chiropractic

Chiropractic care is an integral part of veterinary medicine. It is a hands-on, insightful tool that assists your veterinarian to evaluate your horse from head to tail. It has allowed veterinarians to provide additional diagnostic and therapeutic options that are not used in western medicine.

I am a 2002 graduate of Options for Animals College of Animal Chiropractic, and I am certified by the American Veterinary Chiropractic Association (AVCA).

A chiropractic examination entails evaluating movement of your horse’s joints, and when decreased movement is recognized, the area is adjusted with minimal force. 

Chiropractic examinations and treatments will help your horse stay aligned resulting in a comfortable, properly moving entity which will ultimately allow your horse to perform at its best. It will decrease potential problems such as resisting collection, not cooperating with the farrier, and not taking the proper lead. It will help decrease injuries such as splints, injured tendons/ligaments, and decrease incidence of pulled and lost shoes.  For instance, when the horse is properly aligned and moving freely with its optimal range of motion, the incidence of the hind legs reaching and pulling off the front shoes is greatly minimized, if not resolved. In addition, a comfortable horse will cooperate better with your farrier. Have your horse evaluated by a veterinarian that is trained in chiropractic; your horse and farrier will thank you.

Chiropractic care is another tool in your veterinarian’s toolbox that allows for a thorough,  complete and comprehensive exam, which, in many cases, reveals an explanation to your concerns regarding your horse.

Chiropractic Theory

The spinal column houses the spinal cord. The spinal column, a row of vertebrae bones, starts at the base of the head, continues down the neck, back, through the pelvis and ends with the tail. 

Vertebrae bodies that are not aligned properly, have decreased mobility, or do not move properly in relationship with each other can cause musculoskeletal problems, such as pain and stiffness. Decreased mobility will lead to improper movement and decreased performance. 

Since the spinal cord runs in a channel through the spinal column and is the trunk of the nervous system, a dysfunction of the spinal column may cause problems with the spinal cord and the nervous system.

The spinal column houses the spinal cord, and so it has a great influence on the spinal cord. If the bones in the spinal column are not aligned appropriately, to allow proper movement and support, the spinal cord will be compromised, not function correctly and could cause other nerves in your body not to function properly as well. For example, tingling of an arm or hand. Examples we may see in our horses could be fascial nerve paralysis, uneven sweat pattern, and muscle atrophy.  

Chiropractic Goal

The chiropractic goal is to restore proper movement between adjacent vertebrae bodies, reduce pain, and allow the nervous system to function properly. This is the basis of chiropractic philosophy.

Chiropractic Evaluation and Treatment

Chiropractic evaluation and treatment involves assessing the motion between two adjacent vertebrae bodies. Where there is decreased motion, a veterinarian trained in chiropractic can apply a short, rapid, controlled force in the correct angle on a very specific area to restore proper alignment and proper movement. Knowledge of anatomy, bio-mechanics, and possible pathology of each segment is essential for your veterinarian to appropriately evaluate and treat your horse. 

Terminology

A word that is used commonly in the chiropractic world is subluxation. This word has caused a bit of a controversy between the traditional western medical world and the chiropractic world. In the western medical world this word may seem to be thought of as “a bone moving out of place." In the chiropractic world, this word takes on a more comprehensive or subtle definition as a spinal misalignment or joint dysfunction resulting in bio-mechanical or neurologic dysfunction.

Conclusion

Chiropractic care, as other forms of eastern medicine, has become an integral part of veterinary medicine. It is currently used around the world, in all disciplines of equine sports: racing, jumping, dressage, reining, endurance, etc. It is also used commonly in animals that are used for breeding. Chiropractic care provides additional diagnostic and therapeutic options that are not available in traditional medicine. It has allowed veterinarians to treat issues where traditional medicine has been limited. In the horse, chiropractic care has particularly helped address unsoundness issues. Given a chiropractic evaluation and treatment, your horse will thank you.