Manipulating the spine can relieve pain, restore horse's performance

by Sean Redman, D.V.M.

THE THEORY behind chiropractic therapy is that proper function of the musculoskeletal system allows the rest of the body, particularly the nervous system, to function properly as well. When this happens, the body is able to heal itself, fight disease, and maintain optimal health.

The goal of chiropractic, which means "to work with hands," is to maximize the body's innate ability to heal itself.

Because the formal education of veterinarians does not include training in chiropractic principles or techniques, horse owners and trainers once were forced to look for alternative therapeutic options from other sources, often without the knowledge or against the recommendation of their regular veterinarians. Sometimes those who claimed to be "animal chiropractors" had no formal training in chiropractic or veterinary medicine, so the treatments they applied sometimes were risky for the equine patient.

Today, human chiropractors and veterinarians both are eligible for certification in animal chiropractic.  Two parallel governing bodies regulate certification of doctors in the field of animal chiropractic: the International Veterinary Chiropractic Association and the American Veterinary Chiropractic Association. Horsemen can be assured that a professional certified in animal chiropractic by one of these organizations is qualified to examine their horses and perform any necessary chiropractic adjustments.

Candidates for chiropractic

A chiropractic adjustment employs a controlled force applied to a particular bone in a very specific direction. The adjustment is applied to a vertebral subluxation complex, where the joint between two vertebrae has lost its flexibility. The goal of the adjustment is to restore normal mobility to the joint, thereby stimulating normal neurological reflexes and reducing pain and muscle spasm. In this way, chiropractic therapy treats the nervous system by way of the musculoskeletal system in a conservative and noninvasive manner that enhances the body's innate healing capacity.

Chiropractic should be considered for any horse that suffers from acute or chronic neck or back pain, joint stiffness, poor performance, or an altered gait that is not associated with overt lameness. Good candidates for chiropractic evaluation are horses that have:

•Chronic or recurring musculoskeletal problems;

•Lamenesses that are not diagnosed readily by traditional veterinary techniques; or

•Lamenesses that do not resolve fully with traditional therapy.

Other horses that may respond favorably to chiropractic therapy include those that have:

•Reduced neck flexibility;

•Localized muscle tightness; and

•Resentment during grooming, saddle placement, or girth tightening.

 Horses with visceral dysfunctions, such as infertility accompanied by musculoskeletal pain, may experience improvement in visceral function once chronic pain has been resolved with the help of chiropractic. Chronic pain and inflammation cause increased circulating levels of inflammatory chemical substances and stress hormones in the horse. When present in high enough concentrations, these chemicals may directly and negatively affect a mare's ability to become pregnant and carry a foal to term. When chronic pain has been eliminated, concentrations of inflammatory mediators and stress hormones can return to normal physiological levels, which allows traditional medical treatments for infertility to be more effective. 

Horses with evidence of infectious disease, localized lameness, or overt neurological symptoms should be treated with conventional veterinary medicine, but chiropractic may be considered for these patients as an adjunct or complementary therapy. These individuals often have chiropractic subluxations that represent either an underlying contributing factor to the overt manifestation of disease, or a secondary problem caused by that disease. Resolution of one problem or the other will surely help the patient, but using a multidisciplinary approach to treat the whole horse should yield longer-lasting and more satisfying results. 

Lameness and performance

Some horses with chiropractic subluxations will:

•Warm up stiff and slow;

•Pin their ears when ridden;

•Pull constantly on one rein;

•Have difficulty picking up a lead or changing leads;

•Avoid standing squarely on all limbs; or

•Have difficulty standing for the farrier or for other procedures.

A multidisciplinary approach often is effective in treating horses with mild, chronic lameness or performance problems.

A veterinary lameness examination may yield an accurate diagnosis of joint osteoarthritis, and conventional medical therapy may treat that problem successfully. But often by the time this pathologic process is diagnosed, secondary chiropractic subluxations already have set in. Therefore, the horse may improve dramatically with conventional treatment of the lameness, but he may never quite return to his previous level of performance. This type of horse is a good candidate for a chiropractic examination.

