In Canine Rehabilitation, Massage versus Manual Therapy is an important consideration. When we hear the term, “Manual Therapy”, many of us assume it’s just another word for massage. It’s not. Manual therapy and massage are two very different techniques with distinct benefits for your pet.
You have probably heard of Swedish Massage, Deep Tissue Massage and Shiatsu Massage. These are all massage techniques that use pressure, stroking and rhythmic motion to the skin and soft tissues of the body. Massage reduces stress, decreases tension and anxiety, and promotes overall circulation, relaxation, and flexibility. Massage is definitely beneficial to dogs and cats and can be a great way to reduce stress and improve your pet’s quality of life.
The Difference
Here’s the difference. Manual therapy focuses on assessing and manipulating muscle, tendon, skin, scar, bone, fascia, joint, and nerve tissues to diagnose dysfunction and restore the body’s natural movement and symmetry. With proper training and years of hands on experience, a manual therapist can detect joint swelling, tendinitis, trigger points, spinal joint subluxations, muscle sprains and strains, joint capsule strains and ligament tears such as a CCL, (knee injury). Once the dysfunction is detected, we use additional manual therapy techniques to treat our canine and feline patients.
At Arfit Dog Therapy Chicago, we use these special techniques in addition to laser therapy, massage, and exercise, reducing your pet’s recovery time and increasing their comfort level faster than massage and laser therapy alone.
A manual therapist can assess your pet’s progress at every visit. We check for changes in inflammation, swelling, muscle spasming, trigger points, and joint mobility. This information allows us to tailor each treatment visit to your pets’s needs.
Massage and manual therapy can both be utilized as part of a plan to promote your pet’s overall health and wellness. They are however, very different techniques and provide separate benefits. The education and skill level needed to practice manual therapy is much more comprehensive. Highly educated healthcare providers, manual therapists receive extensive instruction in manual therapy techniques for evaluating and treating patients.
Check with your canine rehabilitation provider. Ask your provider if they’re trained in manual therapy techniques.
To schedule an appointment: visit us online at www.arfit.biz or call Tod at 312-620-4606