552 Canine Sports Medicine and Rehabilitation
Acupuncture is a useful modality to integrate
into a rehabilitation program due to its analgesic
properties and nerve stimulation effects. Many
patients that receive rehabilitation therapy have
pain that might hinder their ability to perform
physical activity. By decreasing or eliminating
pain, acupuncture allows more aggressive reha-
bilitation treatments to be instituted. Acupuncture
can be administered as the final step in the reha-
bilitation protocol. A patient with cranial cruciate
ligament rupture might receive laser therapy,
massage, underwater treadmill, and exercises
such as sit-to-stands. This patient would benefit
from acupuncture therapy at the end of the exer-
cises once they have cooled off. For these patients,
acupuncture therapy can be given once or twice
per week. A patient with intervertebral disc dis-
ease would likely receive a rehabilitation proto-
col of physioball work, isometric contractions,
assisted walking with slings, toe pinches, ear
scratches, neuromuscular electrical stimulation,
and underwater treadmill. Because acupuncture
can promote nerve regeneration (La et al., 2005) it
is indicated for these patients, and it is commonly
used 1–5 days per week depending on the grade
of disc disease. Acupuncture is not only benefi-
cial for pain management and nerve regeneration
but it also has calming/sedating effects that are
useful for patients that need to be cage-rested
(Kim et al., 2006). Acupuncture points used for
their calming/sedating effects include GV-17,
GV-20, GV-21, An-shen, and HT-7.Case Study 22.1 Acupuncture to treat a Greyhound with decreased mobilitySignalment: 8 y.o. F/S Greyhound.
History: Patient has decreased activity, difficulty get-
ting onto bed, and right pelvic limb lameness after
activity for past few months.Physical examination: On presentation patient is
bright, alert, and responsive. Body condition score
6/9, weight 70.8 pounds. Mild muscle atrophy of
right pelvic limb (47.5 cm) compared to left
(48 cm). Exhibits pain (4/10) on lumbosacral junc-
tion and slow conscious proprioception on right
pelvic limb, but patellar reflexes and withdrawal
normal. Patient on Cosequin® and fish oil for
over a year.
Treatment plan: Continue Cosequin® and fish oil,
start gabapentin at 10 mg/kg p.o. t.i.d., and weekly
laser therapy and acupuncture for 4 weeks. Clients
instructed to not allow patient to jump onto bed
while undergoing therapy.
Initial treatment:
Laser therapy: Wavelength 905 nm, power 1.2 Watts,
frequency 292 Hz, dose 4 J/cm^2 , 229.624 J along
lumbosacral spine and paraspinal muscles.
Acupuncture:
● Dry needle: Bai-hui, LIV-3, BL-60, KID-3, BL-35,
BL-36, GB-29, GB-30
● Electroacupuncture: Shen-shu, Shen-peng, Shen-
jiao, BL-54 + Jian-jiao, BL-23 @ 20 Hz × 20
minutes.
Follow-up treatment (1 week later):
Update: Patient more comfortable and more active at
home.Laser therapy: Repeated as above.
Acupuncture:
● Dry needle: Bai-hui, LIV-3, BL-60, KID-3, BL-35,
BL-36, GB-29, GB-30
● Electroacupuncture: Shen-shu, Shen-peng, Shen-
jiao, BL-54 + Jian-jiao, BL-23 @ 20 Hz × 20
minutes.
Follow-up treatment (1 week later):
Update: Patient is doing well, although she jumped
on the bed and yelped.
Laser therapy: Repeated as above.
Acupuncture:
● Dry needle: Bai-hui, LIV-3, BL-60, KID-3, BL-35,
BL-36, GB-29, GB-30
● Electroacupuncture: Shen-shu, Shen-peng, Shen-
jiao, BL-54 + Jian-jiao, BL-23 @ 20 Hz × 20
minutes.
Follow-up treatment (1 week later):
Update: Patient is doing very well at home and clients
are lifting her on and off bed to prevent jumping.
Laser therapy: Repeated as above.
Acupuncture:
● Dry needle: Bai-hui, LIV-3, BL-60, KID-3, BL-35,
BL-36, GB-29, GB-30
● Electro-acupuncture: Shen-shu, Shen-peng,
Shen-jiao, BL-54 + Jian-jiao, BL-23 @ 20 Hz × 20
minutes.
Outcome: On the last visit, patient has no evi-
dence of lumbosacral pain or right pelvic limb
lameness. Patient able to return to activities she
used to enjoy, and has not required any follow-up
treatments to date.