Equine Manual Therapies in Sport Horse Practice

Manual therapies can provide detailed diagnostic and therapeutic approaches to assess and manage neuromuscular coordination and strength in sport horses.   Active stretching involves using the patient’s own movements to induce a stretch; whereas, passive stretches are applied to relaxed muscles or connective tissues.   Soft tissue or joint mobilization is indicated to help limit the effects of joint immobilization and to restore proprioceptive mechanisms.   Equine chiropractic research has shown positive effects for pain relief, improving flexibility, reducing muscle hypertonicity, and restoring spinal motion symmetry.