Veterinary chiropractic (english version)
1- What is chiropractic care?
2- What is a Vertebral Subluxation Complex (VSC)?
3- Common causes of Vertebral Subluxation Complexes (VSC)
4- What symptoms can we find when we have a VSC?
5- How can a Vertebral Subluxation Complex be corrected?
6- How many treatments will my animal need?
7- How do we recognise back problems?
8- Chiropractic treatment
1- What is chiropractic care?
Chiropractic care is a manual therapy which can be used for many health and performance problems. Chiropractic studies the biomenchanical dysfunction of the spine and its effect on the entire nervous system throughout the body.
Chiropractic treatment doesn’t replace traditional veterinary care, although it can provide additional means of diagnosis and treatment options for spinal problems as well as biomechanical related musculoskeletal disorders.
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2- What is a Vertebral Subluxation Complex (VSC)
A Vertebral Subluxation Complex (VSC) is defined as a functional misalignment of a vertebra or the limited mobility of its facet joint.
When there is a subluxation, the horse loses normal flexibility of its spine, affecting performance and resulting in stiffness and muscular tension. Reduced mobility between two vertebrae can affect the nerves that leave the spinal cord between these adjacent vertebrae. Negative alteration in the nerve’s function can lead to interference in the flow of stimuli or information, which is necessary for smooth coordination of body functions and muscle contractions.
An animal with a subluxation will change it posture to compensate for the restricted mobility of its spine and to avoid pain. This will create increased mechanical strain on other parts of the spine and extremity joints, causing restrictions and deterioration of the condition.
3- Common causes of Vertebral Subluxation Complexes
Every day most horses are exposed to situations which can cause damage to their spine. Here we have some examples of it:
- Trauma
- General anaesthetic: the general procedure can cause back problems.
- Transportation: for example due to a long transportation times or a poor shock absorption in the van.
- Dystocia: it can lead to problems in both the mare and the foal.
- Small boxes: the horse doesn’t have the opportunity to ease tension by bucking or rolling.
- Performance: every equestrian discipline strains the spine in a different, specific way.
- Rider: a learning rider can lead to back problems in the horse.
- Shoes: poor hoof care and incorrect shoeing interfere with the horse’s movement resulting in subluxations of the spine.
- Saddle: poorly fitting saddles are one of the most common causes of back problems.
- Age: as age increases the effects of previous small and/or large traumas of the spine become more apparent.
4- What symptoms can we find when we have a VSC?
Horses with VSCs may present with many symptoms, the most common of which is pain.
The following symptoms may indicate pain caused by a subluxation:
- Reduced performance
- Abnormal posture
- Snapping and pinning back its ears when being saddled
- Insubordination when being ridden
- Horse refuses to jump
- Changes in behaviour
- Abnormal gait rhythm
- Difficulty engaging the hindquarters
- Difficulty working “long and low”
- Shortened stride in one or more legs
- Difficulty flexing the poll
Subluxations in the spine can affect muscle coordination and the nervous transmission between the spinal cord and other parts of the body.
5- How can a Vertebral Subluxation Complex be corrected?
When a subluxation is found, the objective is to correct the misalignment of the spine and to restore mobility to the facet joints using an adjustment. An adjustment is a quick, short, high velocity and very specific thrust along the plane of the joint. It is done by placing the hands directly on the affected vertebra.
Despite horses have a very large and thick muscle mass over the spine, the vertebral joints are flexible and relatively easy to manipulate with minimal force.
6- How many treatments will my animal need?
This is one of the most common questions that owners ask us. Every patient is different, but in most cases, one single treatment it is not enough. The main goal of the chiropractic treatment is to address neurological dysfunction in the spine and to restore mobility. Sometimes it is necessary to repeat the process until muscles and ligaments are able to support the spine and to maintain this new realigned position and the motion.
Most of the horses show significant changes after one to four treatments. Chronic problems usually take longer to resolve requiring more chiropractic treatment, whereas horses with acute problems often respond more quickly.
7- How do we recognise back problems?
To start with, for example, it is very important to recognise recent changes on the horse behaviour; on its performance; if he presents unusual or fluctuating lameness or if he drags his feet or shoes are worn down on one side.
It is important as well to examine the horse mobility, as a horse should be able to move freely in all directions without tension, with or without the rider.
There are some exercises that we can use to check our horse mobility:
- Using a carrot we can ask the horse to turn his head and neck to the side, so it touches its flank with its nostrils. Less mobility on one side compared to the other one could indicate a problem in the cervical area.
- To check the lateral movement of the spine we place one hand on the spine and with the other one we pull the horse’s tail carefully towards you so that its back bends around your hand. Is there one side stiffer than the other one?
- The back shouldn’t feel tense and stiff when you apply a slight pressure on it from above.
Finally, it is interesting to check the muscles and the vertebral column, trying to find any muscular asymmetry or paying attention to any elevations and protruding areas of bone.
8- Chiropractic treatment
When done correctly, chiropractic treatment can be effective to maintain the health of your horse. It can be used for chronic as well as acute problems.
It can be used as a complementary treatment with chronic joint diseases such as bone spavin, navicular syndrome or tendon problems because it can support recovery and prevent secondary back problems. It helps to increase quality of life when treating older horses and it can be used as preventive measure on the young ones.
Chiropractic treatment treats the cause and not the symptoms of back problems. It restores joint mobility enabling the horse to maximize its performance potential.
