Chiropractic Care

 

Client: „My horse injured her superficial digital flexor tendon.“

Veterinarian: „The reason could be decreased mobility of the spine at the base of the neck.

 

How is that possible you are probably asking yourself. Well, here’s the answer.

 

Chiropractic care as a therapeutic modality concerns itself with mobility of joints and its influence on the entire body. Particularly the spine is looked at thoroughly. The spine of a horse is made of 31 vertebrae +/- 8 tail vertebrae. More than 200 joints connect these bones and allow them to be moved.

Bundles of nerves emerge from the spinal column between two adjacent vertebrea to innervate muscles, connective tissue (ligaments, tendons, etc.), organs and skin and to also communicate information from the perifery back to the brain. Bloodvessels run parallel to those bundles and provide nutrition for the nerves. Muscles, tendons and ligaments hold the vertebral column together and move it.

 

The nervous system is crucial, because all bodily functions such as balance, movement, heart rhythm, gut peristalsis, and hormone metabolism to just name a few depend on their proper functioning. Thus it is the goal of chiropractic care to ensure optimal innervation of the body to allow it to function in a health way. To a horse this means being able to perform at its highest potential.

 

What happens when mobility of those joints is reduced?

 

Because nutrition and detoxification of cartilage, tendons and ligaments occurs through diffusion, the pumping action created through movement is essential. Without it these structures break down and adhesions form. Inflammation and degeneration of these and surrounding tissues result in arthrosis, pain and in advanced cases to fusion of joints.

 

Swelling from local inflammation puts pressure onto the nerve bundles and their blood supply, which in turn reduces conduction of information to muscles, organs and other tissues. Muscle weakness and proprioception (perception of body movement and position in space) as well as coordination are affected.

 

With muscles being weak, forces are transfered to other structures, in particular tendons, ligaments and cartilages. Normally 80% of the stability of a joint comes from muscles and tendons crossing the joint. If for example one of the muscles that moving the hock joints is weaker than the others, the pressure within the joint becomes imbalanced. Nowadays many horses suffer from hock problems. Could it be due to such an imbalance? Inflammation of joints are most often secondary to instability. Additional deacrease of proprioception increases the risk of injury.

 

To come back to the example above you can now understand that  an injury of the superficial flexor tendon can be a result of decrease in motion between C7 and T1/2 (the last cervical and first two chest vertebrae). This is the area from which the nerves come.

 

The pain that comes with decreased motion precipitates a complex cascade of stress hormones which compromise the immunesystem. Gastro-intestinal peristalsis can also be affected, increasing the risk for colics or other GI problems.

 

What does a Chiropractor do?

 

After thorough examination of the musculo-skeletal system, the trained practitioner will restore or at least improve motility to joints. This will gently tear down adhesions, relax muscles, release trapped tissue, normalize nerve function  as well as reduce swelling and stress hormone levels. In addition you will find your horse to be stronger, have better coordination and feel better overall. In general, adjustments inhibit the degenerative cascade.

 

Which horses can benefit  from chiropractic care?

 

Chiropractic lesions are very common according to studies, even in young horses. Increasingly, chiropractic care is included as part of the routine maintenance of horses to prevent injuries as well as maximize their ability to perform. Competition horses are often evaluated on a monthly basis. All hard-working horses, those with back pain, saddle fitting issues, or lamenesses should be examined.

 

Signs of possible chiropractic problems:

 

Body:

       Altered head and tail position

       Poor and or changed topline

       Muscle issues, tension atrophy

       Reduced ability to bend the neck

 

Behavior and Performance:

       Crickedness

       Stumbling,

       Difficulty collecting and moving from behind

       Resistance to the bit

       Non-specific decrease in performance and fitness

       Pulling on one rein

       Refusing jumps

       Bocking

       Girthiness

       Hypersensitivity to brushing

       Difficulty with transitions and flying changes

       Difficulty turning in one direction

       Short-stridedness or forging

 

History of other medical problems:

       Colic

       Dental issues

       Pervious lameness

       Arthritis

       Muscle injury even when healed

       Saddle-fitting issues

       Etc.