The
American Association of Rehabilitation Veterinarians (AARV)
is a national association of veterinarians and veterinary technicians
dedicated to improving the quality of life in animals through
physical medicine and rehabilitation.
SPOTLIGHT
PRACTICE: JULY 2014
The SPAW
The SPAW is a canine rehabilitation facility
located within Aldergrove Animal Hospital, a primary healthcare
veterinary clinic, in Aldergrove, British Columbia, Canada, that
is re-opening August 9, 2014, when renovations are complete and
our head technician and manager returns from maternity leave.
The SPAW is dedicated exclusively
to physical rehabilitation therapy, fitness and conditioning,
and sports medicine. Founded in 2004 by
Dr. Jeff Bowra, The SPAW team includes Jeff Bowra, DVM, CCRP; Raceeta
MacKenzie, BSc, DVM, CAC; Mark Smith BSc, DVM, MVSc, Dip (ACVS); and Jenn
Panko, RVT, CCRP, OCMC, CAPMC. Our clinicians have a comprehensive set of
skills including expertise in sports medicine, rehabilitation including use
of modalities, orthopedic and neuro surgery, and chiropractic treatment options
for our patients. They diagnose conditions and prescribe treatment including
pain management and nutrition options and rehabilitation. Our technician Jenn
Panko performs all prescribed treatment plans and reports all findings and
progress to the clinicians, schedules further consultations with clinicians
and reports back to referring veterinarians.
NOW
UPDATED!
AARV Summary of Pet Insurance Coverage for Rehabilitation
Services
AARV has just released an updated
version of its summary of pet insurance
coverage for rehabilitation services. We believe this
information will be helpful to our members and their
clients.
To create this chart, we contacted
pet insurance companies to collect information regarding
coverage of rehabilitation services. Most of the companies
were enthusiastic to provide the AARV information about
their coverages. The AARV compiled the information received
and created a 2-page summary chart in PDF format.
AARV members, the
AARV needs you to help the association move forward
with current activities and to play an integral part
in our strategic planning process. This is your opportunity
to truly have your voice heard.
Our
annual elections will take place in November. Board
positions that are up for re-election in 2014 are:
Secretary
Legislative Liaison
Industry
Liaison
Board positions are 3-year commitments,
beginning in January. In addition to the responsibilities
of each office, board members are expected to take
part in monthly board conference calls.
Not ready for
a board position but interested in serving on a committee?
Our Membership and Public Relations Committees are
looking for eager volunteers!
For more information
about these positions or to nominate someone (including
yourself), please contact Jan Van Dyke at janetvandyke@me.com.
The deadline for submitting nominations is September
1, 2014.
Presentation
Notes Available from the STAAR
Symposium
AARV is pleased to provide
presentation notes from its lecture track at the
5th Annual Symposium on Therapeutic Advances in Animal
Rehabilitation (STAAR), held April 25-27 in Florham Park,
New Jersey.
In
addition to the pre-symposium labs and workshops that
have made this symposium so popular, this year's event
included a half-day lecture track presented by AARV and
sponsored by DJO
Global.
The
lecture track, entitled "What's on the Horizon?
Cutting-Edge Topics in Veterinary Rehabilitation That
Impact Your Practice Today," featured 4 great presenters:
Joan Coates, DVM, PhD, DACVIM (Neuro); our own Kristin
Kirkby Shaw, DVM, DACVS, PhD, Dipl. American College
of Veterinary Sports Medicine and Rehabilitation; Pedro
Rivera, DVM, Fellow American College of Functional Neurology;
and Gina Bertocci, PhD, PE, Endowed Chair Biomechanics,
University of Louisville.
Dr. Shaw has made her presentation
notes and reference list available to AARV members.
Veterinary Rehabilitation: Where is the Evidence? Kristin Kirkby Shaw, DVM, PhD, CCRT, Diplomate, American College of Veterinary Surgeons, Diplomate, American College of Veterinary Sports Medicine and Rehabilitation
According to the Evidence Based
Veterinary Medicine Association, evidence-based medicine
is "the effort to place all medical decisions on the
strongest scientific proof (evidence) available." Although
physical rehabilitation is becoming an accepted means
of decreasing morbidity, speeding and improving recovery,
and enhancing quality of life in veterinary patients,
it is essential that an evidence-based approach be used
in order to critically evaluate and document the efficacy
of rehabilitation. Because it is a young discipline,
there is a paucity of clinical veterinary studies regarding
rehabilitation on which to base decision-making. Rather,
rehabilitation therapists must often turn to the human
literature and basic science principles when recommending
therapy. The purpose of this discussion will be to review
the available literature regarding physical rehabilitation
and the clinical use of common therapeutic modalities
in small animal patients. Discussion of pharmaceutical
interventions, acupuncture, othotic/prosthetics and regenerative
medicine is beyond the scope of this review.
