Physiotherapy

Humans use Physiotherapy for the treatment of muscle, tendon, ligament, joint, bone & cartilage problems caused by injury, disease & repetitive stress. Physiotherapy is also used pre & post surgery. It is now increasingly known that animals can benefit from Physiotherapy too, & many owners are turning to Veterinary & Animal Physiotherapy alongside conventional Veterinary treatment.

Unlike Veterinary Surgeons who have protected titles, Physiotherapists working with humans or animals do not have the same benefits & this means that anyone can call themselves a Physiotherapist regardless of their qualifications. Make sure you use a "Chartered Physiotherapist" for the treatment of yourself & your animal as this title is protected. This ensures your Physiotherpist has relevant qualifications, insurance & undertakes continued professional development training in order to maintain their registration. A Chartered Physiotherapist will use the letters MCSP (Member of the Chartered Society of Physiotherapy) & have either a Diploma or BSc (Honours) Degree in Physiotherapy.

For the post graduate Veterinary & Animal Physiotherapy training, Chartered Physiotherapists will be Category A Members of ACPAT (the Association of Chartered Physiotherapists in Animal Therapy) & will be either Animal Physiotherapists or hold a Post Graduate Diploma or MSc in Veterinary Physiotherapy.

Physiotherapy treatments include soft tissue techniques such as massage, myofascial release, stretches, de-activation of trigger points, reciprocal inhibition & use of passive, active assisted & active range of movements. Other treatment modalities involve exercises & movement therapy, mobilisations & electrotherapy (neuromuscular electro-stimulation / NMES, transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation / TENS, ultrasound & laser) as well as static & pulsed magnotherapy.