HomeTherapy and rehabilitation
The Equine Therapy Centre offers a range of services for both out-patients and resident cases. We provide livery and controlled exercise (Rehabilitation livery.pdf) for horses recovering from tendon or ligament injuries, and tailored programmes for horses recovering from ‘kissing spine’ surgery, multiple limb lameness and/or back pain (Therapy livery.pdf).
‘Therapy livery’ gives clients unlimited access to all our resources. Bespoke programmes of exercise and electrotherapy are designed by the vet in consultation with our therapists.
Horses are continually monitored with regular reviews of their progression to ensure that they receive the most effective treatment possible.
What is equine therapy?
Therapy is treatment which is normally specific to the condition(s). It involves reduction or removal of pain, healing, improvement in tissue quality and muscle tone, it is an essential precursor to rehabilitation. Our therapeutic tools include:
- electrotherapy
- interferential therapy
- therapeutic ultrasound
- cold and compression (Zamar)
- mobilisation
- manipulation
What is equine rehabilitation?
Rehabilitation is the re-education of sensory input, posture, muscle balance and way of going following lameness or injury. It is specifically tailored to the individual to reduce the chances of re-injury and actually improve on previous performance wherever possible. Our tools for rehabilitation include:
- high speed treadmill
- water treadmill
- ground schooling
- proprioceptive enhancement using weights, chains and maze work
Pain
Pain brings about compensatory changes in the horse’s movement, but the removal of pain does not necessarily restore normal function due to fundamental changes in proprioception (sensory nerve input) and muscle balance. This is why rehabilitation is advisable in the recovery from many types of lameness. We can treat pain using:
- medication
- electrotherapy
- manipulation
What is Osteopathy?
Osteopathy is a form of physical therapy. Osteopaths use many of the same tools as physiotherapists but are specifically trained in mobilisation and manipulation techniques aimed at improving the horse’s range of movement, comfort and flexibility. In our Centre, manipulation is rarely done in isolation, more usually some electrotherapy and/or veterinary treatment is used prior to or alongside. Horses can be treated as ‘day cases’.
What is Physiotherapy?
Physiotherapy uses physical agents such as specific soft tissue massage, myofascial release, manipulation, mobilisations, exercise, and electrotherapy to treat a wide variety of neuro-musculoskeletal problems. Treatment is specific to each case following a thorough assessment. Common conditions treated include:
- back pain
- joint problems
- muscle strains
- tendon and ligament sprains
- post surgery
- movement dysfunctions
- performance problems
- neurological conditions
- sports injuries
- injury prevention
What is Corrective Farriery?
Corrective farriery involves specialist trimming and shoeing aimed at supporting musculoskeletal conditions and limb imbalance. Corrective farriery is often an essential precursor to any veterinary treatment or rehabilitation. Skilful trimming and shoeing, can provide a sound and solid platform from which to work, ensuring that any veterinary and therapeutic treatment is maximised.
