Physiotherapy:
Proven Benefits
Sherry Scott is one of the country's leading animal
therapists and chairman of the International Association
of Animal Therapists. Here she explains what types of
ailments can be helped by physiotherapy and how to obtain
that help for your horse.
It used to be a rare and unusual event for a horse to
be referred for therapy of any kind. It is now becoming
a routine procedure, especially for horses at a high level
of competition where standards of athletic performance
are rising every year.
The higher the expectations of their owners and riders,
the more strains and injuries requiring treatment will
occur. Because these riders earn their living from horses,
they appreciate how much can be achieved by therapy in
keeping their horses fit and active.
Since the Veterinary Act of 1996, it has been illegal
to work on horses (apart from your own) unless under
veterinary supervision. Nowadays a veterinary practice
will usually have access to an animal physiotherapist.
The procedure is that the vet sees the case, makes
his diagnosis and recommends treatment. If this treatment
includes therapy, the case is then passed on to the
therapist - exactly the same as with a doctor and a
Physiotherapy Department for humans.
Accredited
animal therapists, such as members of the International
Association of Animal Therapists, only work under referral
from vets. If you are keen to use the services of an
animal therapist, check when choosing your veterinary
practice that they are able to offer this facility.
Problems that can be helped by physiotherapy:
Wounds
- Reduction of swelling (stop stitches from
breaking down)
- Surface and large fibrous wounds
- Wounds where it is likely a flap of skin will
be lost
- Abrasion and over-reaches
Withers and shoulders
- Saddle soreness and spondylosis
Hoof
- Navicular syndrome
- Pedal osteitis
- Bruised sole, corns, penetrating injury.
- Quarter cracks
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Legs
- Groin, tendon and ligament strains
- Sore shins, windgalls, ruptures, splints,
mud fever, fractures, arthritis
- Lymphangitis
- Inflammation of tarsal join
- Capped hocks, thoroughpins, bog and bone spavins
Back problems
- Sore backs from ill-fitting saddles
- Trauma (e.g. falls)
- Excessive training
- Muscle spasms and damage
- Both chronic and acute back pain
- Sacroilliac problems
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Tools of the trade
Drug testing is now so sophisticated for competition
horses that there is a move away from treatment using
only drugs. It has been found that therapy, properly
administered, can be very effective in curing stresses,
strains and most injuries suffered by horses in hard
fast work.
Therapists use a wide variety of machines in their
work. These include:
Pulsed magnetic field:
Magnetic fields have a much deeper penetration than
other therapies, and are very successful in treating
bone and soft tissue injuries.
Ultrasound:
(Long and short wave) This is helpful in treating tendon
and deep muscle injuries. However, if used incorrectly,
these machines can cause irreparable damage.
Laser:
Laser therapy gives a rapide reduction of swelling and
inflammation, combined with substantial pain relief.
Recovery time is shortened dramatically.
ElectroVet:
This is a faradic machine, i.e. it uses an electric
current to produce controlled muscular contractions.
Faradism dramatically reduces the healing time required
for a wide variety of injuries.
Equissage:
This is a large massage unit designed specifically for
use on horses and helps to bring the horse to peak fitness.
Used before work, it massages the muscles and makes
them supple. Used after work, it massages away any stiffness.
Water Wellies:
These therapeutic boots employ a Jacuzzi-like action
to reduce swelling and aid in recovery from injury.
Static magnetic pads:
These are recommended for the treatment of tendonitis,
arthritis, omarthrosis, hydrarthosis and haematoma,
and sore backs.
H.Wave:
A very good treatment for soft tissue injury, using
a very gentle wave form.
Some questions and answers:
Is therapy a last resort?
Very often it is - but often only because the vet concerned
has not been used to working with a therapist. Once
the results of the therapist's treatment have been seen,
it usually becomes the first choice the next time! Going
for therapy first saves a good deal of wasted time,
unnecessary costs, suffering to the horse and heartache
to the owner.
How much will it cost?
This obviously depends on how many treatment sessions
are needed. Treatments can be given daily, every other
day, or weekly. In some cases, two or three treatments
per day will be needed. When a required treatment is
long term, the relevant machine may be hired out to
the owner. The therapist will instruct the owner in
the correct use of the machine.
N. B. You as the owner, or a responsible groom, should
always be in attendance when your horse is having treatment
from a therapist.
Insurance companies will pay for these treatments -
but normally only if:
- the horse has first been seen by a vet
- the vet has recommended this therapy and
- the treatment is carried out by an accredited therapist
However, you should check the small print on your policy
- and possibly discuss it with the company - before deciding
to go ahead. |
