Page 14 - Equine Matters - Spring 2012

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P H Y S I O T H E R A P Y
Rachel Greetham BSc (Hons) MCSP, SRP,
Category A member ACPAT
When dealing with a lameness one of the
most important skills a chartered physiotherapist
has, is to know whether physiotherapy
can help, or if the problem needs veterinary
management. For example some back
problems can present as a mild lameness. It is
important to assess if the back problem is the
primary cause of the lameness, or if there is
another issue such as bone spavin in the hock
which is causing the lameness and secondary
back pain. Pain or stiffness in the hock causes
the horse to compensate and change his
movement pattern. The muscles in the back
and pelvis will be overused and become sore.
In this case the physiotherapy treatment will
resolve the back pain but not the cause of the
problem. The issue will keep recurring so
the correct management is to have veterinary
help first, followed by physiotherapy.
Often the physiotherapist will be the first
professional to see a lame horse. The
physiotherapist will take a detailed history of
the problem, then watch the horse move. They
will identify the lame leg, noting whether the
lameness is a reduction in weight bearing (i.e.
the horse doesn’t want to stand on that limb),
or if the swing phase of the limb is reduced so
the horse can’t take the limb forwards.
Depending on the severity of the lameness and
what makes it more apparent the physio will
assess the horse while standing square, in walk
and trot in a straight line, on the lunge and
under saddle. Physiotherapists will be very
aware that by assessing the movement they do
not make the lameness worse. If the horse has
damaged a tendon the last thing it needs is to
be cantered round on the lunge.
A thorough palpation of the whole horse is
performed. This is to identify areas of heat,
swelling, wounds, muscle spasm, pain,
thickening or scar tissue. The range of
movement of affected joints and any muscle
wastage will be noted.
From all this information the major issues,
problems or abnormalities are noted and the
physiotherapist will propose a hypothesis of
the nature and cause of the problems. It is
important to note that only vets can diagnose,
physiotherapists will propose a hypothesis of
the problem.
PART 2
OF A THREE PART SERIES
Physiotherapy
Equine
Rachel Greetham
Unfortunately regardless of how much we
wrap our horses and ponies up in cotton
wool they still go lame!
Chartered physiotherapists will treat,
manage and discover varying types and
levels of lameness. Lameness can vary from
a mild lameness which the owner hadn’t
detected but presents as a performance
issue, to marked lameness following
trauma, or a diagnosed lameness referred
from the vet for physiotherapy treatment.
13
EQUINE MATTERS
Physiotherapy treatment and management of lameness
‘Remember to use a ‘chartered’ equine physiotherapist’
- they
are fully qualified, work with your vets and are fully insured.
Joint problems e.g.:
Navicular
Bone spavin
Arthritis
This can lead to secondary
muscle spasm and compensation
Trauma e.g.:
Falls
Slips
Cast
Leading to muscle spasm
and pain
Soft tissue injuries
Muscle tears
Tendon injuries
Ligament injuries
Foot balance problems
This can lead to secondary
muscle spasm and compensation
Ill-fitting saddles/rider
imbalances
Leading to muscle spasm
and pain
Nerve damage
Leading to muscle wastage
/weakness
Metabolic disorders
e.g. laminitis or azoturia
Neurological problems
Common causes of lameness