Physio vs Osteo vs AN Other - which is best?

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ecrozier

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I've always used a physion for regular back checks on my horses, but just having a chat with a friend as to varying merits of physiotherapist vs osteopaths vs chiropractors vs alternatives such as McTimoney - which do you guys use for general back check ups and any subsequent treatment for your riding horses? And tbh for yourselves? Any preferences?
 
Chiropractor or osteopath for me, McTimoney for the horse. I am unconvinced horse people do any more than relieve muscle spasms (in and of itself a good thing which can keep them performing well IMO), therefore as long as the person is qualified, well recommended, my vet is happy and I see a result I wouldn't really have a preference TBH.

There are certain areas of muscle 'issue' where if the person treating the horse flagged them up I would then get a workup done by a good diagnostic vet.

I guess I see this more as a 'nice to have' which can keep things going at 100% rather than an 'essential' such as farriery which I would not keep a horse without doing.
 
I'm a bit biased as i'm just completin my masters in mctimoney animal manipulation. in my experience i have seen fab results with this. the practitioner who treated my horses used a lot of massage in with the mctimoney and this has worked so well as he is so popular and in demand. i also have a physio to visit them as they work totally differently. really they all improve different things so it depends where your horses problems are. for instance if your horses pelvis is rotated (most have something wrong even if your not aware of it) then whilst physio is beneficial in reducing pain etc it does not resolve the underlying problem. where abouts are you as i may be able to recommend someone? hope
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this helps x
 
McTimothy and advanced remedial massage for ned - advanced remedial massage and manipulation (based around oseopothy) for me
oh - and pilates for me too - not a treatment but helped my back (and my riding insterestingly) a LOT
 
McTimoney Chiropracty only for me and horses now.
i tried all sorts before for the horses, and i always took myself to the osteopaths, but they crunched me about a lot and tbh i found that mcts could get the same results with very subtle gentle manipulations. ditto with the horses.
a qualified ESMA massage for the horses goes down very well too, just wish i had magic hands to do it myself!
 
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for instance if your horses pelvis is rotated (most have something wrong even if your not aware of it) then whilst physio is beneficial in reducing pain etc it does not resolve the underlying problem.

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Ok, I have a huge issue with this.

1. If the horse's pelvis is rotated (as opposed to muscle spasms making one side of the quarters look unlevel in relation to the other), why is the horse not crippled?

2. How can a human exert enough force on a horse to 'unrotate' said pelvis without doing a heck of a lot of damage elsewhere? (to them and/or the horse!). Medics struggle to put a dislocated shoulder back into place in a human due to the forces involved, and the muscles/tendons/ligaments involved in horses are an awful lot stronger....
 
the pelvis can be rotated because if you stand behind and put each hand on the point of the tuber coxae you can feel a rotation by a drop on one side or the other. mctimoney uses low force but high velocity adjustments onto the joint which causes the muscles to correct the misalignment. a misalignment occurs when the bones become restricted in their range of movement and by putting energy into the joint you encourage the body to heal from within. it is a process which takes time and is not a quick fix solution. look on the mctimoney website for more info. i assure you it happens and treatment really works x
 
SpottedCat I am with you on this one!

The range of movement is improved by working on the muscles that hold it together and not the joint itself.

If you think about it if you could use a series of "low force but high velocity adjustments onto the joint" to actually change the skeleton, the horse wouldn't be strong enough to walk let alone carry a human lump.

I have big issue with any practitioner who wants to talk about pelvis rotation!
 
feel free to think wot you like. everyone is welcome to their own opinions. i know what i hav trained for the past 3 yrs to do works well and produces great results, as obviously all the others who quoted using mctimoney must also believe. You seem to think that it involves moving bones which it doesn't. the rotation is where the bone becomes restricted within the joints range of motion. you just help to release this.
 
Eventers4eva - I think I might know who your Mctimoney person is
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I have Mctimoney guy for my horse (every six months or so - obviously more often if needed) and don't have anyone for me, although might indulge in one this year. Never really had a massage or anything so I think it might be nice for me
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Physio and mc timoney chiropractor for horses, mc timoney chiropractor for me (as my dad is a chiropractor I get it free otherwise only the horses would get treated!).
In all honesty I feel that a combination works best for my horses as the musculature is just as important and sometimes more so then the underlying structures manipulated by the chiropractor.
 
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the pelvis can be rotated because if you stand behind and put each hand on the point of the tuber coxae you can feel a rotation by a drop on one side or the other. mctimoney uses low force but high velocity adjustments onto the joint which causes the muscles to correct the misalignment. a misalignment occurs when the bones become restricted in their range of movement and by putting energy into the joint you encourage the body to heal from within. it is a process which takes time and is not a quick fix solution. look on the mctimoney website for more info. i assure you it happens and treatment really works x

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That is not a true rotation of the skeletal structure IMO, it is a muscle spasm causing one side of the pelvis to be held within a smaller range of movement than it is normally capable of because the pain from the muscle spasm means the horse compensates and does not want to return to the 'neutral' position.

I still remain skeptical that if it were a true skeletal rotation that the horse would not be crippled and require both pain relief and sedation to allow the underlying skeletal structure to be realigned, and that one person could do it using a low force high veolcity movement. Oh, and that there would not be significant soft tissue damage associated with it.

Anyway, my horse is being seen by his McTimoney chap tomorrow, who also happens to teach on the course, so I will ask him to explain this properly and in the way it is explained to students. Part of the reason for my skepticism is because I have a good understanding of anatomy and physiology through my degree.
 
in describing the misalignments we are taught to identify the rotation. i think we purely aren't communicating to each other well. speak to your mctim practitioner who i'm sure will clear up the confusion. if he is a lecturer then i'd be interested to hear his take on this. look forward to follow up
 
Interesting thanks all! As per debate above the physio last year (same practice I have used before but different actual person) told me my horse has a slight rotation of the pelvis which has caused him to develop one shoulder much more than the other. No one has ever pointed this out before and I have had him checked every year for the 6 years I have had him! Must admit I hadn't really noticed either - oops. He doesn't seem to have any movement issues with it though.

Sounds like the biggest vote so far goes for a McTimoney person then - is there a list of registered practitioners anywhere? (I'm in Bucks near High Wycombe)
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I use a fabulous physio for Bob, who after a years treatment has given him the all clear today
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She has worked wonders, I am absolutely delighted
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I tried a McTimoney chiropractor for me a couple of times but didnt notice any difference so I stopped going
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McTimoney for my naglets too. The lady I used is also a qualified EBW so she incorporates this into her treatments.

I started on the Oxford McTimoney course but had to leave due to external pressures of 3 horses, FT work and travelling but hoping to complete next year. Also training with equineology next month to be an EBW all on the back of how amazing the results are after my horses have been treated. Hopefully will be able to reproduce the same results!
 
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