AHPR Member Groups

The AHPR encompasses groups from a variety of fields within the animal therapy industry. Below, you can find information about each sub group. All our associated member groups work to the highest standards and ensure all members are regularly audited and meet industry standards.

New subgroups; we welcome applications from new subgroups which will be considered by the board. If you are part of a profession providing services for the treatment and maintenance of health of animals and would like to form a subgroup under AHPR, please download the Register of Interest form and return completed to enquiries@ahpr.org.uk

Meet our groups

Animal/Veterinary Physiotherapy

A profession concerned with ensuring the highest standards of animal welfare by promoting, restoring and maintaining animal function and locomotion and maximising quality of life. Veterinary physiotherapists use an integrated multi-modal approach on their animal patients to prevent injury, relieve pain, promote healing, improve movement and enhance performance. Modalities such as manual therapies, electrophysical agents and aquatic therapies may be included in their treatment programme which is further enhanced with an individual tailored remedial exercise programme. Physiotherapy is an evidence based discipline with clinical reasoning at its core.

Animal Chiropractic and Manipulation

Practitioners of chiropractic and other associated manual methods contribute to the optimisation of an animal’s musculoskeletal function, overall well-being and physical performance, through the application of a combination of stimulating, mobilising and manipulative techniques. There is often a direct relationship between biomechanical and neurological dysfunction which can result in a vast array of clinical presentations in the animal patient. Such interventions are designed to facilitate the natural release of joint and soft tissue dysfunction and also optimise neurologic activity.

Animal Sports Therapy and Massage

Massage is the evidence based application of ‘hands on’ manual therapies, by competent, professional, qualified therapists. With animal welfare as a first consideration, full static and dynamic evaluation assessments are carried out to enable the sports therapist to make informed decisions based on clinical reasoning. Environment, training equipment, animal / handler relationships and psychological factors are evaluated before applying integrated, documented techniques to establish and promote optimum physical and psychological well-being in their patients. Animal sports therapy and massage play an extremely important role in prophylactic care for animals, assisting in the early detection, treatment and restoration of musculoskeletal imbalances. Animal massage is an evidenced based profession with animal welfare at its core.

Animal Hydrotherapy

Animal hydrotherapy is an assessment led treatment administered by a qualified therapist using evidence based practice and clinical reasoning in a warm, safe and sanitised aquatic environment. Treatments include controlled therapeutic exercise and movement therapies utilising the therapeutic properties of water to address movement dysfunction which may be a result of musculoskeletal, orthopaedic and neurological functional deficits. Hydrotherapy can also effectively enhance performance in the athletic animal and optimise the individual animal’ s fitness and health status. The skilled therapist provides a safe and effective modality to achieve a significant impact on the patients’ quality of life.