Veterinary and Para-Veterinary Professions Act, 1982 (Act No. 19 of 1982) Rules Rules relating to the Practising of Para-Veterinary Profession of Veterinary Physiotherapist 1. Definitions: Veterinary physiotherapy

 

Any word or expression in this Schedule to which a meaning has been assigned in the Act shall have that meaning, and "the Act" means Veterinary and Para-Veterinary Professions Act, 1982 (Act No. 19 of 1982), and the regulations made thereunder:

 

“acupressure”

means the physical pressure applied to acupoints;

 

“animal health team”

means all registered persons and persons authorised under section 23(1)(c) of the Act within the conditions and limits of their authorization involved with optimising the health of the animal;

 

“balance and proprioceptive training”

mean exercises designed to enhance and improve the patient’s ability to stand independently, and to maintain effective motor control;

 

“cardio-respiratory evaluation”

means techniques employed by the veterinary physiotherapist to evaluate the cardio-respiratory system of patients within the prescribed scope of practice limited to auscultation of heart and lungs, calculation of heart rate and breathing rate and functional tests to evaluate the patient’s cardio-respiratory ability;

 

“cardio-respiratory treatment”

excludes medical treatments, includes but is not limited to the use of nebulisers, the therapy of percussions, vibrations, shaking and use of postural drainage positions;

 

“dynamic evaluation”

means the assessment of an animal patient whilst in motion, which requires active input from the patient and includes the evaluation of the patients’ gait on an appropriate surface;

 

“functional diagnosis”

means a diagnosis which describes the effect of the disease or injury on the ability of the animal to carry out its normal function for example decreased extension of the coxofemoral joint vs anatomical diagnosis such as hip dysplasia;

 

“functional neurological assessment”

is an evaluation of a patient’s current functional adaptation to a neurological deficit, including but is not limited to gait, functional movement, conscious proprioception, and reflex testing;

 

“goniometry”

means the use of an instrument (the goniometer) to measure the joint range of movement;

 

“groundwork”

means working with an animal on the ground using poles and cues to motivate them to perform specific exercises that will strengthen specific parts of their bodies. groundwork as opposed to ridden work is particularly used in relation to horses;

 

“impairment”

means such a level of physical or mental impairment, which includes substance abuse or addiction, that may affect the practice of the veterinary physiotherapist to such an extent that the welfare of the patients, the interest of a client and/or the image of the profession may be compromised;

 

“manual evaluation”

means techniques employed by the veterinary physiotherapist, using his or her hands to evaluate soft tissue function, neurological function and joint mechanics;

 

“motor control”

is the process by which animals use their brain to activate and coordinate the muscles and limbs involved in the performance of a motor skill;

 

“neuromuscular electrical stimulation [NMES]”

is an electrotherapy modality that is used to artificially contract the muscles of the animal using electrical impulses to elicit a muscle contraction in innervated muscle. The electrical current is applied to the skin of the animal, using a conductive material and electrodes. It is used as a tool for assessing and treating the muscles and other associated soft tissue. It can form part of a program to activate muscles and prevent atrophy during training and rehabilitation;

 

“palpation”

means a technique using one’s hands to assess the texture and tone of an animal’s muscles and other soft tissue structures as well as particular anatomical landmarks.

 

“passive evaluation”

means the assessment of the neuromuscular and musculo-skeletal state of the patient which does not require active input from the patient i.e., tests that can be applied by the practitioner without requiring the patient to actively move;

 

“red flags”

means warning signs that suggest that referral back to veterinarian is warranted. Some of the warning signs can be, but are not limited to:

 

“rehabilitation exercise”

means active exercises designed to optimise active pain-free range of movement, to increase muscle mass and muscle strength, improve daily function, improve balance, reduce lameness and prevent further injury;

 

“sport specific assessment”

is the assessment of an athletic animal to optimise performance, reduce risk of injury and promote return to activity;

 

“static evaluation”

means the visual evaluation of the stationary animal taking into account posture, conformation, body score and any other cues that draws attention to any abnormalities;

 

“stress point”

means tender, hyper-irritable spots found in the musculo-tendinous junction;

 

“trans-cutaneous electrical nerve stimulation [TENS]”

means the use of electric currents produced by a device to stimulate the nerves for therapeutic purposes. TENS by definition covers the complete range of transcutaneously applied currents used for nerve excitation although the term is often used with a more restrictive intent, namely, to describe the kind of pulses produced by portable stimulators used to treat pain;

 

“trigger points”

means tender, hyper-irritable spots found in muscle bellies;

 

“unprofessional conduct”

means unprofessional, dishonourable or unworthy conduct as set out in rule 4;

 

“veterinary physiotherapy facility”

means a facility which is registered with council for the purpose of rendering a physiotherapy service to animals; and

 

“veterinary physiotherapy”

means the management and/or treatment of dysfunction in the musculo-skeletal, neuromuscular and cardiorespiratory systems as well as the maintenance of optimal function and the prevention of dysfunction. The goal of veterinary physiotherapy is to maintain, restore and optimise movement and functional ability throughout the lifespan of an animal.