Evaluation of Transcutaneous Electrical Stimulation (TENS), Therapeutic Ultrasound (TU), and Low-Level Laser Therapy (LLLT) Applications for Physical Therapy in Neurological and Orthopedic Disorders in Cats and Dogs; 20 Cases

Aşkın Doğan; Sadık Yayla

doi:10.71336/ijvar.731

Authors

Aşkın Doğan
Sadık Yayla

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.71336/ijvar.731

Keywords:

Cat and dog, Low-level laser therapy, Physical therapy and rehabilitation, Therapeutic ultrasound, Transcutaneous electrical stimulation

Abstract

This study aimed to evaluate the applications of transcutaneous electrical stimulation (TENS), therapeutic ultrasound (TU), and low-level laser therapy (LLLT) for physical therapy and rehabilitation (PTR) in cats and dogs with neurological and orthopedic disorders, and the results obtained from these applications. The study material consisted of 11 cats and 9 dogs (20 cases). Transcutaneous electrical stimulation (TENS), therapeutic ultrasound (TU), and low-level laser therapy (LLLT) were used for PTR in these cases. In the study, 4 (20%) cases had muscular dystrophy, 9 (45%) cases had patellar dislocation or hip joint-related orthopedic problems (1 case of Leg Calve Perthes (5%), 8 cases of hip dislocation and patellar luxation (40%), while the remaining 7 cases (35%) were neurogenic in origin (6 spinal traumas (30%), 1 radial paralysis (5%). Only 6 (30%) of the cases included in the study underwent physical therapy alone without any surgical planning. In the other 14 cases (70%), physical therapy was applied after a surgical procedure. While physical therapy resulted in significant improvement in orthopedic problems, complete recovery was not achieved in some neurological cases. Based on the findings from this study regarding the dosages and durations used, the results of this combination are quite satisfactory. We recommend using physical therapy applications consisting of a combination of TENS, TU, and LLLT alone or as a complementary treatment for orthopedic and neurological disorders in cats and dogs.

References

Aimbire F, Albertini R, Pacheco MTT, Leonardo PSLM, Iversen VV, Bjordal JM. 2006. Low-level laser therapy induces dose-dependent reduction of TNF alpha levels in acute inflammation. Photomedlaser Surg, 24(1): 33-37.

Alves ACA, de Carvalho PT, Parente M, Xavier M, Frigo L, Ambire F, Junior ECPL, Albertini R. 2013. Low-level laser therapy in different stages of rheumatoid arthritis: a histological study. Lasersmed Sci, 8(2): 529-536.

Anders JJ, Lanzafame RJ, Arany PR. 2015. Low-level light/laser therapy versus photobiomodulation therapy. Photomedlaser Surg, 33(1): 183–184.

Arioli G, Maddali Bongi S, Pappone N. 2008. L'approccio riabilitativo nell'artrite reumatoide [The rehabilitative approach in rheumatoid arthritis]. Reumatismo, 60(4): 242-248.

Bockstahler B. 2006. The orthopedic patient: conservative treatment, physiotherapy and rehabilitation. In Iams clinical nutrition symposium. Vienna. Austria, p:25-30.

Cheng K, Xia P, Lin Q, Shen S, Gao M, Ren S, Li X. 2014. Effects of low-intensity pulsed ultrasound on integrin-FAK-PI3K/Akt mechanochemical transduction in rabbit osteoarthritis chondrocytes. Ultrasound Med Biol, 40 (7): 1609-1618.

Chu XL, Song XZ, Li Q, Li YR, He F, Gu XS, Ming D. 2022. Basic mechanisms of peripheral nerve injury and treatment via electrical stimulation. Neural Regen Res, 17(10): 2185-2193.

Cotler HB, Chow RT, Hamblin MR, Carroll J. 2015. The use of low level laser therapy (LLLT) for musculoskeletal pain. MOJ Orthoprheumatol, 2(5): 00068.

Gölgeli BA, Yanmaz LE. 2023. The effects of cream-based Triticum vulgare with and without therapeutic ultrasound on excisional wound healing in diabetic rats. Cutaneous and ocular toxicology, 42(2): 61-67. DOI: 10.1080/15569527.2023.2201833

Grecu M, Rîmbu CM, Mareș M, Năstasă V, Rusu OR. 2018. Alternative methods of therapy in articular disorders in dogs and cats. Series Vet Med, 66(4): 1-275.

