Chiropractor or Physiotherapist

[FudgieFoo]

Do you use a chiro or a physio for your horse and why?

I just had the chiro out who didnt think there was much wrong with my horses back tho she is still acting up so she's def not right. Thinking about getting a physio up????

[helenc]

I use both.

I have a chiro out once a year & the physio once a year unless anything is bothering him & then I'm usually inclined to get the physio first.

It won't hurt to get the physio too as it could be muscular - the chiro will only have checked the spinal bones.

[TBEventer2002]

I was very impressed when the massage therapist (is that the same as a physio?) worked on Rumby. The chiro just wasn't getting the job done. Rumby would go great for a few days, then right back into his own problems. The MT that came for him works by releasing the muscles so that the skeleton can go back into place easier & more naturally with less problems afterwards. I saw an immediate difference after Rumby's session and am excited to get to ride him this afternoon to see if there is any REAL difference! :)

[galadriel]

I think a massage therapist is the closest we're likely to get, for horses, to a physio--on our side of the big pond, anyway. I'm certainly not a trained physiotherapist (too bad) but what I do is muscle therapy.

[Stella2]

I think a massage therapist is the closest we're likely to get, for horses, to a physio--on our side of the big pond, anyway. I'm certainly not a trained physiotherapist (too bad) but what I do is muscle therapy.

I didn't realise that you don't have Equine Physiotherapists in the US! Over here to practice under that title, they have to first complete a full training as a human physio! then train for a further two years before they can practice on horses! I was suprised when I first learned this, but anyway, a good Equine Physio usually really know her/his stuff.

I use both. A local Vet is a Equine Chiro too and my Equine Physio works closely with him, they will refer to each other as appropriate and when my mare Flora recently had a problem with the ligament under her poll that re-occured, the Physio telephoned the Chiro and they discussed it before deciding the best course of action. I found that very reasuring. If you can find a good one in each discipline, they can complement each others work very well :)

[martini55]

I used an osteopath and was absolutely over the moon with the results :)

[helenc]

I think a massage therapist is the closest we're likely to get, for horses, to a physio--on our side of the big pond, anyway. I'm certainly not a trained physiotherapist (too bad) but what I do is muscle therapy.

That really surprises me - I think it's a bit of a shame, the equine physios over here really know their stuff

[Bay Mare]

I've just used a McTimoney Chiropracter and am not convinced. She didn't have a known problem, I just wanted her checked out. To me she is worse than before the treatment, she is hollowing more and doesn't seem as comfortable as she was (the treatment was last week so it shouldn't be that). I would definitely try a physio or massage therapist next time which is strange because I use osteopaths/chiropracters in preference to physios for myself!

[Stella2]

I've just used a McTimoney Chiropracter and am not convinced. She didn't have a known problem, I just wanted her checked out. To me she is worse than before the treatment, she is hollowing more and doesn't seem as comfortable as she was (the treatment was last week so it shouldn't be that). I would definitely try a physio or massage therapist next time which is strange because I use osteopaths/chiropracters in preference to physios for myself!

My Equine Physio said some McTimothy Practitioners are 'worrying'! I don't know how their training is different/same as Equine Chiropractors who are not McTimothy! Its a minefield isn't it?

[galadriel]

I have not ever seen one suggestion of a local equine physio over here. I've only ever seen references to them here. I agree that it's a shame. Physio has done a tremendous amount for me personally; I know that in some cases what I do via massage is helpful, but only the tip of the iceberg. Of course, I can keep grinding away at that iceberg, and eventually things will improve. Working in conjunction with a chiro or acupuncturist can also speed things up. But an equine physiotherapist could do so much good for many horses.

Still a sports massage therapist can do a lot of good, too :) and my work is hardly negligible. And I'd pick muscle therapy over chiro as an initial assessment any day.

[Bebe]

I have used the McT chiro that Bay Mare mentions for the last 3yrs with no problems whatsoever, as have several other people the yard and people I know elsewhere. None of us have ever had any problems and all of us have seen improvements in our horses when treatment has been needed. She doesn't treat if it's not necessary either unlike some physios I've met.

The type of therapist I use depends on what I want checking out or what it is exactly that needs treatment. I use a Bowen therapist for anything muscular, chiro for mechanical problems and a massage therapist after the chiro to treat sore muscles if any major work has been done (hasn't happened since the first chiro visit).

[Bay Mare]

My Equine Physio said some McTimothy Practitioners are 'worrying'! I don't know how their training is different/same as Equine Chiropractors who are not McTimothy! Its a minefield isn't it?

To be fair the lady that I used has a very good reputation. As Bebe says a lot of people on the yard have her and have had good results. I'm not saying that she didn't need to be treated as the things that she said made sense but IMO she hasn't improved and does seem to be 'worse' than she was before (I'm not talking about drastically bad just not as comfortable). Maybe it's that she feels 'different' and that it will settle down but as things stand at the moment I won't be going down that path again.