Chiropractor for Horse and Rider Massachusetts, New England- Equine Journal

This month in the 2011 June Equine Journal, alternative therapy is featured and there is a section featuring Chiropractic, Massage Therapy and Light Therapy. Options for Animals where I teach is interviewed as well as myself from Horse and Rider Chiropractic and Denise Bean - Raymond Massage Therapist from Exclusive Equine.

Please check it out.

Horse conformation angles - Chiropractor for horse Massachusetts/New England

Horse Conformation angles

The line from the point of the hip to the point of the butt should be the same length or shorter than the line from the point of the butt to the stifle. If this line conforms to the previous statement then your horse has a greater capacity to bring his hind leg under him and engage better.

The other location I want to tell you about is the lumbo-sacral joint [LS] location. This is the joint that is where the lumbar vertebrae and sacrum meet. Think of it as a hinge that flexes and extends. You can find it on your horse by running your fingers down the spine and where you no longer feel the spinous processes is most likely it. Usually it is around the croup. This joint should be in close relationship to the point of the hip so that the hinge [lumbo-sacral joint] is close the the pelvis [hip point] to allow max. ability to engage and thus flex the hind end. If your horse has an LS joint behind the point of the hip then they will have chronic sore lower back and develop a hunters bump or jumpers bump. This bump is a product of having an LS joint behind and overdeveloping the lumbar muscles to compensate.

All of the above cannot be changed since your horse is born this way but it will allow you to modify your training and give you a better understanding of managing your horse with chiropractic and massage.

Bladder problems in dogs, horses or cats - horse and dog chiropractic Mass

Recently I have had many calls involving horses, dogs or cats with bladder problem. These problems have been tested by the Vet and no specific test turned up positive.
It is an anatomical fact that the nerves in the low back and sacrum control organs such as the bladder, uterus and large intestines. This part of the nervous system is called the parasympathetics.

Within the spinal cord there are synapses {connections} between motor nerves that come from muscles and parasympathetics. If a motor nerve [ nerves from muscles ] is irritated in the spine and is "short circuited" then it will affect the output from the parasympathetics and in turn alter the function of the organs that it controls. This is called the Somatovisceral affect. Somato is defined as muscles and joints, Visceral is the organ system such as the bladder.

Your animal may have a somatovisceral problem especially when the Vet tests show no specific organ dysfunction such as in this case the bladder is not working properly. Chiropractic Adjustments has in many cases helped these animals return to normal again. Please give me a call 617-472-0661 or email me at Indekchiro@conversent.net to discuss your animal.

Neck pain in dogs - Dog Chiropractor Mass

Many dogs suffer from neck pain and the causes can vary. Some causes can be Vertebral Subluxations, Disc problems and infections. It is always a good idea to have your Vet also check your dog as well. Subluxations and Disc problems can be helped by chiropractic and along with rehab exercises, I have seen many dogs recover. Front leg issues usually occur with neck problems since the nerves for the front legs originate in the neck and if irritated will cause lameness issues.
Please Call me at 617-472-0661 or email me at indekchiro@conversent.com to find out more.
Dr Bruce

Horse lamness - horse chiropractor mass

Stall Calls with Dr. Bruce Indek: Your Horse's Knees

Wednesday, March 30, 2011

KneesYour horse’s knees are anatomically similar to your wrist. The bones of the knee are comprised of rows of bones titled the CARPELS. These same bones can be found in the human wrist. There exists a bone in the horse’s knee that is not found in our wrist called the ACCESSORY BONE. This bone is partly responsible for locking the knee on standing. When the horse starts to move and bends the knee [called flexion], the accessory bone should unlock the knee. In some cases this bone does not unlock fully and inhibits your horse from fully flexing his knee and shortening the stride. Many times in my chiropractic evaluation I find this bone “stuck” and a simple adjustment easily unlocks it. The picture above is a demonstration of evaluating the Carpel Bones and Knee.

There are no muscles below the knee but rather just bones, ligaments and tendons. You can think of the lower leg as a pulley and rope set up. The bones as fulcrums around which the tendons of the upper leg muscles attach and move those bones. There are long extensions of tendons to the hoof from above the knee so there is a lot of tension placed on these soft tissues. If there are any issues such as “stuck” joints in the leg then there can be an enormous stress placed on these tendons.

Many times the entire stress on the front legs starts in the rear of the horse and many owners are quick to blame the hocks or stifle. Well I have to tell you that yes the hock and stifle do get over stressed frequently, but many times the low back and pelvis are subluxated. This subluxated “stuck joint” will not allow the horse to engage his hind end efficiently and thus push off harder on the stifle and hock causing inflammation and pain. Yes it is important to treat this inflammation but you must address the entire cause of the stress and indeed it may be a chiropractic problem. Once this stress has had time to fester then the front legs alter their biomechanical {movement} function and the horse now has a front leg problem to contend with.

In summary you must take the whole horse into consideration and always ask yourself what caused this symptom and why did it occur. Treating the whole horse will help prevent future re-occurrence.

Dr. Bruce Indek has been in Chiropractic Practice since 1983. Graduated from National College of Chiropractic and has been treating riders and other athletes. Certified by the American Chiropractic Assoc Sports Council in Sports Injuries. Director of Chiropractic for the Boston Marathon. Graduate of Options for Animals Chiropractic College and Board Certified in Animal Chiropractic by the American Veterinary Chiropractic Association. Worked on the New England Dressage Spring and Fall Festival in Saugerties NY. Travels throughout the USA treating horses and riders from Dressage to Barrel Racing. On the Panel for Ask the Expert for Dressage Today, and Chronicle for the Horse online Articles. Contributing writer for the Pet Gazette in Eastern Massachusetts. Dr. Indek is a level one dressage rider as well.

Foals and Back Problems - Horse Chiropractor - New England

When a foal is born the curves of the neck start to develop during the first few months of life. If there is a difficult birth or even a normal birth, it is possible to have one of the vertebrae to be "stuck" in movement. This "stuck movement" is part of the Vertebral Subluxation Complex which affects nerves as well as muscles. This horse needs to have a chiropractic evaluation to be sure that normal developement will occur. All foals should have rountine chiropractic evaluation rather than waiting to see if the horse develops any problems later.

I call this preventitive care. Please contact me to have a foal check up.
Dr Bruce Indek Board Certified Animal Chiropractor 617-472-0661. I will travel to you.

Hip Dyplasia - Chiropractor for dog - massachusetts

Hip Dysplasia is very common among large breed dogs and now even small breeds. Hip dysplasia is literally a deformed head of the femur [ball of the femur that fits into the pelvic socket}. These dogs will have problems in the low back and neck as well as the front limbs. These problems come from the compensation process. Think about the entire process as a domino effect. Once you change the movement of the hip you will change the movement of these other areas and create problems.

Chiropractic can help minimize the compensation problems and keep your dog pain free.