Muscle Injury

 Goals

• Reduce pain and inflammation
• Protect healing tissues
• Maintain comfort whilst minimising further injury

Focus

• Pain management
• Activity modification
• Gentle manual therapy where appropriate
• Owner education

Goals

• Restore normal muscle flexibility
• Minimise scar tissue restriction
• Encourage organised tissue healing

Focus

• Heat therapy (where appropriate) to improve tissue extensibility
• Cross-fibre friction massage to help mobilise scar tissue
• Therapeutic ultrasound where indicated to support tissue healing
• Gentle stretching to restore muscle length
• Controlled therapeutic exercise

Goals

• Restore strength and normal movement patterns
• Improve flexibility and muscle function
• Reduce the risk of re-injury

Focus

• Progressive strengthening exercises
• Lengthening exercises (e.g. pole work)
• Functional movement retraining
• Balance and proprioceptive exercises

Goals

• Return to normal activity or athletic performance
• Optimise long-term muscle health
• Prevent recurrence

Focus

• Sport-specific conditioning where appropriate
• Ongoing strengthening and flexibility programme
• Individualised home exercise plan

Shortwave ultrasound (essential), heat pack, remedial exercise

Trixie

Every rehabilitation programme at Recharge Veterinary Physiotherapy is tailored to the individual patient. These rehabilitation phases are intended as a guide only and are adapted according to surgical recommendations, tissue healing, concurrent disease, patient temperament and owner goals. Close communication with the referring veterinary surgeon is maintained throughout rehabilitation to ensure the best possible outcome.