HORSE HEALTH
“ What’s the difference between animal chiropractic techniques and physiotherapy?
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W
hat does the term ‘back man’ mean to you? Is it someone that offers a one stop shop for all things
Understanding the difference between a Physiotherapist and Chiropractor
to do with the horse’s back? Or does the term concern you, as surely the term blurs the lines between professional practice! Aside from the vet, there are two primary types of professionals who can (and should) look at the horse’s back, these being a Chiropractor and Physiotherapist - neither of whom should be referred to as a back man, or woman. Both are trained in different ways to be able to assess, and treat the area in subject to particular issues. Here, along with the help of the Animal Health Trust, we focus on the difference between a Chiropractor and Physiotherapist. Understanding the aspects that set these professionals apart is essential when getting the right help for your horse. 30 • EVERYTHING HORSE MAGAZINE : JUNE 2021
Written by MAA Practitioner Nikki Roughtledge This is a question which gets asked from time to time, and it is a valid one. With the increasing number of skilled practitioners in both spheres, it isn’t surprising that the astute horse owner wants to know what each therapeutic discipline offers. It helps to begin with explaining the difference between what practitioners in both spheres are trying to do. Essentially both are looking at how the horse moves, performs and behaves relative to what might be considered normal, and both types of therapy aim to restore normal function to the body. Just as there are ‘many roads to Rome,’ there are various ways of doing this. Both approaches use a combination of treatment and rehabilitative exercises to achieve this goal, but the clearest distinction
between animal chiropractic techniques and physiotherapy, is the focus of treatment in order to achieve a return to normal function and performance.
The McTimoney Chiropractor McTimoney Animal Practitioners, registered with the McTimoney Animal Association, are the largest group of practitioners trained in animal chiropractic techniques. They assess the skeletal frame, predominantly the spine and pelvis, looking for areas of asymmetry and dysfunction. This can be seen where the pelvis presents with the points of hip at an uneven height even though the horse is stood square all round. A horse with unequal height at the points of the hip, and a curve present throughout the spine will struggle to work in a straight line, preferring to favour one side over the other, and will ultimately start to resist when worked, usually
