Chiropractic or osteopathy or something else??!!

[toomanyhorses26]

Over the past year I have found myself becoming more and more unlevel with my riding and I ahve decided that it needs sorting. I think it has stemmed from a few relatively minor incidents eg broke my foot,had a couple of falls and was riding a very one sided horse for a month or so and it has led to me now riding with one stirrup three holes shorter than the other but yet I feel perfectly level

have even bought new stirrup leathers to check that they hadn't stretched. I also feel alot stronger in my right side and more effective in my use of leg aids where as my left side feels quite weak in comparision and tends not to be as good so I find leg yield,shoulder in quite difficult to ride. Just wondered if anyone had any recommendations as to how this could be fixed. Have been having weekly lessons and my instructor doesn't think it's a riding issue as such because I have done an unbelivable amount of no stirrups and lunge lessons and that I need to get myself seen by someone to straighten me up!!

 

[maddielove]

Get to an osteo!
Just been to mine this week after being in intense pain since riding in un-stretched leathers.
Turns out my pelvis had tilted from riding in dodgy leathers (my positing had adjusted, not been great for the horse either) and trying to ride level was causeing me agony!
Rode for the first time since manipulation on saturday and horse was going fantastic and bending better than ever!!

 

[flowerlady]

Not sure which you need to see.

But I'm sure someone on the forum will know. If not ask your doctor.

You may need putting on a rack and stretching. Haha

 

[duckling]

Ditto, get to an osteo!!
Mine is amazing - I always new I had an unruly right leg that I had a lot less control over than my left and turned out my pelvis was slightly rotated to the right and was causing my back and legs to twist slightly, also causing shoulder pains.
Not only does the manipulation help, but mine also gives me exercises to do to strengthen my back and legs and help my pelvis become more open and supple

 

[kerilli]

i used osteopaths for years with success, but then tried a mctimoney chiropractor and have never changed back... it is gentler, more effective, much preferable to me. i am sure they will be able to help you, if you are riding with stirrups of such different lengths then your pelvis is probably 'out' by a long way, and might take a few treatments to stabilise back to level (because the muscles etc have all compensated for its new position), best of luck!

 

[daydreamer]

Hi,

I went to a chiropractor when my riding instructor said my hips/pelvis didn't look quite right. Turns out she was correct and my pelvis was twisted (no idea why). Whilst the chiropractic treatment makes me level after i have just been i have a feeling it has twisted back to where it was in the first place. My chiropractor didn't give me any exercises or anything and maybe my muscles have just pulled my pelvis back out of alignment. Might be different with a different chiropractor though. I have been quite a few times and it is quite expensive!

Maybe i will try an osteopath as other people have suggested.

 

[Magicmillbrook]

I have tried both, very similar, and both good. It works best if you can get an excercise plan, though most suggest you try somthing like pilates or alexander technique to work the core muscles.

 

[Dreckly]

I am just coming towards the end of a course of treatment for exactly the same problem - my pelvis was twisted.

After visiting my doctor he recommended a chiropractor who I have visited approximately 6 times. Although she put my pelvis correct the first time, I have had follow-up treatments for my back, and also to remind my pelvis where it should be. I have exercises to do, but have also on her advice taken up pilates to strengthen the girdle of muscles and hold everything in the right place. Now straight and ridden leg position much improved!!