One certainty in life is change. Growth and development are integral to our field, and our cutting-edge practitioners are skilled at adjusting to and embracing new technology. One of the most exciting advances in veterinary rehabilitation has been adopting artificial intelligence (AI) devices.
A Brief History
Veterinary rehabilitation techniques were used in ancient times, but there is little documentation of exact practices. Egyptian hieroglyphs depict massage being applied to horses. In Ancient China, Tui-Na techniques were used for people and horses, similar to massage and manual therapy. Hydrotherapy also improved fitness and strength in racing horses in ancient Europe.
One of the first early adopters of modern physical therapy techniques was Sir Charles Strong, a British physiotherapist tending to Lord Luis Mountbatten. Lord Mountbatten asked him if a therapy device being used on him could also be used on his polo ponies. Strong tried it and successfully returned two lame horses to soundness. After this, he began treating animals (mainly horses) for the royal family and was later knighted for his contributions to human and animal medicine. (1)
The practice of veterinary rehabilitation experienced much worldwide growth in the 1980s and 1990s, with formal organizations being chartered and coursework created to train veterinarians and physical therapists to develop their skills. As the practice grew, so did the recognition that this should be a standard of animal care and not just an “alternative” to mainstream medicine. (2) In 2010, the American Board of Veterinary Specialties provisionally recognized the American College of Veterinary Sports Medicine and Rehabilitation, with full recognition in 2018. Rehabilitation today continues to grow and develop and is often the gateway for multimodal pain management in equine and canine patients. (3)
Enter AI
Practitioners’ most valuable and crucial patient evaluation and treatment tools are their hands and brains—even AI is not a good substitute for thorough palpation. However, it can provide additional information that can streamline the process and reinforce clinical skills in novice practitioners. For instance, AI can analyze data from wearable devices to assess motion, posture and muscle firing patterns, which can be early indicators of injury. While AI can aid in the early identification of risk and injury prevention, it’s important to note that it’s not a replacement for the expertise of a skilled practitioner.
About Christine Jurek, DVM, MSIVM-C
Dr. Christine Jurek received her Doctor of Veterinary Medicine from Purdue University. She spent six years in general practice before joining the staff at Thrive Pet Healthcare partner
TOPS Veterinary Rehabilitation in Grayslake, Illinois. She has been practicing full-time canine rehabilitation for over 22 years with certifications in Canine Rehabilitation (CCRT), Acupuncture (IVAS), and Chiropractic (AVCA), and recently, she completed her Master’s in Integrative Veterinary Medicine- Canine (MSIVM-C) from Chi University. Dr. Jurek has numerous published works and lectures on rehabilitation and integrative medicine.
