| It is not uncommon that trends in veterinary | | | | A chiropractic exam and adjustment cost |
| medicine to mirror trends in human medicine. To | | | | approximately $50-75, depending upon the extent |
| that end, it's not surprising that alternative | | | | of the problem and the length of the session. |
| medicine is being used more frequently on sick | | | | Are there any risks? |
| and injured horses. Instead of prescribing the | | | | Some believe that in the wrong hands, |
| latest wonder drug, some veterinarians are | | | | chiropractic can cause back and neck pain, |
| instead prescribing a little hands-on healing in the | | | | lameness problems, and spinal cord injury. The |
| hopes that less invasive techniques will bring about | | | | equine chiropractor must have strong knowledge |
| a return to health. In this article, we'll examine two | | | | of equine vertebral anatomy, including vertebral |
| alternative healing practices that are becoming | | | | joint relationships, the relationship of neural |
| very popular in the horse world: chiropractic and | | | | components, muscle attachments and nerve |
| massage. | | | | supply, and normal and abnormal range of motion. |
| CHIROPRACTIC | | | | MASSAGE |
| Equine chiropractors traditionally deal with | | | | During a massage, the soft tissues of the body |
| "subluxations" of the vertebrae. Defined, | | | | are worked by experienced hands and fingers. As |
| subluxations are incomplete or partial dislocations | | | | any human who has been the recipient of one |
| of the vertebrae; in other words, vertebrae that | | | | knows, massage stimulates acupuncture points |
| are out of alignment. These misalignments can not | | | | and relieves tension. Myofascial release therapy, in |
| only cause the horse pain in his back, but can also | | | | which the fascia that connect and surround the |
| cause soft tissue damage around the area of the | | | | muscles are manipulated, and myotherapy, a |
| spine. And since the spine is said to be the conduit | | | | method of relaxing muscle spasm, improving |
| to the central nervous system, subluxations may | | | | circulation, and alleviating pain, are two of the |
| possibly change neurological function of the spinal | | | | most common types of equine massage therapy. |
| cord, the spinal nerve roots, and portions of the | | | | What conditions does massage treat? |
| nervous system. The equine chiropractor adjusts | | | | Massage can really help sore muscles and tendons. |
| these subluxations-in plain speaking he put the | | | | It is frequently used to repair damaged muscle |
| spine back into alignment-and returns the horse to | | | | fiber, such as contracted tendons, ligament and |
| optimal health. | | | | muscle strains, chronic inflammatory conditions, |
| What conditions does chiropractic treat? | | | | peripheral nerve injuries, scar tissue, and chronic |
| Chiropractic is used to treat back and neck pain in | | | | edema. |
| the horse, as well as nerve damage. It can also | | | | How is massage administered? |
| be used to diagnose and come up with a | | | | The soft tissues of the body are worked by the |
| treatment plan for certain lamenesses. Some | | | | hands and fingers. The strokes are generally |
| people even use chiropractic during prepurchase | | | | performed in the direction in which blood flows, |
| exams to determine whether the horse has any | | | | which is toward the heart. |
| neck or back injuries. | | | | How much does equine massage cost? |
| How is chiropractic administered, and how much | | | | A massage costs between $25 and $75, |
| does it cost? | | | | depending upon its duration. |
| Like a vet exam, the chiropractic exam begins | | | | What are the risks? |
| with a case history. Posture analysis, gait analysis, | | | | If your horse has acute inflammatory processes |
| static palpation, motion palpation, orthopedic exam, | | | | of the skin, soft tissue, bone and joints, fractures, |
| and a neurological exam follow. Based upon his or | | | | sprains, circulatory disorders, presence or danger |
| her findings, the vertebra is then manipulated | | | | of hemorrhage, lyphangitis, and tumors, then |
| during the adjustment by the practitioner. | | | | massage should be avoided. |
| How much does a chiropractic treatment cost? | | | | |