Meet the CROC Team

North Carolina State University College of Veterinary Medicine's CCAT program provides the most up-to-date information in the constantly evolving field of companion animal physical rehabilitation taught by active university instructors, expert clinicians, researchers, and recognized industry experts. The CCAT program draws from ongoing research, hands-on training, evidence-based case studies, clinical experience, and leading companies in the field of veterinary medicine. Only Veterinarians, Licensed Veterinary Technicians, Physical Therapists, Physical Therapist Assistants, Occupational Therapists, and select students in one of the accepted professions are permitted to enroll and proof of degree/licensure is required. To begin, CCAT students study animal anatomy and physiology, developing a deep understanding of the body's normal and abnormal cardiovascular functions, skeletal structures and joint biomechanics, nerves, muscles, tendons, ligaments, and fascia including where they're located, what they're attached to and interact with, what their purpose is, how they change with age, how to identify any dysfunction within each structure, and how to best manage associated medical conditions with medication, therapy, and/or surgery. Next, they learn how to perform physical examinations and outcome assessments that go well beyond the typical vet visit, including gait evaluation, measuring range of motion, circumferential musculature measurements, testing reflexes and proprioception, and identifying less obvious signs of pain and inflammation. Once that foundation has been established, CCAT students will study exercise physiology, therapeutic massage, range of motion, stretching, gait training, strengthening exercises, balance and proprioceptive exercises, aquatic exercises, and exercises for wellness/prevention as well as clinically proven modalities such as superficial heating and cooling agents, therapeutic ultrasound, extracorporeal shockwave treatment, pulsed electromagnetic field therapy, laser therapy, and electrical stimulation so that they can prescribe and perform therapeutic exercise programs. After completing those courses, CCAT students are then required to participate in 40 hours of in-clinic observation under the supervision of an approved CCAT or CCRP program graduate, during which time they will draft multiple patient case studies discussing each patient's medical history and presentation, why certain modalities are prescribed, how those treatments work, potential risks of treatment, the patient's response to treatment, and how the prescribed treatment plan may change as the patient's status changes. Upon meeting the above described requirements, CCAT students must then pass both a written and practical exam to demonstrate their proficient understanding of and skill in performing Companion Animal Physical Rehabilitation. Source: North Carolina State University College of Veterinary Medicine