Preoperative and postoperative physiotherapy of the orthopaedic patient

Background : Pre‐ and postoperative physiotherapy has been established as an effective way to enhance the recovery from orthopaedic surgery in people and is regularly practised in human medicine. While postoperative physiotherapy is now a well‐established component of veterinary care, preoperative physiotherapy remains underused despite its potential benefits for our canine and feline patients. Aim of the article : This article explores the application of physiotherapy techniques to pre‐ and postoperative orthopaedic patients and how their use in conjunction can enhance the recovery of canine and feline patients.