In a previous blog, we spoke about the different causes of back pain in our patients. These causes can be primary or secondary to another injury, but regardless of the cause, the horse’s back is an area that is predisposed to pain and to dysfunction for an endless...
Although cupping therapy has been around for many centuries, it has not been used in the veterinary industry until recently, and has been slow to take hold and become widely used. Diana Landskron presented a fantastic webinar in the Onlinepethealth Equine Membership...
Back pain is an extremely common problem among our equine population of athletes and pleasure horses. In researching the topic, I tried to find out just how many horses are affected by back pain, but could not find any research that provides an answer. That being...
Arthrogenic muscle inhibition (AMI) occurs following a joint injury or orthopedic condition, and results in inhibited muscle function and activation. If left untreated, it can be a major limiting factor in the success of a rehabilitation programme.
Anatomy and structure The sacroiliac (SI) joint lies between the ventral surface of the wing of the ilium and the dorsal surface of the wing of the sacrum. The articular surface of the sacrum is covered with hyaline cartilage, while the articular surface of the ilium...
In the world of equine competition, one of the most common injuries we face is injury to the tendons. As an owner, rider and competitor, you are probably already familiar with the position of the horse’s tendon behind the cannon bone, and probably already...
The Equine Thoracic sling forms the connection between the forelimbs and the body. Nestled between the forelimb and the rib cage, the brachial plexus lies protected. The integrity and function of the thoracic sling is essential to the function of the entire body. Restrictions or dysfunction of this area can restrict the nerves of the brachial plexus, restrict range of motion of the forelimbs as well as the hindlimbs, and cause imbalance throughout the body.
In a Research Refresh on the Small Animal platform, we dove into an article on pressure algometry, specifically looking at a modified technique and its validity, repeatability and reliability (Lane & Hill, 2015). But one article gives us only a snapshot, so let’s...
One of the questions I am often asked as a Vet Physio (and absolutely not a saddle fitter) is whether or not to use a saddle pad to improve the fit of a saddle. While this question is usually answered with a referral to a trusted saddle fitter, I thought I could do a...
For a long time, I have wanted to write about the stay apparatus, but it was not until recently that I finally found the inspiration to jump into this topic. I received an email, asking my thoughts on disproving the theory of the stay apparatus. The theory? I had not...