Alternative therapy Articles

Equine Chiropractice: General Principles and Applications

Therapeutic Options
Applying Acupuncture to Lameness in the Horse
Equine Chiropractice: General Principles and
Applications
by Kevin Haussler
Veterinary chiropractic should be considered a medical act and should be perormed by a
licensed !eterinarian or a chiropractor under the direct reerral o a !eterinarian in accordance
"ith that state#s practice act$ %t is recommended that e&tensi!e educational programs be
underta'en beore a !eterinarian or chiropractor is considered competent to practice chiropractic
on animals$ (rom the AAEP Guidelines on Therapeutic Options$
CHIROPRACTIC PRICIP!E"
The "ord chiropractic is deri!ed rom the Gree' "ords cheir meaning )hand* and pra'ti'e
meaning )business or to practice$* The practice o chiropractic ocuses on the relationship
bet"een structure +primarily the !ertebral column, and unction +as coordinated by the ner!ous
system, and ho" that relationship aects health$ Chiropractic is a orm o manual therapy that
uses controlled orces applied to speciic -oints or anatomic areas to cause a healing response$
This response is due to changes in -oint structures. muscle unction and neurologic rele&es$ The
principle common to all chiropractic theories is that -oint malunction aects the normal
neurological balance ound in healthy indi!iduals$ The theory o a )bone out o place* is outdated
and not supported by current spinal research$ The goals o chiropractic treatment are to restore
normal -oint motion. stimulate ner!e rele&es and reduce pain and abnormally increased muscle
tone$ /uccessul manipulation requires proper technique +i$e$. correct direction. orce. amplitude
and speed, and increased psychomotor s'ills$ A thorough 'no"ledge o !ertebral anatomy and
-oint biomechanics is also required or proper chiropractic e!aluation and treatment$ 0uring a
successul ad-ustment. a )release* or mo!ement o the restricted -oint is oten elt$ An audible
)popping* sound may also be heard during treatment as the applied orce o!ercomes the -oint#s
resistance$
APP!ICATIO"
Chiropractic pro!ides additional diagnostic approaches that are not currently a!ailable in
!eterinary medicine$ The main indications or equine chiropractic e!aluation are bac' or nec'
pain. locali1ed or regional -oint stiness. poor perormance and an altered gait that is not
associated "ith ob!ious lameness$ A thorough diagnostic "or'up is required to identiy sot tissue
and bone2related problems. neurologic disorders or other lameness conditions that may not be
responsi!e to chiropractic care$ The primary signs that equine chiropractors loo' or are locali1ed
muscle or s'eletal pain. abnormally increased muscle tone and restricted -oint motion$ This triad
o signs can be ound in a !ariety o lo"er limb disorders. but is most e!ident in nec' or bac'
problems$ Chiropractic care can help manage the muscular. -oint. and neurologic portions o
certain muscle or s'eletal in-uries in perormance horses$ Chiropractic consultation may be
indicated in muscle or s'eletal conditions that are chronic or recurring. not easily diagnosed or not
responding to traditional !eterinary care$ Trained equine chiropractors should be able to e!aluate
!ertebral disorders and determine i the bac' problem has the potential to respond to chiropractic
care or i the condition "ould be better managed "ith traditional !eterinary diagnostics and
treatment$ 3nortunately. chiropractors are oten as'ed to treat animals as a last resort. "hen all
else has ailed or "hen the disease has progressed to an irre!ersible condition$ Chiropractic care
has helped some o these chronic conditions "hen other types o con!entional treatment ha!e
ailed$ Ho"e!er. chiropractic is usually much more eecti!e in the early clinical stages o disease
!s$ end2stage disease "here healing processes ha!e been used up$ 4hen used as a last resort.
