Equine Physiotherapy
Restoring Movement. Enhancing Performance.
At Vulcan Veterinary Physiotherapy, we understand the vital role that movement plays in the overall well-being of your pets. Our specialised equine physiotherapy services are designed to enhance mobility and promote a healthy, active lifestyle for your animals. Through targeted treatments and personalised care plans, we aim to rejuvenate movement and restore quality of life for your beloved companions.
Our approach is grounded in the principles of anatomy and physiology, ensuring that each session is tailored to meet the unique needs of your horse. Whether recovering from an injury, managing a chronic condition, or simply seeking to improve overall fitness, our fully qualified and insured team is dedicated to helping your animals regain their vitality.
At Vulcan Veterinary Physiotherapy, we understand the importance of keeping your horse in top condition to ensure optimal performance and overall well-being. Physiotherapy for horses offers a range of benefits that can significantly improve their quality of life.
Enhanced Performance: Just like athletes, horses can benefit from physiotherapy to improve their flexibility, strength, and agility. By addressing any musculoskeletal issues and developing a personalized treatment plan, we can help your horse move more efficiently and perform at their best.
Injury Prevention and Rehabilitation: Physiotherapy plays a crucial role in both preventing injuries and aiding in the recovery process. By identifying and addressing potential problem areas early on, we can help reduce the risk of injuries and speed up the healing process for existing conditions.
Pain Management: Whether your horse is dealing with chronic pain or recovering from surgery, physiotherapy techniques such as massage, stretching, and therapeutic exercises can help alleviate discomfort and improve their quality of life.
Improved Range of Motion: By focusing on joint mobilization and soft tissue techniques, physiotherapy can help increase your horse's range of motion, leading to better movement patterns and overall function.
Tailored Treatment Plans: Our experienced team at Vulcan Veterinary Physiotherapy will conduct a thorough assessment of your horse to create a customised treatment plan that addresses their specific needs and goals.
What to expect during your physiotherapy session
Restore. Maintain. Mobilise. Perform.
Injuries and accidents can unfortunately impact your animal's mobility and overall well-being. Additionally, they may experience orthopaedic and neurological conditions that can arise at any stage of their life. These issues can lead to pain and discomfort, which, if unaddressed, may diminish your pet’s quality of life and result in compensatory problems. Our goal is to see horses happy and return them to their natural activities. A combination of evidence-based therapeutic techniques can aid in their recovery and ongoing maintenance.
Regular physiotherapy checks are also recommended for competitive and working horses. These assessments can identify and address early signs of muscle tension and asymmetry, preventing further injuries. Incorporating land-based exercises into their training routines can also enhance muscle strength and tone.
During a equine physiotherapy session, you can expect several key components aimed at improving your horses mobility and overall well-being.
Subjective information: At the start of any physiotherapy session a mixture of questions will be asked to gain an insight into your animals everyday life style, any concerns you have, your goals and what you want to achieve with your horse.
Static/ Gait Assessment: Following on from the subjective assessment a static and dynamic assessment will take place looking at posture, balance, symmetry, how your horse is moving on the day and any behaviour changes.
Palpation: A thorough examination of your horses body will take place including palpation of muscles, tendons and ligaments looking for areas of pain, tension, heat or swelling as well as assessing joint range of motion and going through any appropriate orthopaedic assessments.
Treatment Plan: Based on the assessment, a tailored treatment plan will be created. This plan may encompass various physiotherapy techniques, including manual therapy, therapeutic exercises, and modalities such as ultrasound or laser therapy.
Hands-On Techniques: The physiotherapist may use hands-on methods such as joint mobilisations, soft tissue massage, and stretching exercises to alleviate pain, increase circulation, and improve range of motion.
Exercise programme: You will receive a customised exercise programme designed to strengthen specific muscle groups, improve coordination, and enhance overall fitness.
Education and Guidance: The physiotherapist will provide you with information about your horse condition and expected outcomes. Advice on at-home care and modifications to daily activities to support your horses recovery or daily lifestyle.
Follow-up Appointments: Lastly, the physiotherapist may schedule follow-up appointments to monitor progress and adjust the treatment plan as needed. Consistency is key for optimal results.