Would you agree with this? (stiffness/osteo treatment)

[happy_talk]

My mare has been stiff so was treated by an osteopath- she improved after 1st & 2nd treatment. 4 weeks later she became very stiff. Osteo is certain that the cause of the problem is muscle only as wouldn't have seen an improvment after the treatments. (He has treated again, and she is much improved, but taking things much slower this time in building work/fitness up).

I'm just wondering if there could be anything "more sinister" underlying the stiffness. Do you think that the osteo is right in saying that if it was something else she wouldn't have improved?

 

[Booboos]

What does your vet think? To be honest I would want the vet to make a diagnosis first and have oversight of any treatment.

Personally I am not convinced osteos can manipulate horse bones, but that's another story!

 

[Silmarillion]

Legally your horse would have had to have been seen by a vet and referred to the osteopath by him/her, or at the very least your vet will have had to approve the treatment for the horse. If you didn't go that route and are unsure of whether there is something wrong, get your vet to have a look.

That's what I'd do, anyway. No question.

 

[happy_talk]

Will speak to the vet again tomorrow to discuss it. I was more interested on people's opinion on the osteo's comment on it being muscular as improvement seen.

BBs- I agree with you- i don't believe they can manipulate bone. The improvement seen came from muscular changes.

 

[Sam22]

Joint disease results in change in use of the surounding muscles and ligaments which become loaded in a different way to previously which can cause strain and stiffness and effectively secondary muscle disease. I beleive the osteopath would have relieved some of this tension and therefore the horse would have felt better and less stiff afterwoods but the entire problem may not have been treated. However if your horse does have joint disease then osteopathic treatment is probably very good for her and with the right exercise hoefully you can build up the ligaments and muscles around any skeletal damage to give it the best support and prognosis for the future. It is also possible there is no skeletal damage but this is not proven simply by response to osteopath. I agree with the others that you need a diagnosis from the vet so you can more specifically target and monitor treatment. If she is completely better and vet thinks she's sound then you can carry on as you are. good luck getting to the bottom of it.

 

[magic14339]

This is one of those situations where it is impossible to be certain. In some respects assuption is the moter of all **** ups! I would definately consult the vet and would want to be very careful about whether the horse is lame. If the horse is currently lame proceed with caution. Horses compensate for injuries incredibly well sometimes so having an osteo session could take away some of this compensation when the injured area needs support.

People get carried away with whether horses can be 'manipulated' I think this is due to the therapists and the owners misconception. Therapists also commonly term the horses bones as being 'out' which is highly unlikely in the sense that owners consider it! The horses spine has some fundamental differences from the human spine. It is thought by many that injury/improper biomechanics can cause a change in joint position (inbetween each vertebrae). In my experience (as an Equine Body Worker) this is what McTimoney Chiros work on. The application of this type of therapy is known to work but the true mechanism of action is still a bit elusive (but the joint positional theory is thought of a feasable). When soft tissue is tight/restricted then this can alter the pull on the vertebrae (which the muscle attaches onto) and this is why one will always affect the other.

In the case of this horse I would advise speaking to the vet (ensuring there is no suspicion of another issue) and would then address it further with some specific soft tissue work. Ideally vet/osteo/physio or Massage Therapist should all be communicating throughout the process!

Good Luck

Hope some of that made sense been a long long long day!

 

[happy_talk]

Many thanks for your comments. will have a chat with the vet on how to proceed. The horse isn't lame- just slightly more reluctant to bend right, than left. I wish horses could talk!