Services
I work with clients based within a 50-mile radius of Darlington, County Durham to offer physiotherapy treatments for horses as well as combined rider and horse physio sessions. Here are my different services and how they can help your horse or pony.
Physiotherapy
Physiotherapy is a profession not just a single technique. As physiotherapists we assess the patient and select the best techniques in our toolbox to gain the best outcome.
Physiotherapy uses a variety of manipulation and hands techniques to treat a wide variety of musculoskeletal problems and help aid recovery from strenuous exercise in horses. My physiotherapy work also can help to increase the flexibility of muscles and joints and strengthen the horse’s core muscles. I also prescribe exercises and stretches for owners to carry out between appointments and utilise a range of electrotherapies and massage techniques to support my work.
Massage
Massage is an excellent way to boost blood flow to the muscles and has been reported to help increase range of motion and stride length, reduce activity of certain pain receptors, and reduce stress response in muscles and other soft tissues. I use a variety of massage techniques and movements to help soothe muscles, release tension and stimulate lymphatic drainage.
Myofascial Release
Myofascial release is a hands-on, whole-body therapy which targets the fascia, a web-like structure of elastin, collagen and viscous fluid which is found all over the body. All muscles, organs, and nerves are connected and protected by the fascia and when it is damaged through injury or inflammation it can become restrictive. Myofascial release is a technique which applies gentle sustained pressure on the myofascial connective tissue to release restriction and restore proper function and movement.
Book a Session
Trigger Point Release
Horses, just like humans, can develop knots in their muscles which can restrict movement, cause pain and even lead to muscle spasms. These are caused by hypersensitive areas called trigger points and can be caused by stress or injury. Trigger point release aims to locate these knots and bands, and then uses a combination of compression, stretching and effleurage techniques to remove them.
Laser Therapy
Laser therapy uses the energy in lasers to deliver a wide range of benefits for horses, including improved lymphatic drainage, increased cell growth, pain relief and much, much more. As such laser therapy has a broad range of applications from arthritis to post-surgery wound healing. I’ll make sure I mention any cases where I think that laser therapy could benefit your horse and explain how it will work.
Reflex Inhibition
Treating muscle spasms can be tricky, as the muscle which is spasm needs to relax back to its ‘resting length’ to allow the opposite muscle to contract, Reflex inhibition is a technique used to stimulate an involuntary contraction in the muscle not in spasm (the agonist muscle) alongside a physiotherapy movement to trigger an involuntary relaxation in the muscle suffering the spasm.
Book a Session
Ultrasound
As well as its use in diagnostic imaging by vets, ultrasound also has therapeutic uses. It improves blood flow, reduces swelling and oedema and can enhance the metabolic activity of cells which can accelerate wound healing. The gentle massage effect of ultrasound is particularly useful for treating soft tissue injuries without any impact or stain on the tissue.
TMM Machine
Simply the TMM delivers a uniquely comfortable electrical impulse that is variable in frequency and intensity only. Successful outcome is dependent on the skill of the therapist to assess the horse’s movement pattern, plan a therapeutic strategy, choose the treatment parameters, exercise anatomical know how to accurately place the electrodes and employ the appropriate manual treatment theory.
For best results the TMM is employed to re-educate the timing of muscles as required around the whole body.
It is used as part of a treatment strategy and demands a high level of skill for it to be used successfully and safely.
Neuromuscular Electrical Stimulation
Neuromuscular Electrical Stimulation (NMES) delivers electrical stimulation directly to the muscles causing them to contract and relax (as they would during movement) and can help stimulate muscles to grow new cells or maintain existing ones. That means it can be useful for horses on box rest or reduced work to help prevent or reverse muscle wastage.
Book a Session
Kinesio taping
You may have spotted athletes wearing colourful tape on their legs, arms and body, but did you know that it’s a scientifically proven concept which can be applied to horses too? Kinesio taping is a therapeutic technique which helps to alleviate pain and facilitates lymphatic drainage by microscopically lifting the skin. This lifting effect can help to increase interstitial space and decrease inflammation in affected areas.
Ridden Physiotherapy
My ridden physio sessions are an excellent tool for combinations which aren’t suffering from injuries or issues but want to ensure they can ride, train and compete to the best of their abilities and without discomfort.
The sessions kick off with an assessment of the horse at walk and trot without the rider on board, then a ridden assessment of horse and rider before finishing with a rider physio assessment and treatment session. The rider also goes home with an exercise and stretching plan to work on at home. Please note that the rider is responsible for any arena or venue hire charges and booking.
Pilates sessions
These tailored sessions are designed to improve your stability in the saddle, strengthen your core and ensure you are equally flexible and strong on both sides. You’ll find you have more freedom of movement in the saddle and are better able to give clear aids. Sessions can be held at your yard.
INDIBA
INDIBA is a deep cellular regenerative radio frequency system that supports tissue regeneration, and is used for rehabilitation, treatment and pain relief in horses and ponies. INDIBA devices can only be used by registered veterinary professionals and trained therapists, and I’m delighted to be able to offer this superb therapeutic tool to my clients.
Book a Session
About
I’m Katie, and I’m a fully qualified and insured ACPAT Chartered physiotherapist working with horses and riders to help them achieve their full potential together.
Book a Session
Ready to book a session with me? Simply head to the contact page and fill in the form with your details and preferred dates and times and I will get back to you as soon as I can.
Accreditations
I’m a fully qualified and insured ACPAT physiotherapist, but I’m also associated with other leading professional bodies which you can read more about here.