Description
SAVC and AVNAT Approved Course
This flexi CPD course is aimed at vet nurses and vet technicians in general practice and is available on-demand with unlimited lifetime access. Each module consists of a tutorial, quiz and further reading articles
Module 1
Physiotherapy Toolkit (Modalities)
- Electrotherapies
- Therapeutic hot/cold packs
- Manual therapies
- Applied exercise therapies
Learning objectives
After completion of this module, participants should be able to:
- Understand the principles and application of electrotherapy including:
- K-laser
- Transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation (TENS)
- Neuromuscular electrical stimulation (NMES)
- Pulsed magnetic therapy (Biomag)
- Therapeutic ultrasound
- Understand the use of therapeutic hot/ cold packs
- Understand manual therapy and its application including:
- Massage
- Effleurage
- Coupage
- Joint mobilisations
- Graded stretches
- Understand applied exercise therapy including:
- Strengthening and stabilising exercises
- Balance and proprioceptive exercises
- Functional exercises
- Hydrotherapy
Module 2
Patient Assessment
- Musculoskeletal patient assessment
- Neurological patient assessment
- Respiratory / critical care patient assessment
Learning objectives
After completion of this module, participants should be able to:
- Carry out a basic musculoskeletal, neurological, and respiratory physiotherapy assessment
- Understand valid outcome measures to guide patient treatment
- How to write SOAP (subjective, objective, analysis, plan) notes to progress patient treatment
Module 3
Physiotherapy and Hydrotherapy Treatment Techniques
- Early phase rehabilitation 0-2 weeks
- Mid phase rehabilitation 2-6 weeks
- Late phase rehabilitation 6-12 weeks
- Patient discharge or maintenance physiotherapy programme
Learning objectives
After completion of this module, participants should be able to:
- Carry out early physiotherapy treatment including:
- Early manual therapy techniques
- Early phase hot and cold pack treatment
- Early electrotherapies to improve healing and for pain relief
- Mid phase gentle exercise programmes including hydrotherapy
- Late phase exercise therapy to include advanced strengthening, proprioceptive, balance and functional exercises
- Late phase electrotherapies for pain relief, soft tissue injuries and muscle strengthening
Module 4
Physiotherapy Progression Plans and Home Exercise Programmes
- Patient rehabilitation plans
- Discharge and maintenance programmes
- Home exercise plans
Learning objectives
After completion of this module, participants should be able to:
- Learn how and when to progress patient plans from early to mid through to late stage rehabilitation to optimise patient outcomes
- Understand when to discharge a patient, or to continue with a maintenance programme for chronic cases or surgical complications
- Design home exercise programmes for owners to carry out
Module 5
Musculoskeletal Case Studies
- CCL reconstruction – TPLO or lateral suture
- Soft tissue injuries (tendinopathies, iliopsoas strains)
- Fracture repair
- Conservative management of chronic conditions, including hip dysplasia and elbow dysplasia
Learning objectives
After completion of this module, participants should be able to:
- Consider appropriate assessment, treatment plan and progression of a musculoskeletal case study
- Consider appropriate assessment, treatment plan and progression of a soft tissue case study
- Consider appropriate assessment, treatment plan and progression of a fracture repair case study
- Consider appropriate assessment, treatment plan and progression of a chronic condition case study
Module 6
Neurological and Respiratory (Intensive Care) Case Studies
- Hemi- laminectomy (HLE)
- Fibrocartilage embolism (FCE)
- Pneumonia
Learning objectives
After completion of this module, participants should be able to:
- Consider appropriate assessment, treatment plan and progression of a surgical neurological case study
- Consider appropriate assessment, treatment plan and progression of a non-surgical case study
- Consider appropriate assessment, treatment plan and progression of a respiratory (critical care) case study
The course will be available immediately following purchase, with unlimited lifetime access and will provide a total of:
10 hours of CPD (UK)
10 points (Australia and New Zealand)
8 points (South Africa – SAVC Accreditation Number AC/2464/25)
Release date: Apr 2025






Emma K –
Really interesting course
Rated: Intermediate level
(Qualified RVN in general practice >5 years – UK)
Nicola L –
Informative
Rated: Intermediate level
(Qualified RVN in general practice >5 years – UK)
Rebecca H –
Good course for explaining techniques in a variety of cases. Really highlights importance of physiotherapy in the recovery of a range of conditions.
Rated: Introduction level
(Qualified RVN in general practice >5 years – UK)
Rachael G –
Informative and got little golden nuggets of information from it that I wasn’t previously aware of.
Rated: Introduction level
(Newly qualified RVN <2 years - UK)
Claire M –
Informative introduction to physiotherapy
Rated: Introduction / Intermediate level
(Referral or specialist RVN – UK)
Bryony B –
Great tutorials and the Forum is a really good way of getting extra tips and information.
Toni S –
Good depth of information and case studies. Very useful and looking forward to implementing in practice.
Julie N –
The course was very interesting and covered a good range of topics. It has definitely sparked a new interest area for me.
Lauren W –
The course was put together very well, easy to follow and very informative. The course tutors feedback and support was great throughout. I would highly recommend the excel CPD courses, they are very flexible and can done at your leisure to an extent making them a great way to keep up with CPD and gain extra knowledge around a busy home/work lifestyle.
Sue R –
I found the course very interesting and it was good to see in the forum what other professionals do in their own practice.