The Miracle Cure

The miracle cure

 

It seems to come around every few months – the new miracle solution that’ll fix all your problems!

And it’ll change form depending on which discipline, profession, or individual it is aimed at.

 

The horse industry seems to have a new trend or gadget every few months, claiming to solve every problem; it’ll cure all behavioural elements, prevent any future injuries and in general just make everything perfect!

 

Sometimes it’s an innocent well-wisher, who has developed a product that worked for their situation and wanted to help others, and it became more popular than anticipated.

 

But, a lot of the time, it’s a new business venture, looking to make a big sale.

 

Usually, it won’t cause any harm. And the new fad will replace it in a few months.  

 

However, sometimes the use of a gadget, aid or tool without the proper knowledge or application of its use, can be the beginning of a snowball effect.

 

This is especially true in the rehab/bodyworker world.

 

There are gadgets and machines coming out regularly, claiming to do the work of a physio or chiro, but without the expense.

 

But of course, these gadgets and machines don’t have years of training and experience that we animal professionals have.

 

They can’t tell you when their use is and isn’t appropriate, or how long they should be used for.

 

Obviously, I’ll come at this from a physio perspective …

 

We will know the how, when, where and why of application for any technique.

 

There are contraindications for pretty much every technique, or electrotherapy we use.

 

There are also plenty of times where we will need to think outside of the box to get the best outcome.

 

If a traditional method of treatment is not having the desired effect, we may need to treat elsewhere first or try a different approach.

 

We will also know the typical timelines of progress, and when things need to be toned down or tuned up!

 

These are things that a bought gadget cannot do.

 

And I bring this up now, because there are more and more electrotherapies coming onto the market that have the potential to do significant damage in the wrong hands.

 

Many of these electrotherapies require no training or proof of qualifications to purchase.

 

Anyone with the money can buy them.

 

The one that first worried me (before I was a vet physio) were the equine massage guns.

 

These are a prime example of can be incredibly beneficial, or incredibly damaging.

 

If used incorrectly, or too regularly, they have the potential to cause pain, bruise muscle, damage tendons, and even cause tears at the osteotendinous junction (where the tendon meets the bone).

 

Don’t get me wrong – you should absolutely do things to help your horse! But do them with knowledge, understanding and correct application.

 

Most animal professionals will happily educate you in what to do for the best.

 

What has been coming up more recently are the pulsed electromagnetic (PEME) machines.

Big, £10,000 - £20,000 machines that will cause pulsing in the muscle when passed over a ‘tight’ area.

 

These can be bought by anyone at all, you only need to engage in the online training, and you’re set!

 

This will be very appealing to owners, because they can ‘watch the tension melt away’, as the muscle will cease fasciculation once the tension is gone.

 

A miracle cure indeed! Who needs a physio anymore?

 

Well … what happens if the fasciculation doesn’t stop?  Or if the horse stops tolerating the machine? Or the problem persists after treatment?

 

There’s also the point of contraindications, and the how, why, where, and when?

 

And the biggest point of all – how do you know you’re treating the root cause of the issue, not the compensatory dysfunction?

 

These machines should only be used for a specific amount of time, in a specific time frame, in specific areas, or they can begin to do more damage than good.

 

Now, these machines can absolutely be used by owners and would certainly help the horse in between physio sessions.

 

BUT!

 

They should only be used under the guide of a professional, who can give you a specific treatment programme for the machine.

 

They will also be able to answer questions or give further guidance should things change along the way.

 

There are also people and businesses who will try to sell tools and techniques for treating your horses yourself too.

 

Often this’ll either be a ’4 weeks of poles will strengthen your horse’s core’ or ‘This massage mitt will cure your horses back pain’, or ‘do this stretch every day to improve your horse’s flexibility’.

 

Again, these things aren’t designed to cause damage and are almost always put forwards by people trying to help.

 

But again, you need to take the entire horse into account as to whether these things will actually help or are just kicking a problem down the road.

 

Also, there are some instances where things like pole work can be counterproductive.

 

For example: If you have a horse with OA of the hocks, raised poles can contribute to OA flare ups and pain.

 

However, having said that, pole work can also be beneficial for OA – but you need to know the hows, whens, and whys.

 

This is why us physios are needed! 🙋🏼‍♀️

 

Similarly, for stretches, plenty of people could do with stretching their horses more frequently.

 

However, if you’re not doing it correctly, you can cause microtraumas to joints and end up straining muscles and tendons.

 

Even everyday things like Cyro and thermotherapy need to be applied in the correct circumstance.

 

The very basics are:

-        Heat make blood come to area

-        Cold make blood go away from area

 

But you need to know the timings, application, and appropriateness for these things to ensure they will be beneficial.

 

The hows, whens, wheres, and whys!

 

I’m sure you can see a pattern forming here with each point I bring up!

 

Owners should absolutely be involved in their horse’s rehabilitation, everyday maintenance, and performance enhancement.

 

My only request would be to consult a professional first, before implementing something completely new.

 

Especially if it’ll cost you money!

 

Most equine professionals will happily give you advice without charge, but if an assessment is required first, that is also beneficial, as it’ll give you a starting point and will allow you to know what you improve on first.

 

And when I say professional, I mean someone who is qualified, and registered with appropriate bodies who will give advice.

 

I make this point as there are plenty of people who are buying electrotherapy machines and are charging to treat horse who are entirely unqualified.

 

Ensure to look for qualifications, registrations, and memberships, and don’t be afraid to ask for details!

If someone is ‘certified’ that doesn’t necessarily mean they are trained, it can just mean they’ve taken the online course that came with the machine.

 

Thank you so much for taking the time to read my blog.

 

I would love to hear your thoughts in the comments about topics you’d like me to write about, or any suggestions to improve my blogs.

 

For any other information, or to book a veterinary physiotherapy appointment, please contact me directly.

 

All the best,

Emma, The Biomechanic.

BSc(Hons), FdSc, MIRVAP, RAMP

07861195709

emma@the-biomechanic.co.uk

www.the-biomechanic.co.uk