Laser therapy: a team approach to pain and mobility clinics

The management of osteoarthritis and other musculoskeletal disorders in veterinary practice necessitates a comprehensive, multimodal approach to optimise patient care. Pain and mobility clinics represent a proactive and integrative approach. These clinics can combine medical, physical and regenerative therapies to optimise patient outcomes. A team-based approach, involving veterinary surgeons, veterinary nurses, physiotherapists and client care staff, facilitates individualised patient care, client education and improved treatment compliance. Photobiomodulation therapy, a potential cornerstone modality in these clinics, has demonstrated significant benefits in managing chronic pain and improving mobility, with growing evidence supporting its use. The use of outcome measurement tools such as stance analysis, joint range of motion assessments, muscle circumference tracking and clinical metrology instruments enables the monitoring of treatment efficacy and guides ongoing management. Intra-articular therapies used in a multimodal approach, including mesenchymal stem cells and platelet-rich plasma, can further support joint health and pain control. Mobility clinics improve patient quality of life, deepen client–practice relationships, enhance staff satisfaction and offer a sustainable and profitable model for chronic disease management in a busy veterinary environment.