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Review
. 2022 Dec 18;12(24):3582.
doi: 10.3390/ani12243582.

Approach to Small Animal Neurorehabilitation by Locomotor Training: An Update

Débora Gouveia  1   2   3 , Ana Cardoso  1 , Carla Carvalho  1 , António Almeida  4 , Óscar Gamboa  4 , António Ferreira  4   5 , Ângela Martins  1   2   3   4
Affiliations
Review

Approach to Small Animal Neurorehabilitation by Locomotor Training: An Update

Débora Gouveia et al. Animals (Basel). .

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.

Keywords: cats; dogs; locomotor training; neurorehabilitation; spinal cord injury; treadmill.

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Conflict of interest statement

The authors declare no conflict of interest.

Figures

Figure 1
Figure 1
Land treadmill bipedal step training on a cat (A) and quadrupedal step training on a dog (B).
Figure 2
Figure 2
Underwater treadmill quadrupedal training on a dog.
Figure 3
Figure 3
Monitorization of a dog after the performance of locomotor training.
Figure 4
Figure 4
Land treadmill training in an SCI dog with the addition of weight-bearing pads (A) and with thera-band resistance (B).
Figure 5
Figure 5
Land treadmill training with a dog performing steps backwards (A) and stepping over obstacles (B).
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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