Basic HTML Version
P H Y S I O T H E R A P Y
7
EQUINE MATTERS
Rachel Greetham BSc (Hons) MCSP, SRP,
Category A member ACPAT
Know who's treating
your horse….
Physiotherapy is concerned with maximising
movement and function using applied
knowledge of physiology, anatomy and
biomechanics. It is an established healthcare
profession having been in existence for over
100 years. Animal physiotherapy has been
recognised for 25 years and now has formal
professional qualification routes. We are
qualified to treat human patients first before
further postgraduate study with animals. In
animal physiotherapy, the title physiotherapist
is not protected by law, this means that
anybody, even someone without any
physiotherapy qualifications can call themselves
an animal physiotherapist. The title Chartered
Animal Physiotherapist is protected, all
Chartered Animal Physiotherapists are fully
qualified human physiotherapists (MCSPs)
and have then undergone postgraduate
education to qualify as Chartered Animal
Physiotherapists and Category A members
of ACPAT (The Association of Chartered
Physiotherapists in Animal Therapy, the
governing body of our profession). Chartered
Animal Physiotherapists have rules of
professional conduct and have to attend
courses regularly to continue their professional
development and maintain standards.
ACPAT physiotherapists have been invited to
provide physiotherapy services at the London
Olympics 2012.
PART 1
OF A THREE PART SERIES
Physiotherapy
Equine
Hi, my name is Rachel Greetham
I am a chartered animal physiotherapist
based in Cheshire and team physiotherapist
to the British FEI Pony Event Team. I'd like
to give you an overview of what we do
and how we may be able to help you and
your horse.
Physiotherapy is an important part of
veterinary medicine. It is involved in the
treatment of injuries and diseases which
affect all horses and ponies from your
happy hacker to your Olympic hopeful.
What you should look for
in your physio….
When you have a physiotherapist treat
your horse, you should check that they:
●
are fully qualified Chartered Animal
Physiotherapists (Category A members
of ACPAT),
●
only work with Veterinary Referral
(legislation means that before a
physiotherapist treats your horse they
should get your vet’s permission),
●
have Professional and Public Liability
Insurance,
●
liaise with other professionals such as
Vets, Saddlers, Farriers, Behaviourists,
●
adhere to the Chartered Society of
Physiotherapy's Regulations and
Standards of Practice.
When could physiotherapy
help?….
●
Soft tissue injuries to tendon, ligament
and muscle
●
Back pain related/unrelated to lameness
●
Poor/inconsistent performance issues
●
‘He's not quite right’
●
Wounds and scar tissue
●
Splints, swellings and capped hocks
●
Behavioural issues
●
Lameness
●
Rehabilitation post-surgery
●
Age related stiffness
●
Schooling/jumping problems
●
Sporting injuries
●
Prevention of injuries
●
Post competition to promote
tissue recovery
●
Decreased range of movement
●
Haematomas