Equine physiotherapy

Question 1

Hur funkar det med remiss till fysioterapi, måste veterinär alltid remittera?

Answer 1

• Sick/poorly horse ALWAYS to be treated by a physiotherapist only with referral (remiss) from a veterinary surgeon
• Healthy, sports horse may get maintaining/preventive physiotherapy without referral
• If a horse is assumed to be healthy, but a physio notices and issue -> to the veterinarian -> referral back to physio

Question 2

Hur kan en fysioterapeutisk undersökning se ut steg för steg?

Answer 2

1. Define the physiotherapeutic problems
   - The bigger picture; evaluation, treatment, prevention…
2. Set aims to therapy
   - De som bestämmer hur långt man ska gå – owner, veterinary surgeon, groom, farrier, trainer, physiotherapist
   - Gränser som ska sättas – tex pain free, functional level or quality of performance
3. Provide basis to the selection of appropriate therapy methods
4. Set base where to compare the outcome findings, thus evaluating the results of therapy and treatment

Question 3

Varför kan en häst behöva fysioterapi?

Answer 3

• Any type of disturbance in movement, including pain. Functionality of an individual.
• Specialised fields of physiotherapy: internal medicine, orthopaedics, paediatrics, respiratory, neurology, psychiatry, musculo-skeletal, geriatric, sports, animal

Question 4

Ge exempel på indikationer till fysioterapi för hästar

Answer 4

• Pain, tissue damage, movement disorder, prevention
• Changes in joint range of motion
• Disturbances in muscle tissues/muscular system
• Tendon and ligament injuries
• Fractures
• Decreased weight bearing
• Asymmetry and problems in movement
• Movement limitations and secundary issues
• Neurologcal movement dysfunction, functional problems
• Respiratory problems
• Secondary problems in neuromusculoskeletal system due to metabolic disturbances
• Obesity
• Skin lesions

Question 5

Ge exempel på fysioterapeutiska metoder för hästar

Answer 5

• Active therapeutic exercises – poles, proprioceptive taping, ”theraband”, balance boards, hydrotherapy, tactile stimulus, exercises done riding or driving…
• Manual therapy methods – soft tissue, trigger points, massage, joint moilisation, stretching
• Electrotherapy – light amplification by stimulated emission of radiation, tex LASER, TNS, EMS, heat, cold
• Respiratory and neurologial physiotherapy techniques
• Thermal treatment – heat, cold, US
• Acupuncture