Volume 29, Issue 1, March 2014, Pages 24–28
Advances in Rehabilitation
A
nonpharmaceutical approach to managing pain is one that does not employ
a medication. The use of such approaches, in conjunction with
pharmaceuticals as part of multimodal methods to managing pain, is
becoming more popular as evidence is emerging to support their use. Cold
therapy, for one, is used to reduce the inflammation and tissue damage
seen in acute injuries and can be very effective at reducing acute pain.
Incorporating the use of superficial heat therapy when treating pain
associated with chronic musculoskeletal conditions is often employed as
heat increases blood flow, oxygen delivery, and tissue extensibility.
Acupuncture is gaining acceptance in veterinary medicine. Research is
confirming that release of endogenous endorphins and enkephalins from
the application of needles at specific points around the body can
effectively control acute and chronic pain. The use of 2 newer
therapies—extracorporeal shockwave therapy and platelet-rich
plasma—represent an attempt to eliminate the causes of pain at the
tissue level by promoting tissue healing and regeneration. Reviewed in
this article, these therapies are intended to be used in conjunction
with pharmaceuticals as part of a multimodal approach to pain
management.
Keywords
- dogs;
- cats;
- pain;
- cold therapy;
- heat therapy;
- acupuncture;
- extracorporeal shockwave therapy;
- platelet-rich plasma
Copyright © 2014 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.
