EQUINE PHYSIOTHERAPY
Physiotherapy can be used in addition to your horses normal routine to help improve their performance, health and well being in addition to keeping them competition fit. It also helps to reduce the risk of injury your horses may face.
If your horse is recovering from an injury/ surgery or has a performance limiting disease, we can help to rehabilitate your horse with a programme tailored to help enhance their recovery time.
What does an Equine Physiotherapy session include?
The Initial Appointment:
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The initial consultation will include a thorough assessment of your horse including taking a full history, assessment of their posture, conformation and gait and a palpation assessment. Treatment will then be provided tailored to the clinical findings.
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The horse will always be seen in walk/trot in a straight line, short turns and reverse. Depending on findings possible lunge, ridden or neurological assessment may occur.
The Follow Up Appointment:
These appointments will follow on from the initial consultation.
The progress your horse has made will be noted, they will then be assessed again and treatment will be adjusted to suit your horses' progress.
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If your horse is found to be lame and the lameness can not be explained by our findings we will refer your horse back to your vet, working with them to try and resolve the issue.
Treatment Options
Treatment
Manual therapies (soft tissue mobilisation, passive stretches, myofacial release and trigger point therapy) For the relief of muscular pain and discomfort, likely caused due to compensatory issues, poorly fitted tack etc.
Electrotherapy (H-wave therapy, LASER therapy and Therapeutic Ultrasound) To help with pain relief and muscle stimulation, reducing muscle spasm and mobilise the tissues.
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Chiropractic techniques (joint mobilisation and manipulation) To restore normal range of movement and function in the spine.​
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Combining physiotherapy techniques with chiropractic manipulation gains the fastest and longest lasting results.
Sedative Treatment
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Jenny developed a technique treating horses under sedation which has had particularly good results in the treatment of neck and pelvic problems and deep-seated back problems. Or to help the Vet to diagnose when investigations have been negative but the horse is still not right. The sedation allows for a much deeper form of treatment and for easier and more specific manipulation of the joints without the muscle guarding and resistance that would otherwise occur.
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When sedated the horse remains standing but is relaxed enough to allow full assessment of individual joints throughout the neck and range of movement throughout the back and pelvis. The horse is still able to show a pain reaction and the horse is always assessed 'awake' prior to treatment to assess the degree of pain.
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When sedated electrotherapy is still used in addition to manipulation and stretching.
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Frequency of treatment and Time off following treatment
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Acute Injury
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Frequency = 1-3 treatments, usually 1-3 weeks apart
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Time off = At least 1 day off (often more depending on severity)
Chronic Injury
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Frequency = 1-3 treatments, usually 2-3 weeks between 1st and 2nd treatment and then check after a month
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Time off = 1-2 days off (depending on clinical findings)
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Treatment under sedation
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Frequency = 1-3 treatments, usually 2-4 weeks apart
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Time off = Usually 5-7 days off (depending on severity; sometimes less depending on clinical findings)
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Maintenance
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Frequency = this depends on the nature of the horses work
- competition horses 4-6 weeks
- lower level competition horses 2-3 months
- lower level horses with underlying issues - 3 months
- lower level horses/hacking/ geriatric - 4-6 months
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Time off = At least 1 day off
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Sometimes during the competition season it isn't possible to give horses the day off following the treatment, this is not normally a problem but given the choice we would always recommend the following day off.
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