chiropractic care and other holistic methods oten ail to produce their ull healing eects$
Chiropractic is not a )cure2all* or all bac' problems and is not suggested or treatment o
ractures. inections. cancer. metabolic disorders or nonmechanical -oint problems$ Horses "ith
acute episodes o sprains or strains. arthritis or impinged spinous processes are also not good
candidates or sole chiropractic care$ All neurological diseases should be ully "or'ed up to
assess the potential ris's or beneits o chiropractic treatment$ /erious diseases requiring
immediate medical or surgical care need to be ruled out and treated by con!entional !eterinary
medicine beore routine chiropractic treatment is begun$ Ho"e!er. chiropractic care may
contribute to the rehabilitation o most cases ater surgery or se!ere medical conditions by
helping restore normal muscle and s'eletal unction$ Chiropractic care cannot re!erse se!ere
degenerati!e processes or ob!ious abnormalities in tissue$
"#$$AR%
Chiropractic pro!ides additional diagnostic and therapeutic means that may help equine
practitioners identiy and treat the primary cause o lameness or poor perormance$ %t pro!ides
speciali1ed e!aluation and treatment o -oint. neurological and muscle or s'eletal disorders that
are currently lac'ing in traditional !eterinary medicine$ Ho"e!er. limited research is a!ailable on
equine chiropractic and other non2traditional methods in the industry$ The use o chiropractic
principles and techniques on animals is dependent on uture research into the eecti!eness and
uses or managing bac' problems in horses$
5$ title Equine Chiropractice: General Principles and Applications 6$ author 7e!in Haussler 8$ bio
0V9. 0C. Ph0 :$ source AAEP con!ention ;$ date <o!ember 6=== >$ category alternati!e
therapy ?$ te&t
posted by @ose
posted: >A5;A6==6$ Last updated: >A5;A6==6$
Therapeutic Options
by Kevin Haussler &source: AAEP convention '

The AAEP supports the rights o the !eterinary practitioner to select and prescribe a course o
therapy belie!ed to be in the best interest o the horse and consistent "ith the Veterinary Oath o
Practice$
Guidelines on Therapeutic Options &())*'
0iagnostic e!aluation by a licensed !eterinarian is required prior to any o the ollo"ing therapies$
Acupuncture22Veterinary acupuncture and acutherapy are considered !alid modalities. but the
potential or abuse e&ists$ These techniques should be regarded as surgical andAor medical
procedures under state !eterinary practice acts$ %t is recommended that e&tensi!e educational
programs be underta'en beore a !eterinarian is considered competent to practice acupuncture$
Chiropractic22Veterinary chiropractic should be considered a medical act and should be
perormed by a licensed !eterinarian or a chiropractor under the direct reerral o a !eterinarian in
accordance "ith that stateBs practice act$ %t is recommended that e&tensi!e educational programs
be underta'en beore a !eterinarian or chiropractor is considered competent to practice
chiropractic on animals$
Homeopathy22Homeopathy is a medical discipline that employs medicines rom natural
substances diluted to minute amounts to treat disease$ %t is recommended that e&tensi!e
educational programs be underta'en beore a !eterinarian is considered competent to practice
homeopathy$
Herbology-Naturopathy22Herbology and naturopathy are medical disciplines "hich employ natural
substances to treat diseases$ %t is recommended that educational programs be underta'en beore
a !eterinarian is considered competent to practice herbology and naturopathy on animals$
Massage229assage is a technique in "hich the practitioner uses hands and body to manipulate
sot tissue. thereby positi!ely aecting the health and "ell2being o the animal$ 9assage should
be perormed by a graduate o an accredited massage school "ho has speciali1ed training in
equine anatomy. physiology. massage. and !eterinary ethics$ The "or' should be done under the
reerral o a !eterinarian$
Physical Therapy22An equine physical therapist uses non2in!asi!e techniques or the
rehabilitation o in-uries$ Physical therapy is deined as including the use o massage. stretching.
laser. electrical stimulation. magnetic. ultrasound. rehabilitati!e e&ercises. hydrotherapy. heat.
