Australia Network - English Bites - Animal Physiotherapy

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On English Bites today we learn about an unusual university course - animal physiotherapy. You can find out where the university is and some terms used at university.

PETER McCUTCHEON: This horse is not being trained, but rather examined by a physiotherapist. Narelle Stubbs, who has worked with the Olympic Equestrian team, is a clinical instructor in Australia's first degree course in animal physiotherapy.

Qualified physios from around the country have come to the University of Queensland's Gatton campus.

They're learning how to translate their skills from humans, to animals.

NARELLE STUBBS: What we do is we have a look at them moving so we can assess visually and see problems so if they're limping or they're not moving a limb through the flight path as well, one side compared to the other.

PETER McCUTCHEON: Dealing with larger animals requires a new technique.

NARELLE STUBBS: We can then use the leg as a lever to look at range of movement through the body and even stretch this muscle by bringing the shoulder all the way back.

PETER McCUTCHEON: And what you're doing at the moment, is that hurting the horse at all?

NARELLE STUBBS: No, all he is, doing he's nice and relaxed. As you can see from his face he's just standing there and he's relaxed.

PETER McCUTCHEON: The course has been set up by veterinarian Dr Catherine MacGowan, who was recruited from the UK where she developed a similar program.

DR CATHERINE MacGOWAN: There's a range of skills that physiotherapists have and have been using in the human field for a long time that can be very easily applied and very well applied to animals.

Physiotherapy I think it really represents an area where vets and physiotherapists can really work together and you can really get a holistic approach to the treatment of animals with particularly musculoskeletal problems.

PETER McCUTCHEON: Aspiring animal physios can complete the course externally, but have to spend a number of weeks at the Gatton campus for practical training.

While experience with animals is not prerequisite, a physiotherapy degree is.

physiotherapist
Physiotherapy is the treatment of weakness or disease by physical remedies such as massage or exercise.

Someone who practises physiotherapy is called a physiotherapist or a physio for short.

Olympic Equestrian team
The team that rides horses at the Olympic Games.

degree course
A course at a university or college that leads to a degree.

qualified
having a qualification or degree in

campus
grounds of a university

range
variety

set up
established

The phrasal verb set up is the siubject of today's spotlight.

in the human field
on people

applied to
put to use on

holistic approach
treating the whole person instead of just the symptoms of disease
A holistic approach to medicine considers why a person has become ill as well as what to do about the symptoms of the illness.

musculoskeletal problems
problems with muscles and bones

aspiring
aiming; trying hard

externally
outside of the University grounds; from home

practical training
training in the actual work; hands-on training; training in how to actually treat animals

prerequisite
A prerequisite is something that’s required beforehand.

At university, a prerequisite is a skill that you need before you can do a course.

set up

build, erect
The police set up roadblocks to try to catch the gunman.

make arrangements and preparations
We have set up a meeting to talk about the problem.

put something together, prepare it for use
Can you set up the computer for me?

start a business
Once I have the money, I am going to set up a computer business.

provide someone with what is needed
He set me up in my own office.

make wealthy or secure
Winning the lottery will set me up for life.

make someone look like they’ve done something wrong, when they haven’t
I didn’t steal the keys! Someone has set me up.


		spotlight set up build, erect The police set up roadblocks to try to catch the gunman. make arrangements and preparations We have set up a meeting to talk about the problem. put something together, prepare it for use Can you set up the computer for me? start a business Once I have the money, I am going to set up a computer business. provide someone with what is needed He set me up in my own office. make wealthy or secure Winning the lottery will set me up for life. make someone look like they’ve done something wrong, when they haven’t I didn’t steal the keys! Someone has set me up.			communicate with us Join our mailing list Chat in the Learn English forum Contact us