Long‐term Follow‐up of Manipulative Treatment in a Horse with Back Problems

Abstract

In order to objectively quantify the effect of manipulation on back-related locomotion anomalies in the horse, a recently developed kinematic measuring technique for the objective quantification of thoracolumbar motion in the horse was applied in a dressage horse that was suffering from a back problem. In this horse, clinically, a right-convex bending (scoliosis) from the 10th thoracic vertebra to the second lumbar vertebra was diagnosed. As a result, there was a marked asymmetric movement of the thoracolumbar spine. Functionally, there was severe loss of performance. Thoracolumbar motion was measured in terms of ventrodorsal flexion, lateral flexion, and axial rotation using an automated gait analysis system. Measurements were repeated before and 2 days after treatment, before the second treatment 3 weeks later, and at 4 weeks and 8 months after the second treatment to assess long-term effect. At the same time, performance of the horse was assessed subjectively by the trainer as well. Symmetry of movement improved dramatically after the first treatment. After this, there was a slight decrease in symmetry, but 8 months after the last treatment the symmetry indexes for the various joints were still considerably better than during the first (pre-treatment) measuring session. Subjectively, the trainer did not notice improvement until after measurement session 4. Between sessions 4 and 5 (at 4 weeks and 8 months after the second treatment) there was a change of trainer. The new trainer did not report any back problem, and succeeded in bringing the horse back to its former level in competition. It is concluded that manipulation had a measurable influence on the kinematics of the thoracolumbar spine. However, it is recognized that an improvement in symmetry of motion is not equivalent to clinical improvement and that other measures, such as changes in management, may be more decisive.

Science overview: Development of a structural and functional understanding of the equine back

“…They found a reduction in flexion‐extension and axial rotation ROM in the affected horses, concomitant with a decrease in stride length. These findings agreed with earlier clinical observations (Jeffcott 1980) and spinal kinematic data from a single case report (Faber et al . 2003).…”

“…The best documented study is a single case report in which a horse was treated twice and measured 5 times (from before the start of treatment to 7 months later). Clear and to a large extent lasting improvements in symmetry of movement were demonstrated, but a caveat was made that eventual clinical improvement seemed more related to a change in trainer than to the chiropractic treatment itself (Faber et al . 2003).…”

Structure and biomechnaical concept of the equine back

“…Only when such fundamental knowledge exists it will be possible to evaluate objectively various kinds of (alternative) treatments that are advocated as being beneficial without, in most cases, any scientific evidence. Recently, for instance, a case was reported in which manual manipulative treatment was found to have a significant and lasting influence on spinal motion, although the clinical relevance still remained unclear (Faber et al 2003).…”

Complementary and alternative medicine for the management of orthopaedic problems in Swiss Warmblood horses

“…Studies have investigated the effectiveness and success of CAM treatment methods in horses (Faber et al . ; Gomez Alvarez et al . ; Sullivan et al .…”