and cold$ The "or' must be perormed under a reerral o a !eterinarian ollo"ing a !eterinary
diagnosis$
Guidelines or Alternati!e and Complementary Veterinary 9edicine +AV9A 5CC>, AAEP note:
Only those modalities not previously addressed by AAEP guidelines are provided here !or a
complete description o" A#MA guidelines$ please re"er to the A#MA directory
Veterinary Dotanical 9edicine is the use o plant and plant deri!ati!es as therapeutic agents$ %t is
recommended that continued research and education be conducted$ /ince some o these
botanicals may be to&ic "hen used at inappropriate doses. it is imperati!e that !eterinary
botanical medicine be practiced only by licensed !eterinarians "ho ha!e been educated in
!eterinary botanical medicine$ Communication on the use o these compounds "ithin the conte&t
o a !alid !eterinarianAclientApatient relationship is important$
<utraceutical 9edicine is the use o micronutrients. macronutrients. and other nutritional
supplements as therapeutic agents$ Communication on the potential ris's and beneits rom the
use o these compounds "ithin the conte&t o a !alid !eterinarianAclientApatient relationship is
important$ Continued research and education on the use o nutraceuticals in !eterinary medicine
are ad!ised$
Holistic Veterinary 9edicine is a comprehensi!e approach to health care employing alternati!e
and con!entional diagnostic and therapeutic modalities$ %n practice. holistic !eterinary medicine
incorporates. but is not limited to. the principles o acupuncture and acutherapy. botanical
medicine. chiropractic. homeopathy. massage therapy. nutraceuticals. and physical therapy as
"ell as con!entional medicine. surgery. and dentistry$ %t is recommended that holistic !eterinary
medicine be practiced only by a licensed !eterinarian educated in the modalities employed$ The
modalities comprising holistic !eterinary medicine should be practiced according to the licenser
and reerral requirements concerning each modality$
A+erican Association o, Equine Practitioners
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posted by @ose
posted: >A5;A6==6$ Last updated: ?A5EA6==;$
Applyin4 Acupuncture to !a+eness in the Horse
by Allen "choen &source: AAEP convention'

Veterinary acupuncture and acutherapy are considered !alid modalities. but the potential or
abuse e&ists$ These techniques should be regarded as surgical andAor medical procedures under
state !eterinary practice acts$ %t is recommended that e&tensi!e continuing education programs
be underta'en beore a !eterinarian is considered competent to practice acupuncture$
(rom the AAEP Guidelines on Therapeutic Options
ITRO;#CTIO
There has been a great increase in interest in !eterinary acupuncture in the equine industry
recently. both by the public and the !eterinary medical community$ 4ith this increased
a"areness. there has been an increase in research and thus a better understanding o the
physiologic basis and practical applications o acupuncture$ One o the main applications in
equine practice is related to the treatment and diagnosis o lameness$ Acupuncture may be used
as both an ad-unct +addition, to the traditional lameness e&amination as "ell as an ad-unct to the
treatment o certain lamenesses$
"CIETI<IC =A"I"
Acupuncture may be deined as the stimulation o speciic points on the body to achie!e a
therapeutic or homeostatic +returning the body to its normal state, eect$ Acupuncture points are
areas on the s'in o decreased electrical resistance or increased electrical conducti!ity$
Acupuncture points correspond to our 'no"n neural structures:
2Type % acupoints. or motor points. are located "here the ner!e enters the muscle 2Type %%
acupoints are located on the supericial ner!es 2Type %%% acupoints are ound "here there is a high
density o supericial ner!es 2Type %V acupoints are located at the muscle2tendon -unction
Acupuncture has many physiologic eects on all systems throughout the body$ <o one
mechanism can e&plain all the physiologic eects obser!ed$ Essentially. acupuncture stimulates
!arious sensory receptors +pain. temperature. pressure and touch, "hich stimulate sensory
ner!es. transmitting the signal through the central ner!ous system to the brain$ Various
transmitters and hormones are then released rom the brain to ha!e their eects throughout the
body$
TECHI>#E"
There are numerous techniques to stimulate acupuncture points. such as dry needle stimulation.
