Evaluation of therapeutic efficiency of electrostimulation in dogs using electromiography

Abstract

Neuromuscular electrostimulation uses a low electric current which allows recruitment and muscle contraction in patients who have lost the ability to voluntary muscle contraction as a result of a neurological disease (Dolhem, 2008). The aim of our study was to evaluate the effect of electrostimulation on atrophied and denervated muscles, using electromyography. The study was conducted on a group of five dogs which were presented with various neurological disorders in the Medical Clinic of the Faculty of Veterinary Medicine Iasi. Clinical and radiological examinations revealed inflammatory and degenerative processes and intervertebral compactions. A protocol of 30 physiotherapy sessions was initiated, each session using techniques like electrostimulation, passive/active exercise and therapeutic massage, and every 10 sessions, electromyography was used to assess the response to therapy. The results were the progressive increasing of muscle tone and clinical improvement.