INTEGRATIVE THERAPIES - Chiropractic
What is chiropractic?
Chiropractic is manual therapy concerned with the diagnosis, treatment and prevention of musculoskeletal disorder and the effects these have on the nervous system in general health. It involves a low amplitude force applied to a specific anatomic location, often along the spine, at a high speed to cause a therapeutic response.
A chiropractic examination involves a thorough assessment of the range of motion (or lack thereof) of joints in the axial and appendicular skeleton.
Many people are familiar with descriptions such as “a bone being out of place” or a specific joint being “out”. The correct description of a limited or “restricted” range of motion in a particular joint is called a vertebral subluxation complex. Although these phrases are describing the same thing, the former must be avoided as it gives an inaccurate image of what is being achieved. These vertebral subluxation complexes or “restrictions” are corrected via a chiropractic adjustment.
The goal of an adjustment is to restore the optimal range of motion to a given joint which subsequently relives inflammation in and pressure surrounding nerves and soft tissues. The inflammation, like static on a telephone line, makes it difficult for the nerves to transmit signals to and from the brain/spinal cord accurately. Given that the nervous system controls everything in the body, establishing good communication between the nerves and brain/spinal cord enhances overall health and wellbeing.
What to expect during a chiropractic appointment:
Chiropractic exam beings with the assessment of posture and muscle symmetry.
This is followed by a gait evaluation which usually involves walking/trotting in a straight line but may also include observing the horse on the lunge or even under saddle.
Once this is complete the vet will palpate soft tissues and evaluate the range of motion of your horse’s joints which is commonly called “motion palpation”. When a restricted joint is identified, it is corrected by an adjustment, which is a gentle thrust into the joint usually in the direction of its restriction.
Following this, the vet will re-palpate the joint to ensure it is moving freely. To be at the appropriate angle to the spine, the vet will need to stand on a chiropractic block. Most horses are relaxed during the treatment however, it may take 1-2 sessions for some horses to settle. If your horse is too painful during the appointment, it may be recommended treatment occurs after a course of pain relief and/or other rehabilitation modalities such as massage or shockwave therapy prior to chiropractic.
Sedation is seldom needed and is often undesirable since it will interfere with the ability of the nervous system to respond to the treatment.
Most adjustments will take about 30 minutes.
Acupuncture/Chiropractic treatments are adjunctive to traditional lameness evaluations
Acupuncture/chiropractic evaluation and treatment are not a substitute for a thorough lameness workup because numerous musculoskeletal issues can be diagnosed, treated and managed with traditional approaches.
Most practicing veterinarians are not trained to perform a thorough functional biomechanical assessment of the equine spinal column and joints. Therefore, horses with lameness that cannot readily be diagnosed via traditional methods, or have neck or back pain are good candidates for acupuncture/chiropractic evaluation.
These alternative approaches to lameness evaluation are not to replace traditional diagnostic evaluation but rather to be integrated into the diagnostic/treatment regime.