Evidence for physical rehabilitation
in orthopedic patients Several
authors have documented significant improvement following
orthopedic surgery in dogs that participate in physical
rehabilitation programs compared to dogs that are cage
rested (1-4). The incorporation of physical rehabilitation
in to weight management programs significantly improves lameness and weight loss
in dogs (5,6).
The AARV lecture
track at STAAR drew a crowd to hear the four speakers.
Joan Coates, DVM, PhD, DACVIM (Neuro)
Kristin Kirkby Shaw, DVM, DACVS, PhD, Dipl. American College of Veterinary Sports Medicine and Rehabilitation
Pedro Rivera,
DVM, Fellow American College of Functional Neurology
Gina Bertocci, PhD, PE, Endowed Chair Biomechanics, University of Louisville
Call
for Abstracts for NAVC 2015
Interested in presenting your original
scientific study during the AARV track at the 2015 NAVC
Conference? Please see the Abstract
Submissions page for complete details. The deadline
for abstract submission is October 15, 2014.
Order
AARV Memorial Cards
AARV is now offering printed memorial
cards, which may be purchased and sent to clients of
your practice to honor the lives of their companion animals.
The inside of the cards contains blank space for personalization
and a message explaining that a gift has been made
to support AARV's mission.
Visit the Products
page to
order cards online with a credit card or check.
Congratulations!
Congratulations to Dr. Andrea Henderson, the winner
of the 2014 IAMS-John J. Sherman III Award for Excellence in the Field
of Veterinary Rehabilitation. presented at AARV's annual conference in
January in Orlando, Florida.
Dr. Andrea Henderson received her
Doctorate of Veterinary Medicine from the Virginia-Maryland
Regional College of Veterinary Medicine in 2005. Her
passion for working dogs led her to join the U.S. Army
Veterinary Corps. She has been an active duty officer
for eight years and currently holds the rank of Major.
In July 2011, Dr. Henderson began a residency in canine
sports medicine and rehabilitation at the University
of Tennessee in Knoxville, of which she is currently
in her third year. She is concurrently pursuing a Masters
of Science with a focus in Kinesology with plans to graduate
in 2014. After graduation, she will return to the Department
of Defense Military Working Dog Center in San Antonio
to oversee and expand the sports medicine and conditioning
programs for the military working dogs. Dr. Henderson
has specific interests in therapeutic laser applications
in healing and nerve regeneration, perioperative multimodal
analgesia, and conservative management of degenerative
lumbosacral stenosis in Military Working Dogs.
Thank you to P&G IAMS for your generous sponsorship
of this award. We look forward to continuing our relationship for the benefit
of our profession, our colleagues, and rehabilitation veterinary medicine.
The John J. Sherman III Award for Excellence in the Field
of Veterinary Rehabilitation is named in honor of Dr. John Sherman,
a pioneer in veterinary rehabilitation medicine, who passed away in 2010.
At the AARV conference, President Dr. Rosemary
LoGiudice also presented a plaque of appreciation to Dr. Janet Van
Dyke,
2013 AARV president.
Dr. Andrea Henderson
(center) accepts the IAMS-John J. Sherman III Award from Marcie
J. Campion, PhD, scientific relations manager at IAMS (left). At right
is Dr. Rosemary LoGiudice, president of AARV.
Dr. Janet
Van Dyke (right) receives a plaque of appreciation for her term as AARV
President in 2013 from Dr. Rosemary LoGiudice, the 2014 AARV President.
Become
an AARV Member
We invite veterinarians to learn more about
AARV and the benefits of membership. As a registered
non-profit organization, AARV promotes education and research in
the field of veterinary rehabilitation. Members attend continuing
education programs offered by AARV in conjunction with national
veterinary meetings.
AARV offers members knowledge,
publicity, a way to speak out about issues, great continuing
education opportunities and discounts from AARV partner
companies.
For more details about these benefits, please
visit our Membership
Benefits page.
We have adopted new membership
categories, effective November 2013. Dues are the same
for new and renewing members.
Veterinarian or industry professional:
$100
Additional member from a practice
at which another veterinarian is already a
current AARV member: $65
Veterinary intern or resident:
$65
Veterinary technician*: $40
Veterinary student graduating
this year: $50
Veterinary or technician student
graduating next year or later: Free
We are also now offering memberships
for multiple years! Join or renew for 2 years and guarantee
the same membership rate for both years. Join or renew
for 3 years and receive a 5% discount. Join or renew
for 5 years and receive a 10% discount.