Henea ME, Șindilar EV, Burtan LC, Mihai I, Grecu M, Anton A, Solcan G. 2023. Recovery of spinal walking in paraplegic dogs using physiotherapy and supportive devices to maintain the standing position. Animals (Basel), 13(8), 1398.

Hentschke VS, Jaenisch RB, Schmeing LA, Cavinato PR, Xavier LL, Dal Lago P. 2013. Low-level laser therapy improves the inflammatory profile of rats with heart failure. Lasersmed Sci, 28(3): 1007-1016.

Hyytiäinen HK, Boström A, Asplund K, Bergh A. 2022. A systematic review of complementary and alternative veterinary medicine in sport and companion animals: Electrotherapy. Animals (Basel),13(1): 64.

Johnson MI, Paley CA, Jones G, Mulvey MR, Wittkopf PG. 2022. Efficacy and safety of transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation (TENS) for acute and chronic pain in adults: a systematic review and meta-analysis of 381 studies (the meta-TENS study). BMJ Open, 12(2): 1-12.

Marcellin-Little DJ, Levine D, Millis DL. 2015. Veterinary rehabilitation and physical therapy. Preface. Vet Clin North Am Small Anim Pract, 45(1): 9-10

Martorell J, Espada Y, Ramis A. 2006. Bilateral adrenalectomy in a ferret (Mustela putorius furo) with hyperadrenocorticism. Comp Anim Pract, 16(3): 191-194

Mcgowan C, Goff L. 2016. Animal physiotherapy: assessment, treatment and rehabilitation of animals. İngi̇ltere. p: 384-417

Mirza U, Makhdoomi DM, Anjum S, Baba WN. 2019. Phonophoresis in animals-A review. Agricultural Reviews, 40(1): 37-40.

Okur S, Okumuş Z. 2022. Effects of low-level laser therapy and therapeutic ultrasound on Freund’s complete adjuvant-induced knee arthritis model in rats. Arch Rheumatol, 38(1): 32-43.

Özdinçerler AR, Tarakçı E, Hüseyinsinoğlu BE, Alpözgen AZ, Baydoğan SN. 2013. Isı İle İlgili Genel Bilgiler, “Fiziksel Modaliteler ve Elektroterapi. İstanbul Tıp Kitap Evi. İstanbul. s: 65-70.

Pallotta RC, Bjordal JM, Frigo L, Leal JEC, Teixeira S, Marcos RL, Ramos L, Messias FM, Lopes-Martins RAB. 2012. Infrared (810-nm) low-level laser therapy on rat experimental knee inflammation. Lasersmed Sci, 27(1): 71-78.

Sarıerler M, Ulutürk SE. 2022. Fizik tedavi ve rehabilitasyon, Özaydın İ (Ed), Veteriner Genel Cerrahi, Nobel Tıp Kitabevleri. Ankara. s: 266-279.

Ünsaldı E. 2024. Kedi ve köpeklerde fizik tedavi ve rehabilitasyon, Nobel Tıp Kitabevleri. Ankara. s: 1-5.

Vance CG, Dailey DL, Rakel BA, Sluka KA. 2014. Using TENS for pain control: the state of the evidence. Pain Management, 4(3): 197-209.

Wiputhanuphongs A, Soontornvipart K, Janwantanakul P. 2015. Effect of physical therapy program after surgical correction of medial patellar luxation in small breed dogs. The Thai J. Vet. Med, 45(4): 573-580.

Wright BD. 2021. Acupuncture for the treatment of neuromuscular conditions in dogs and cats, with emphasis on intervertebral disc disease. J Am Holist Vet Med Assoc, 63(1): 23-33.

Yanmaz LE, Ersoz U, Okur S, Yildirim BA, Comakli S, Sağlam YS, Dogan E, Karatas O, Turgut F, Okumuş Z. 2021. The effect of low-level laser therapy on rat unicortical femoral defect. The Thai J of Vet Med, 51(2): 277-284.

Yayla S, Altan S, Çatalkaya E, Ersöz-Kanay B, Saylak N, Altan F, Sağsöz H and Topaloğlu U, 2026. Effectiveness of low-level laser therapy for treatment of cats with thoracic trauma. Pak Vet J, 46(3): 701-709. http://dx.doi.org/10.29261/pakvetj/2026.059