Chiropractic treatment has entered the awareness of many, in recent years. For me it was a step into unknown territory, and made me realise that there are other alternatives to ‘conventional’ Medicine. For my inter vertebrae ligament injury it was not too helpful, as for my horse, where it cured a non-diagnosed lameness with one treatment, it was.
So what is this magic therapy? Not magic at all, just when it is the right treatment for the problem, it sometimes appears to be.
McTimoney Manipulation for animals is one of many therapies, which is complementary to veterinary treatment, but never a substitute for thorough veterinary assessment and diagnosis. A McTimoney treatment, may help in many conditions, but is by no means a cure-all. The treatment requires veterinary agreement as the law states to date, to protect the animal’s wellbeing. The Practitioner will have graduated from the University of Wales with a PG Dip in McTimoney Manipulation and will be a member of a recognised body.
This article is for people who are interested in the wellbeing of animals, and can adjust their view of the therapy world to more comprehensive pastures.
Whilst anatomy and physiology taught me that the spine, although flexible, is a rigid structure, I was also taught to observe! Without being able to scientifically underpin my observations, the results are real. I will try to explain!
The nervous system has a major control function of every cell of the body. It even controls the next major system, the hormone system. The nervous system can loose its ability to function at its best, both in controlling and counteracting disease, when interfered with by a misaligned joint.Not to be mistaken with a dislocation, where a joint is dis-functional and needs some kind of urgent medical treatment . A ‘Mis-alignment’ is when two parts of bone, which articulate to a joint are not quite sitting in the right place. The joint is still functional to a certain extent, but could be painful. Most importantly, the surrounding nervous pathways, could be impinged (i.e.trapped nerve).
This is best explained in the spine, where two adjacent vertebrae form a joint. Nerves are leaving the joint through just a narrow gap, which is surrounded by muscles,ligaments,tendon and other soft tissue. The nerve communication to the brain, and back to the whole of the body is interfered with. In an attempt to correct this very slight mis-positioning of the bones, the body can react with inflammation, pain and muscle tightness (spasm). Sometimes however, the body is able to correct everything back to were it is meant to be. In some cases, the mis-alignment cannot be corrected by the body and needs external assistance. As these joint movements are very small and not discernible on x-ray, they are very difficult to be diagnosed by a vet. The McTimoney Practitioner is one of several therapists who are trained to palpate, locate and correct this mis-positioning of the joint.
Mis-alignments are caused by daily activity.Not very helpful, I know. They can also be caused by repetitive movements, a fall, a slip or at worst an accident. However, it does not mean that every animal needs treatment, but it could well be possible, especially as these mis-alignments, if not corrected, can cause other problems later on. Imagine you performed all daily activities favouring one side of your body(which you probably do). One side is under-active and the other side over-strained. Once this is established,you would show symptoms of discomfort.
When this manifests in animals, they will show symptoms such as lameness, change in gait,unwillingness to perform or even move. However, other bodily systems can be influenced, which are then more difficult to relate to as 'mis-alignment'.
The McTimoney Treatment corrects the positioning of a misaligned joint, by ‘high velocity-low altitude’ hand action.This works so well because the movement is faster then the tightened muscle’s ability to react. The milieu (structure) can relax, as the joint moves back into the correct position. The treatment itself is not painful, as the adjustment is very light, however there may be a little discomfort, as the affected area is tender in the first place. Over the next 24-48 hrs the animal may experience some stiffness and soreness, comparable to a muscle ache! It is beneficial to the success of the treatment, that the animal has the opportunity to rest and has some time to themselves, without strenuous exercise or other activities.
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