Approach to Small Animal Neurorehabilitation by Locomotor Training: An Update

Overview

Journal Animals (Basel)

Date 2022 Dec 23

PMID 36552502

Authors

Debora Gouveia

Ana Cardoso

Carla Carvalho

Antonio Almeida

Oscar Gamboa

Antonio Ferreira

Angela Martins

Affiliations

Soon will be listed here.

Abstract

Neurorehabilitation has a wide range of therapies to achieve neural regeneration, reorganization, and repair (e.g., axon regeneration, remyelination, and restoration of spinal circuits and networks) to achieve ambulation for dogs and cats, especially for grade 1 (modified Frankel scale) with signs of spinal shock or grade 0 (deep pain negative), similar to humans classified with ASIA A lesions. This review aims to explain what locomotor training is, its importance, its feasibility within a clinical setting, and some possible protocols for motor recovery, achieving ambulation with coordinated and modulated movements. In addition, it cites some of the primary key points that must be present in the daily lives of veterinarians or rehabilitation nurses. These can be the guidelines to improve this exciting exercise necessary to achieve ambulation with quality of life. However, more research is essential in the future years.

Citing Articles

Early Intensive Neurorehabilitation in Traumatic Peripheral Nerve Injury-State of the Art.

Gouveia D, Cardoso A, Carvalho C, Oliveira A, Almeida A, Gamboa O Animals (Basel). 2024; 14(6).

PMID: 38539981 PMC: 10967370. DOI: 10.3390/ani14060884.

Intensive neurorehabilitation and allogeneic stem cells transplantation in canine degenerative myelopathy.

Gouveia D, Correia J, Cardoso A, Carvalho C, Oliveira A, Almeida A Front Vet Sci. 2023; 10:1192744.

PMID: 37520009 PMC: 10374290. DOI: 10.3389/fvets.2023.1192744.

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