controversial. To ascertain the overall effect of phototherapy on pain, we aggregated the literature and subjected the studies to statistical meta-analysis.

Conclusion:

Fifty-two effect sizes were computed from the 22 articles that met the inclusion criteria. The resulting overall mean effect size was highly significant; d = +0.84 (95% confidence interval = 0.44-1.23). The effect size remained significant even when a high outlying d value was conservatively excluded from the analysis; d = +0.66 (95% confidence interval = 0.46-0.86). The fail-safe number associated with the overall treatment effect, that is, the number of additional studies in which phototherapy has negative or no effect on pain needed to negate the overall large effect size of +0.84, was 348.

Author & Journal:Fulop AM, et al, Clin J Pain 2010;26:729-736
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Radial shock wave therapy in dogs with hip osteoarthritis.

Summary:

The study aims were to evaluate the effects of radial shock wave therapy (RSWT) in dogs with hip osteoarthritis (OA) using clinical assessment and kinetic analysis.

Conclusion:

Outcomes of this study suggested beneficial effects of RSWT in dogs with hip osteoarthritis.

Author & Journal:Souza AN, et al, Vet Comp Orthop Traumatol. 2016;29(2):108-14
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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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Effects of cold compression, bandaging, and microcurrent electrical therapy after cranial cruciate ligament repair in dogs.

Summary:

To compare 4 therapeutic techniques to reduce soft tissue swelling after cranial cruciate ligament repair in the dog.

Conclusion:

Use of cold compresses alone or with a bandage, or using microcurrent electrical therapy in combination with a bandage decreases soft tissue swelling over 72 hours more than a bandaging alone after extracapsular repair of CCLR.

Author & Journal:Rexing J, et al, Vet Surg 39:54-58, 2010
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Incorporation of exercise, using an underwater treadmill, and active client education into a weight management program for obese dogs

Summary:

Physical activity improves outcome of weight loss in obese humans, but limited information exists for dogs. Eight obese dogs (body condition score 5/5), of various breeds and genders, undertook a 3-month weight-loss program which included exercise using lead walks and underwater treadmill exercise. The median number of treadmill exercise sessions per dog was 13 (range: 5 to 17). Median distance walked per session was 0.97 km (range: 0.05 to 2.7 km) (0.6 miles; range: 0.03 to 1.70 miles) and this increased sequentially over the course of the study (P < 0.001). Mean [± standard deviation (s)] percentage of starting weight loss over the 3 mo was 18.9 ± 5.44%, equivalent to a rate of weight loss of 1.5 ± 0.43% per week. Thoracic and abdominal girth also declined significantly during the program (P < 0.0001 for both).

Conclusion:

This study demonstrates the potential benefit of including an organized exercise regimen, utilizing an underwater treadmill, in conventional canine weight management programs.

Author & Journal:Chauvet A, et al, Can Vet J. 2011 May; 52(5): 491–496
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Effects of postoperative rehabilitation on limb function after cranial cruciate ligament repair in dogs.

Summary:

To determine the effects of early postoperative rehabilitation on limb function in dogs after surgery for ruptured cranialcruciate ligament (RCCL).

Conclusion:

Dogs that have surgery for RCCL and a torn medial meniscus benefit from postoperativerehabilitation; rehabilitation should be considered part of the postoperative management of these patients.

Author & Journal:Marsolais, GS, et al, J Am Vet Med Assoc 220:1325-1330, 2002
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A systematic review of low level laser therapy with location-specific doses for pain from chronic joint disorders.

Summary:

We investigated if low level laser therapy (LLLT) of the joint capsule can reduce pain in chronic joint disorders. A literature search identified 88 randomised controlled trials, of which 20 trials included patients with chronic joint disorders. Six trials were excluded for not irradiating the joint capsule. Three trials used doses lower than a dose range nominated a priori for reducing inflammation in the jointcapsule. These trials found no significant difference between active and placebo treatments. The remaining 11 trials including 565 patients were of acceptable methodological quality with an average PEDro score of 6.9 (range 5-9). In these trials, LLLT within the suggested dose range was administered to the knee, temporomandibular or zygapophyseal joints.

Conclusion:

The results showed a mean weighted difference in change of pain on VAS of 29.8 mm (95% CI, 18.9 to 40.7) in favour of the active LLLT groups. Global health status improved for more patients in the active LLLT groups ( relative risk of 0.52; 95% CI 0.36 to 0.76). Low level laser therapy with the suggested dose range significantly reduces pain and improves health status in chronic joint disorders, but the heterogeneity in patient samples, treatment procedures and trial design calls for cautious interpretation of the results.

Author & Journal:Bjordal JM, et al, Aust J Physiotherapy 2003;49:107-116
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Effectiveness of combined acupuncture and manual therapy relative to no treatment for canine musculoskeletal pain.

Summary:

Despite the rise in popularity of both acupuncture and manual therapy in veterinary medicine, and the increasing number of Canadian veterinarians practising these techniques, there is little research demonstrating their effectiveness. In this repeated measures, therapeutic trial, 47 client-owned dogs with naturally occurring lameness were assessed for clinical response to treatment. Owners were blinded to the treatment schedule and completed questionnaires to assess their dogs’ comfort and mobility.

Conclusion:

Comparison between pre- and post-treatment results demonstrated that combined acupuncture and manual therapy provides immediate short-term improvement in comfort and mobility, as demonstrated by owner observed changes in play behavior (P = 0.015), walking (P < 0.001), trotting (P = 0.002), jumping (P < 0.001), descending stairs (P = 0.003), rising from a lying position (P < 0.001), and reduced stiffness after rest (P < 0.001) or following exercise (P < 0.001). Mood and attitude also improved, but did not attain statistical significance.

Author & Journal:Lane DM, et al, Can Vet J 57(4):407-414, 2016
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