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Introduction to Chiropractic CareAs people suffer from head, neck, back, pelvic and musculoskeletal problems, and so do animals. In view of the requirements of the various animal performance disciplines, structural injuries can and do occur. A lack of performance or decrease in performance potential or abilities is the most common reason for presentation of a structural problem i.e., a sore back, tightness in the shoulder or head shyness. The musculo-skeletal system in any athletic pursuit is vulnerable to overstress, which can lead into patterns of muscle tension. Pain and discomfort of any degree is inhibiting and detracts from the performance ability of any animal, thus, animals can and do benefit from chiropractic care. People, as well as horses, dogs, cats, farm animals, and exotics can benefit from this very non invasive technique which works holistically to eliminate the cause and not to just treat the symptoms. The treatment does not involve drugs and is readily accepted by most animals. Many of my patients seemingly fall asleep or become very relaxed during treatment. Chiropractic aligns and balances the person's or animal’s vertebrae, thus affecting proper alignment of the nervous system and the musculoskeletal system. The nervous system is housed within the spinal column or vertebrae. Adequate nerve supply is vital to the proper functioning of the entire body. When the vertebral bones are misaligned, even very slightly, they affect the flow of nervous energy. Manipulation therapy is aimed at correcting the misalignment and restoring the proper functioning of the nervous system.
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My Role as an Animal Chiropractor
My role as a chiropractor really focuses on being a manager of the nervous system rather than adjusting bones. The adjustment is only a means to free up the nervous system in order to allow the animal much freer movement. Because the nervous system is quite delicate and can easily be damaged my work is very gentle and non invasive.
How to Free up the Nervous System.
My work concentrates on the correct alignment of the poll (first vertebrae of the neck, called C1 or the Atlas, located directly behind the ear) and the release of the cranial or skull bones in order to facilitate the release or unwinding of the spine, which then directly facilitates the unwinding of the nervous system. Once the poll is adjusted into its correct position, or ‘seated’ correctly, and/or the cranial pressure of the head is released, the eye of the horse becomes very soft, the head drops and the horse seemingly falls asleep.
The atlas or poll is the kingpin. If this one bone of the entire vertebral column is aligned properly, the entire spine behind it releases its inherent tension and torque, thus realigning into a position whereby the entire spine floats, thus allowing the muscles, ligaments and tendons attached to the spine to line up and perform in the correct pulley action as they were designed. This pulley action then translates to the limbs and the shoulders, allowing them to function as designed, with its inherent freedom.
The cranial or skull bones are an impotent factor in the whole equation of the nervous system. The skull is made up of several bones (32 in the human) which are separated by cartilage. This cartilage is also meant to float in order to allow a very gentle pumping action of the skull which then pumps the spinal fluid up and down the spine and throughout the nervous system. This pumping action is vital towards our well being. Bumps on the head and falls can lock up the cranial bones and thus, hamper the pumping action of the skull.
All of these facets taken together as a whole help to restore and maintain health, soundness and performance.
The 'Unwinding Process' of a Spine
The time frame for this unwinding of the spine is typically 6-10 weeks. All of a sudden the animal is noticeably freer, more fluent, and able to stretch out; in the case of a race horse or greyhound, being able to cover more ground in less time.
The direct benefit of a freed up structure is that repeated adjustments are unnecessary. Because the body of the spine is floating, the adjustment holds, bar injury. Typically, several treatments may be necessary initially, and once the animal is balanced that adjustment will hold for 3-4 months as opposed to the typical 3-4 days holding power of an adjustment to a spine in tension ( taking into account that I am describing a high performance animal i.e. a horse) with the inherent high stresses of the job).
In competitive animals , this freedom of movement as allowed by chiropractic care, is often transcribed into the ‘extra edge’ that allows race horses or performance animals to vastly improve their performance.