Chiropractic examination

A standard chiropractic examination and treatment session takes place in six stages:

History: A detailed history is obtained to determine the problem and its duration, the symptoms as noted by the horse's handlers and rider, any change in condition with time and treatment, and what other treatments have been performed and the effect of those treatments. The horse's nutritional status and exercise regimen also are noted during this part of the examination.

Observation: The horse is observed from a distance at rest and in motion, at least at a walk. The practitioner will note abnormalities in posture and gait as symptoms, which then will be used for later comparison to evaluate the horse's response to treatment. Also, neck mobility is assessed by gently asking the horse to touch its muzzle to its elbow.

Motion palpation: During this definitive part of the chiropractic examination, the practitioner gently flexes the horse's spine laterally while simultaneously using the fingertips to evaluate the mobility of each joint of the spine. A subluxation will present itself as a lack of motion where motion should be. Other characteristics of a subluxation include pain and abnormal muscle tension in the region adjacent to the spine, as well as localized heat or knots in the muscle. These characteristics of subluxation result from the lack of motion in the joint, which adversely affects the function of nerves that exit the spinal cord in the affected region.

Adjustment: Adjustment is the treatment for a vertebral subluxation complex. It restores normal motion to the affected joint, thereby allowing motion between the two affected vertebrae and proper physiologic function of all associated soft-tissue structures between them.

The adjustment is a short-lever, specific, high-velocity, controlled thrust by hand or instrument (not mallets or wooden two-by-fours) directed at a particular anatomical structure in a very specific direction (the angle of articulation). The goal is to reduce pain and muscle spasm and stimulate neurological reflexes. Normal soft-tissue function--normal contraction and relaxation of muscles that stabilize the spine--will not only be a result of the adjustment, but it  also will help maintain the adjustment between treatments.

Recheck: The recheck involves repeating the motion-palpation portion of the examination to determine if all the subluxations have been corrected. The practitioner also reassesses the horse's sensitivity to palpation and reevaluates muscle tone to determine the response to treatment. Often, both will improve dramatically by the end of the treatment.

Discussion: This final stage of the examination is very important because the client and practitioner discuss follow-up treatments and a plan for exercise, management, and further evaluation. At this time, the practitioner will show the client how to perform stretching and mobility exercises on the horse. These exercises will help to maintain motion of the affected joint(s), flexibility of the affected region(s) of the body, and overall comfort and health of the patient between adjustments.

Timing and number of subsequent treatments are determined on an individual basis. Usually on a first-time patient, a follow-up visit should be performed one to two weeks later. Upon each successive examination, the practitioner expects to find clinical improvement of the horse's condition, fewer subluxations, and a better response to treatment.

If possible, reducing forced exercise for several days, or at least tailoring the program to be smooth, relaxed, and less demanding for a similar period, is recommended, especially after the first few treatments.

After being adjusted, a horse with subluxations may have significantly increased mobility and feel heightened neurological sensations, causing it to feel a bit like a bobblehead doll. Allowing the horse to figure out how to use its body in a safe and low-stress environment is best during this period. Large doses of pasture turnout are usually the best prescription. Also, ability to move at will and eat grass constantly helps maintain the adjustments for a longer period of time.

If the patient does not show significant improvement of clinical signs and performance in three treatments, or if improvement of the condition is short-lived, it is advisable to repeat the conventional veterinary examination to ensure a non-chiropractic condition is not present.

Welcome treatment

Chiropractic therapy should be an enjoyable experience for the horse. The handler generally holds the horse on a loose lead; relaxation and focus of the practitioner, the handler, and the horse are important components of successful treatment. Therefore, working in a quiet and calm environment is recommended. 

Tranquilizing the horse usually is not necessary to perform a proper adjustment, but occasionally administration of a light sedative is beneficial to achieve the desired result if the horse appears tense. Because only a veterinarian legally may administer sedation, it is important that the certified animal chiropractor you choose to treat your horse be a licensed veterinarian or a practitioner who works under veterinary supervision.

For more information on chiropractic treatment, visit the American Veterinary Chiropractic Association website at www.animalchiropractic.org.

Sean Redman, D.V.M., is a practitioner who focuses on chiropractic and acupuncture at Rood & Riddle Equine Hospital in Lexington.