Interested in incorporating physical rehabilitation in your practice? Feel free to read through the most frequently asked questions to get better acquainted with the subject.

 

General:


  1. How much can I charge for physical rehabilitation treatments?
      What you charge is entirely up to you. There are several variables to consider including region of the country and type of treatment administered. According to the American Association of Rehabilitation Veterinarians (AARV), the average price of a treatment is $42.
  2. How long will it take me to recoup my investment in physical rehabilitation equipment?
      Not long! Our Return on Investment charts for illustrations of how to use physical rehabilitation to improve the health of your patients AND the health of your practice.

Electrotherapy:


  1. What size of electrodes should be used?
      The size of electrodes should be proportionate to the area of the body being treated. You want to make sure that there is enough space to place the electrodes at least one inch apart.
  2. Does the animal have to be shaved?
      Yes. You have to have direct contact with clean, shaven skin in order for the therapy to work properly.
  3. Is this a TENS/NMES unit?
      Yes. This unit has both of these types of electrotherapy available.
  4. Why is electrotherapy used?
      Electrotherapy can be used to treat muscle spasms, for muscle strengthening, for pain management, to treat edema and for muscle re-education.
  5. What is included with the initial purchase of the Intelect Vet for electrotherapy?
      It comes with two sets of lead wires and one package of electrodes (4 electrodes total). It is recommended to purchase a set of electrodes separately.
  6. What electrotherapy accessories are available for additional purchase with the Intelect Vet?
      Two more channels can be added, electrodes of varying shapes and sizes and additional lead wires. A battery, carrying bag and therapy cart can also be purchased for the unit; and there is the option to add a laser module to it as well.
  7. What is unique about electrotherapy with the Intelect Vet?
      Two of the most unique features are the pre-set protocols and picture library. These user-friendly elements make it easy to set up the appropriate therapy for the patient while providing an anatomic visual for electrode placement. There is also flexibility to save personal protocols and edit any parameters necessary.
  8. What is the warranty with the Intelect Vet?
      The warranty is one year (12 months) from the date the unit is commissioned.

Ultrasound:


  1. What size of applicator should be used?
      The size of the applicator should be proportional to the area being treated. The area being treated should not exceed 2X the size of the diameter of the applicator. If it does, then the area should be sectioned off and multiple treatments should be performed to cover the entire treatment area.
  2. Does the animal have to be shaved?
      Yes. You have to have direct contact with clean, shaven skin in order for the therapy to work properly.
  3. Why is ultrasound used?
      Ultrasound can be used to increase range of motion, aid in tissue healing/repair, decrease pain and treat muscle spasms.
  4. What is included with the initial purchase of the Intelect Vet for ultrasound?
      It comes with ultrasound gel and a 5cm2 ultrasound applicator.
  5. What ultrasound accessories are available for additional purchase with the Intelect Vet?
      Different sizes of applicators are available along with ultrasound gel. A battery, carrying bag and therapy cart can also be purchased for the unit; and there is the option to add a laser module to it as well.
  6. What is unique about ultrasound with the Intelect Vet?
      There are pre-set protocols available making it very easy to set up treatment depending on tissue depth to be reached and whether thermal or non-thermal therapy is desired. Personal protocols can be saved along with the ability to edit any parameters as well.
  7. What is the warranty with the Intelect Vet?
      The warranty is one year (12 months) from the date the unit is commissioned.

Laser:


  1. What type of applicator should be used?
      The type of applicator used should be based upon the size of the area being treated and the type of tissue being treated.
  2. Does the animal have to be shaved?
      Ideally, yes. But, you can part the hair and place the applicator directly on the skin for treatment.
  3. Why is laser therapy used?
      Laser therapy is used for healing soft tissues, pain management, decreasing inflammation and increasing circulation.
  4. How is the Vectra Genisys laser purchased?
      The laser module is purchased separately from the laser applicator and two sets of protective goggles are included with the initial purchase.
  5. What laser accessories are available for additional purchase?
      Different sizes/wavelengths/total power output of applicators are available, battery pack, therapy cart, additional eye wear and a carrying bag.
  6. What class of laser is the Vectra Genisys?
      It has been classified by the FDA as a Class 3b. This is considered a moderately powered laser ranging from 5mW to 500mW and can cause eye injury with direct viewing of the beam.
  7. What is unique about the Vectra Genisys laser?
      It is very user friendly with pre-set protocols based on the type of tissue being treated and whether it’s an acute or chronic problem. The machine can also be set to any parameters desired and special treatments can be saved.
  8. What is the warranty with the Vectra Genisys laser?
      The warranty is two years (24 months) from the date the unit is commissioned.
  9. What maintenance is required with the Vectra Genisys laser?
      One time a year, the laser applicator has to be sent back to the manufacturer for calibration.
  10. What is the password for the unit?
      The password that has been set up by the manufacturer is ‘1111’. That password can be changed if needed.
  11. What is the proper dosage and number of treatments for laser therapy?
      The most appropriate way to dose laser is in joules per centimeter squared (J/cm2) since there is a surface area to cover. There are lots of variables to consider when determining dosage, such as the diagnosis, whether it’s an acute or chronic issue and depth of tissue penetration desired. Some patients may only require one session, while others may require multiple sessions over a period of days, weeks or months.
  12. How is laser therapy applied using the Vectra Genisys?
      The laser applicator needs to be placed directly on the skin with the head of the applicator held perpendicular to the skin. The applicator is kept in constant contact with the body during the treatment time. Once time is up, the treatment is finished or you can move the applicator to the next section to be treated and repeat the procedure.
  13. How deep does laser light penetrate with the Vectra Genisys?
      It ranges from the most superficial surface of the skin down to approximately 4-5 cm below the surface.

Stance Analyzer:


  1. Can the Stance Analyzer be used for dogs and cats of any size?
      Yes. The Stance Analyzer is divided into four quadrants. As long as each paw can be positioned on a separate quadrant, accurate readings can be obtained. The system has been tested using pets of all sizes.
  2. Does the patient have to be perfectly still while on the Stance Analyzer?
      Readings taken when the pet is standing square and still will be the most accurate. However, using the included remote control, several readings can be taken and then averaged for the best analysis. The Stance Analyzer includes a treat stand designed to capture the patient’s attention during analysis.
 

Phone: 865.356.1698