CCAT Rehabilitation Techniques & Modalities 3 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: A dog with hip dysplasia shows reluctance to bear weight after aquatic therapy. Which adjustment to the hydrotherapy protocol is most appropriate?
- Increase water temperature to maximum tolerable levels
- Raise water level to reduce percentage of body weight borne (Correct answer)
- Increase treadmill speed to strengthen muscles faster
- Switch to ice water to reduce inflammation
Correct answer: Raise water level to reduce percentage of body weight borne
Raising the water level increases buoyancy, further reducing the percentage of body weight the dog must bear, decreasing pain and allowing better participation.
Question 2: What does a Maitland Grade III joint mobilization involve?
- Small amplitude movement at the beginning of range
- Large amplitude movement reaching the end of available range (Correct answer)
- Small amplitude movement at the end of range
- Thrust technique through the end of range
Correct answer: Large amplitude movement reaching the end of available range
Maitland Grade III involves large amplitude oscillations that move into the resistance of the range, reaching the end of available movement.
Question 3: Which cold therapy application is contraindicated in a patient with peripheral vascular disease?
- Warm hydrotherapy
- Cryotherapy with ice packs (Correct answer)
- Therapeutic ultrasound at low intensity
- Infrared light therapy
Correct answer: Cryotherapy with ice packs
Cryotherapy causes vasoconstriction, which further reduces already compromised blood flow in patients with peripheral vascular disease, risking tissue ischemia.
Question 4: During therapeutic exercise for a dog with supraspinatus tendinopathy, which exercise type is MOST appropriate in the early phase of rehabilitation?
- High-speed sprinting
- Concentric strengthening at high loads
- Controlled isometric and low-load eccentric exercises (Correct answer)
- Plyometric jumping exercises
Correct answer: Controlled isometric and low-load eccentric exercises
Early tendinopathy rehabilitation should begin with isometric exercises to reduce pain, then progress to low-load eccentric loading which stimulates tendon remodeling.
Question 5: What is the primary physiological mechanism by which extracorporeal shockwave therapy (ESWT) promotes healing in chronic tendinopathies?
- Direct mechanical destruction of calcifications only
- Stimulation of neovascularization and growth factor release (Correct answer)
- Suppression of inflammatory cytokines immediately
- Thermal heating of deep tissues
Correct answer: Stimulation of neovascularization and growth factor release
ESWT promotes healing by stimulating angiogenesis, increasing growth factor expression (TGF-β, VEGF), and promoting tenocyte proliferation in chronic tendons.
Question 6: A therapist uses proprioceptive neuromuscular facilitation (PNF) techniques on a dog's hindlimb. Which principle underlies the hold-relax technique?
- Reciprocal inhibition of antagonist muscles
- Autogenic inhibition via Golgi tendon organ activation (Correct answer)
- Stretch reflex activation of agonist muscles
- Gate control suppression of pain signals
Correct answer: Autogenic inhibition via Golgi tendon organ activation
Hold-relax uses isometric contraction of the target muscle followed by relaxation, activating the Golgi tendon organ to cause autogenic inhibition and allow greater ROM.
Question 7: When designing an aquatic therapy protocol for a geriatric cat, which water temperature range is most appropriate?
- 15–20°C (59–68°F)
- 25–28°C (77–82°F)
- 33–37°C (91–99°F) (Correct answer)
- 40–45°C (104–113°F)
Correct answer: 33–37°C (91–99°F)
Water temperature of 33–37°C is therapeutic for geriatric patients as it reduces muscle guarding, promotes relaxation, and mimics body temperature without risk of overheating.
CCAT Rehabilitation Techniques & Modalities 3
A dog with hip dysplasia shows reluctance to bear weight after aquatic therapy.
Which adjustment to the hydrotherapy protocol is most appropriate?