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Brookline residents open animal PT clinic

NASHUA – Jennifer and JW Brooks, of Brookline, have recently opened a new physical therapy clinic in Nashua. This clinic is a little different from most, as the patients are four-legged.

While animal physical therapy clinics are more common in Greater Boston, the Brooks’ endeavor is the first one available in this area.

Horse ‘n Hound Physical Therapy, at 531 Amherst St., will host a public open house from 11 a.m.-2 p.m. Saturday, July 28.

Physical therapy is a profession based on more than 100 years of historic rehabilitation for humans, based on clinical and scientific research. It addresses deficits in neuro-musculo-skeletal movement with a goal of returning function after a surgery, disease or injury.

HnHPT’s clinic offers hydro-therapy, using an Aqua-Paws underwater treadmill for strengthening, flexibility and range of motion restoration. The clinic contains two gym spaces for gait training, strengthening and balance exercises using a variety of equipment to help dogs and cats get back to coordinated functional movement.

Therapeutic modalities of a Class 3b and Level 4 cold laser and therapeutic ultrasound, heat and cold, manual approaches, and massage are applied to reduce pain, inflammation and promote faster tissue healing.

Physical therapy is most effective immediately after injury, surgery or during recovery throughout the three phases of healing. The initial acute phase of healing is an ideal time to start PT. It should continue during the sub-acute phase of healing, which starts about 48 hours after a surgery or injury and ends about three months post-injury.

A positive prognosis is much more likely when treatment is initiated early versus waiting until the later third stage called chronicity.

Common pet conditions that can benefit from physical therapy include:

? Spinal injury, post-
spinal surgery and back pain.

? Osteoarthritis.

? Surgical repair of cranial cruciate ligament tears or medial luxation of patellae.

? Strengthening programs for prevention of hind end weakness that is common in geriatric patients.

? Weight reduction and management.

? Joint and soft tissue injuries such as sprains, fractures, dislocations, disk rupture and repair, diseases, and degenerative myopathy.

? Intergumentry (skin) conditions such as burns, ulcers, lick granulomas and wound healing.

? Cardiopulmonary and circulatory conditions, lymphedema.

? Tendinitis and over-use injuries.

? Conditioning programs for agility and working dogs.

In addition to standard physical therapy treatments, four-legged patients can be fitted for adaptive equipment and canine wheelchairs if needed. Horse ‘n Hound staff work closely with more than 100 local veterinary service providers using written progress reports that can include processing insurance paperwork.

HnHPT offers a variety of owner services and animal physical therapy:

? Pet specialty rehabilitation items from simple slings, splints or traction boots to therapeutic laser rentals or purchases.

? Elliptical trainer for owner use to exercise while waiting during their pet’s PT session.

? TV viewing and free Wi-Fi in waiting area.

? Wheelchair and adaptive equipment fitting and instruction in use.

? Drop-off day care service for rehab patients.

? Owner education about the pet’s condition.

? Provision of home exercise programs for owners to do with their pets.

? Provision of human physical therapy consult and treatments.

Brooks is a licensed physical therapist and holds a master’s degree in education and certificates in equine and canine rehabilitation from the University of Tennessee, Knoxville. Brooks is also an adjunct faculty member at the University of Tennessee, teaching in the equine rehabilitation program. With the opening of the clinic in Nashua, she has involved her husband as operations and marketing manager and hired a rehab assistant and front office receptionist to serve clients and area professionals and to provide quality treatment to her animal patients in need of rehabilitation. For more information, visit www.hnhpt.com, or email Lori Lindgren or JW Brooks at info@hnhpt.com.