Veterinary Medical Manipulation

up doc? veterinary Medical Manipulation: by Sharon Cubelo

Veterinary medical manipulation (more commonly known as chiropractic medicine be reversed by clearing the restriction and bringing motion back to the joint. for humans) is often associated with the term “subluxation” or “putting things back into place.” This is a bit of a misnomer as the restrictions corrected by a chiropractor are in the correct anatomical place; however, the joints just aren’t moving the way they are supposed to. This decrease in range of motion can be caused by soft tissue or connective tissue impingements or bone changes. The doctors will adjust using a quick and low force movement to restore the normal motion within the joint. Sometimes these corrections can cause patients to be a little sore afterward, and to prevent this, corrections may be done in stages. Once the joint has proper movement, the nervous system will start to calm down which can relieve pain and the body’s natural stress response. Because the brain depends on input from the body to continue to function at full capacity, limiting motion in a joint will restrict the sensory input up to the brain. This limited information can cause the nerves that aren’t being used to atrophy or shrink (like a muscle in a cast!). Those nerves will then change to pain-sensing instead of motion sensing causing patients to be more sensitive to even non-painful stimulus. luckily, this can These restrictions can occur secondary to Injuries from playing, repetitive impact, tripping or falling, sleeping wrong - the list goes on and on. When a restriction is present, pain can occur forcing a change to the natural gait (limping), forcing the body to compensate for this elsewhere. These compensations can lead to new restrictions and eventually a semi-permanent change to muscle and tendon length and flexibility and bone shape. This becomes a self-driving cycle and can be frustrating as things unravel during the treatment period. An example of this is an injury from playing tug-of-war. The cervical spine may develop a restriction preventing proper turning of the neck to the right. This then can lead to changes in gait in the forelimbs, leading to compensations in the shoulders and elbows. Eventually, this can affect the remainder of the back and later the hips and finally the rear limbs. After the adjustment, however, your pet should instantly feel better! During the appointment, the physical exam includes testing each joint for proper motion, from nose to toes! Often, a full history of injuries, accidents, and lifestyle will be discussed and goals and expectations for

Chiro the family and the pet will be established. After the appointment, if your pet is an athlete or very high energy, it’s recommended to stick with the controlled activity. Shorter leash walks, or low impact play. It’s not recommended to have a full training session. letting your pet rest afterwards is best, but they don’t need to be confined. Appointments are often started on the weekly basis to work through the patterns of compensation and to find the primary cause of mobility issues. Moving to a maintenance phase can mean coming in every few months or as needed if something doesn’t seem right. In the Hampton Roads region of Virginia, Dr. Sharon Cubelo practices as a mobile integrative veterinarian with her practice Copper’s Integrative Veterinary Care, llC. She attended veterinary school at Ross university, and followed up her studies at the university of Tennessee for her Canine Rehabilitation Practitioner (CCRP) certification, Chi university for her acupuncture (CVA), food therapy (CVFT) and Tui-na (CVTP) certifications, and Integrative Veterinary Medicine Institute for certification in medical manipulation (CVMMP). She continues at Chi university pursuing her Master’s degree in Traditional Chinese Veterinary Medicine, and expects to complete this degree in 2025.