Physiotherapy Treatments

Manual Therapy

Manual therapies include:

  • Massage - Massage is the manipulation of soft tissue either by hand or using an instrument. The therapeutic effect of massage comes from the increase of blood to the tissue and the release of pain-relieving endorphins. These two physiological effects help to reduce inflammation, increase muscle elasticity, and improve joint range of motion. 

  • Myofascial release - breaks down adhesions between layers of fascia and soft tissue to increase range of movement, tissue flexibility and reduce pain.

  • Trigger point therapy - sustained pressure on focal areas of increased tone in muscles flushes blood out, followed by influx of new blood, clearing out metabolic waste products in the muscle, improving muscle tone, and reducing pain.

  • Reflex/reciprocal inhibition - stimulates nerve endings within the muscle that causes an involuntary contraction in that muscle and a relaxation in the opposing muscle. This co- contraction/relaxation restores the muscles to their normal resting length - useful for treating muscles that are in spasm or have been chronically tight.

The appropriate therapeutic technique is chosen for the problem to be treated.

Exercise Therapy

Exercise is possibly the most powerful prophylactic and rehabilitative treatment available. Therapeutic exercise promotes:

  • Blood flow 

  • Joint health

  • Increased range of movement

  • Pain reduction

  • Tissue suppleness, flexibility and elasticity

  • Optimal tissue strength for the activity required

  • Awareness of body position in space – proprioception

  • Neuromuscular control of the joints and body

  • Cardiovascular fitness

  • Independence

  • Protection against future injury

Physiotherapists use targeted exercises to strengthen the region of the body that has been injured, and the body as a whole to help it function more healthily and effectively. Exercises are prescribed following assessment of the horse/human so that an appropriate training programme can be developed. During rehabilitation, exercises are made progressively more challenging as the horse/human becomes stronger. Exercise is used alongside the other treatment methods to promote optimal recovery, function, and health.

Kinesio Taping

Kinesio tape is a stretchy, lightweight adhesive tape that was originally developed for humans to continue the therapeutic effect of manual therapy between treatment sessions. It can be worn for up to 5 days without having to be removed using heat-activated medical grade adhesive. The equine version of kinesio tape is designed to work with horses’ hair. Kinesio tape can be applied in different ways at different levels of tension depending on the goal of treatment. It can be used to:

  • Relieve pain

  • Increase range of motion

  • Influence muscle activation

  • Promote lymphatic drainage to reduce swelling

  • Improve proprioception

  • De-sensitise horses to touch

Muscle Stimulation - T.M.M.

The WERC PULSE TMM is a form of functional electrical stimulation that is used to re-calibrate the timing of contraction-relaxation cycles of individual muscles or groups of muscles, with the goal of optimising healthy movement patterns in horses. The system was developed by veterinary physiotherapist Jo Paul (https://www.werc.co.uk/tmm) to overcome challenges posed when treating horses. Unlike in human and small animal physiotherapy, in which patients can lie down, horses must always be treated while standing. Consequently, their muscles are always under some level of tone to maintain the standing position against gravity. Thus, some common physiotherapy techniques are less effective for horses. 

The WERC PULSE TMM delivers an electrical impulse of variable intensity and frequency to activate muscles. It enables the therapist to assess the quality and duration of muscle contraction, the timing of the transition from contraction to relaxation, and the quality and duration of the relaxation. A treatment plan to optimise muscle function can then be developed and implemented.     

LASER

LASER (Light Amplification by Stimulated Emission of Radiation) therapy uses specific wavelengths of light to stimulate cells in the tissue being treated to produce more energy (in the form of adenosine triphosphate, or ATP) that enables the tissue to heal more quickly. LASER therapy also causes dilation of blood vessels, encouraging blood flow to the treated area, which helps reduce inflammation. Therefore, LASER therapy is suited to treating wounds, and tendon and ligament injuries as it causes faster healing and reduces swelling.

Pulsed Electromagnetic Field therapy

PEMF (Pulsed Electromagnetic Field) therapy is a non-invasive, non-heating treatment that uses a pulsing electromagnetic field below the sensory threshold to promote tissue healing. PEMF is effective at treating:

  • Bone fractures – promotes more efficient bone healing

  • Osteoarthritis – reduces pain and increases function

  • Pain caused by inflammation and swelling

  • Soft tissue injury

  • Muscle spasm

PEMF can also promote optimal muscle metabolism to improve recovery after large training efforts or competition. Because PEMF is below the sensory threshold it is tolerated by horses in pain and is a useful non-pharmaceutical tool to manage pain when other techniques would not be tolerated. 

Jenny is able to provide advice regarding whether hydrotherapy is appropriate for your horse and where to go to access hydrotherapy sessions. She is also able to advise on optimal nutrition and management programmes for your horse to optimise health and performance. 

Hydrotherapy and other advice

Rider Physiotherapy

The rider is one half of the horse/rider team! Therefore, the rider can have a significant influence over the performance of the horse. Rider assessments can be completed at your own home or yard if you would like to be assessed whilst riding your horse. Jenny is qualified in acupuncture, cupping (negative pressure used to improve blood flow promote healing) and kinesio taping for humans. She can use these methods alongside manual therapies and exercise therapy to treat horse riders so that they can be the best partner for their horse. 

Veterinary Consent

It is a legal requirement that any therapist treating your horse for an active injury or health problem has consent from your vet to do so. You may download a form here to request consent from your vet for Jenny to treat your horse. Alternately you can ask Jenny to obtain your vet’s permission to treat your horse on your behalf. This does not incur any additional fee. 

You do not need veterinary consent for Jenny to provide treatments to maintain health and wellbeing and to improve performance in a healthy horse.