The implementation and initial evaluation of a physical therapy program for captive chimpanzees (Pan troglodytes)
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The implementation and initial evaluation of a physical therapy program for captive chimpanzees (Pan troglodytes). / Neal Webb, Sarah J; Bridges, Jennifer P; Thiele, Erica; Lambeth, Susan P; Schapiro, Steven J.
In: American Journal of Primatology, Vol. 82, No. 3, e23109, 03.2020.Research output: Contribution to journal › Journal article › Research › peer-review
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TY - JOUR
T1 - The implementation and initial evaluation of a physical therapy program for captive chimpanzees (Pan troglodytes)
AU - Neal Webb, Sarah J
AU - Bridges, Jennifer P
AU - Thiele, Erica
AU - Lambeth, Susan P
AU - Schapiro, Steven J
N1 - © 2020 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
PY - 2020/3
Y1 - 2020/3
N2 - Due to advances in captive nonhuman primate (NHP) medical care, the number of geriatric chimpanzees (≥35-years old) is growing. With old age comes a variety of physical conditions, including arthritis, stroke, and mobility impairments. Programs aimed at enhancing the welfare of geriatric chimpanzees are now quite common, but there are few published empirical evaluations of the efficacy of such programs. The current study aimed to create, implement, and evaluate the effects of participation in a physical therapy (PT) program on physical health, mobility, welfare, and behavior. Nine chimpanzees with mobility impairments participated in personalized PT routines (using positive reinforcement training) twice per week for 5 months. Additionally, nine control chimpanzees (non-mobility-impaired, matched with PT chimpanzees on age and gender) participated in body exam behavior sessions (also using positive reinforcement training) twice per week. All chimpanzees were rated on 14 health, well-being, and behavior items, as well as level of mobility throughout the PT program. Chimpanzees that participated in the PT program showed significant increases in ratings of physical health, well-being, and activity levels across phases of the program. Furthermore, compared to control chimpanzees, PT chimpanzees showed significant increases in ratings of ease of movement. Because raters were not blind to physical therapy treatment, our results represent an initial evaluation of the program that may suggest that participation in the PT program has physical, behavioral, and welfare benefits. Assessments of novel geriatric-focused care strategies and programs are essential to further enhance the welfare of the captive chimpanzee population, which is currently comprised of many geriatric animals, whose proportion of the captive population will only increase.
AB - Due to advances in captive nonhuman primate (NHP) medical care, the number of geriatric chimpanzees (≥35-years old) is growing. With old age comes a variety of physical conditions, including arthritis, stroke, and mobility impairments. Programs aimed at enhancing the welfare of geriatric chimpanzees are now quite common, but there are few published empirical evaluations of the efficacy of such programs. The current study aimed to create, implement, and evaluate the effects of participation in a physical therapy (PT) program on physical health, mobility, welfare, and behavior. Nine chimpanzees with mobility impairments participated in personalized PT routines (using positive reinforcement training) twice per week for 5 months. Additionally, nine control chimpanzees (non-mobility-impaired, matched with PT chimpanzees on age and gender) participated in body exam behavior sessions (also using positive reinforcement training) twice per week. All chimpanzees were rated on 14 health, well-being, and behavior items, as well as level of mobility throughout the PT program. Chimpanzees that participated in the PT program showed significant increases in ratings of physical health, well-being, and activity levels across phases of the program. Furthermore, compared to control chimpanzees, PT chimpanzees showed significant increases in ratings of ease of movement. Because raters were not blind to physical therapy treatment, our results represent an initial evaluation of the program that may suggest that participation in the PT program has physical, behavioral, and welfare benefits. Assessments of novel geriatric-focused care strategies and programs are essential to further enhance the welfare of the captive chimpanzee population, which is currently comprised of many geriatric animals, whose proportion of the captive population will only increase.
KW - Aging
KW - Animal Welfare
KW - Animals
KW - Female
KW - Male
KW - Mobility Limitation
KW - Pan troglodytes
KW - Physical Therapy Modalities/veterinary
KW - Program Evaluation
KW - Reinforcement, Psychology
U2 - 10.1002/ajp.23109
DO - 10.1002/ajp.23109
M3 - Journal article
C2 - 32077522
VL - 82
JO - American Journal of Primatology
JF - American Journal of Primatology
SN - 0275-2565
IS - 3
M1 - e23109
ER -
ID: 257330837