electroacupuncture. aquapuncture. acupressure and others$ Each method has its strengths and
"ea'nesses$ 0eciding "hich acupuncture point to stimulate is based on locating points on the
body "here stimulation "ill produce a beneicial change in the central ner!ous system. altering
on2going physiologic acti!ity in the horse#s body$ The number o treatments required depends
upon the condition treated and ho" long the problem has e&isted$ The length o indi!idual
treatments usually ranges rom ; to 8= minutes$
APP!ICATIO" TO THE !A$EE"" E?A$IATIO
Acupuncture is an e&cellent diagnostic aid as an ad-unct to con!entional lameness e&amination$
Acupuncture diagnosis is based on the le!el o sensiti!ity to palpation o particular acupuncture
points +acupoints, that ha!e been ound to correspond "ith speciic conditions$ %n addition. there
are diagnostic points that are actually trigger points. 'nots or tight bands in a muscle$ (or
e&ample. a triceps trigger point is oten quite sensiti!e to palpation "hen a lo"er orelimb
lameness is present$ %t may not indicate e&actly "here the lameness is or "hat is causing it. but it
does mean that something is reacti!e in that region$ Each diagnostic acupoint may ha!e our or
i!e meanings. depending on "hich other points sho" up as reacti!e upon e&amination$ The
combination o reacti!e points oten times "ill assist the diagnosis and aid in locali1ing the cause
o the problem$ /ometimes acupoint diagnosis "ill help determine "hich o t"o or more problems
may ha!e come irst. such as in the case o a lo"er limb lameness accompanied by a bac'
problem$ Patterns o trigger points ar distant to the primary problem. compensating or the
primary problem. ha!e also been ound$ Acupuncture diagnosis can be an e&cellent ad-unct to the
lameness e&amination in addition to le&ion tests. diagnostic ner!e bloc's. radiographs +&2rays,.
ultrasound and luoroscopy +&2rays in motion,$ %t is not uncommon to use all o these diagnostic
techniques. including nuclear scintigraphy +bone scanning,. and still not arri!e at a diagnosis$
Acupuncture is oten an e&cellent complementary technique that may assist in iguring out the
problem$
APP!ICATIO" TO !A$EE"" TREAT$ET
Acupuncture is also used successully in the treatment o !arious equine lamenesses either as
the primary treatment or as an ad-unct to con!entional !eterinary treatment$ (or instance. a
primary hoc' problem may be treated "ith an in-ection o medication directly into the -oint$
Ho"e!er. it may not completely resol!e the entire complaint the o"ner has$ The horse may still
)not be right* or be )o$* There oten times is secondary compensation resulting in patterns o
trigger points in the bac' or nec' that remain unresol!ed$ Acupuncture therapy may then be used
quite successully to treat the secondary problems o the primary hoc' problem$ Acupuncture has
been used successully in the treatment o numerous equine lamenesses including chronic bac'
problems. hoc' or stile problems. laminitis. na!icular disease and !arious sot tissue in-uries$
Acupuncture may also be beneicial in the treatment o non2lameness problems in the horse such
as colic and diarrhea as "ell as reproducti!e. neurologic and respiratory conditions$ Acupuncture
is an e&citing ne" +yet ancient, diagnostic and therapeutic technique that has been incorporated
into a number o equine practices$ %t oers an additional approach to diagnostic and therapeutic
dilemmas that may not ha!e adequate ans"ers based on con!entional "estern medicine$ (urther
research "ill continue to e&plain the physiologic basis o acupuncture$
5$ title Applying Acupuncture to Lameness in the Horse 6$ author Allen /choen 8$ bio 0V9. 9/ :$
source AAEP con!ention ;$ date <o!ember 6=== >$ category alternati!e therapy ?$ te&t
posted by @ose
'ey"ords: te&t $
posted: >A5:A6==6$ Last updated: >A5;A6==6$