November 2018 FRC Member Newsletter

October FRC Education Seminar
Chiropractic Seminar with Dr Aaron Langley.
Dr Langley started with a discussion on what equine chiropractic was and what it could,
and could not, do. He defined it as complementary healthcare - not intended to replace regular
routine veterinary care (such as vaccinations, emergency care or surgery) but as a
complement to - an addition to - your veterinarian’s care of your horse.
Chiropractic is a Health Care System based on Functional Neurology. And when he
treats his equine patients his examination and treatment will be based on a neurological
examination, where he evaluates the horse’s locomotive movement and physical and
neurological symmetry. Chiropractic eval will diagnose Vertebral Subluxation Complex (VSC),
as well as dysfunctional joints of the spine and extremities only.
New Patients: Dr Langley will ask about their performance history, watch them walk and
trot, observe their posture, palpate/touch their coat and check temperature, palpate their
muscles and look for atrophy and feel for muscle spasms.
What Dr Langley is looking for is a VSC aka an abnormality in the processes of the
vertebra referred to as a VSC – which stands for vertebral subluxation complex. The vertebra
can be affected by Structural, chemical, mental influences (input) which then affect the
muscular and autonomic reactions (output). He used the term “garbage in, garbage out.” The
causes of a VSC are many, such as trauma, (repetitive “micro trauma” even as early as birth),
age, conformation, shoeing, improper trailering/shipping, rider ability and performance
Injuries.
Pain Symptoms of a VSC: discomfort when saddling or riding, abnormal posture when
standing, tossing head or hollowing back, wringing tail, pinning ears or bucking, refusal or
resistance when ridden and other unusual behavior patterns.
Neurologic Symptoms of a VSC: lack of coordination when moving, a mystery lameness
that shifts from one leg to another, unknown stiffness in lateral movement of neck/body,
muscle weakness/atrophy, asymmetrical movement.
“Direct Neurological” Symptoms of a VSC: asymmetrical sweating or non-sweating,
sensitivity to hot or cold, unusual tail rubbing or biting at skin.
Treatment and Diagnosis: A trained Animal Chiropractor should make the final diagnosis
of the VSC and further treatment by a competent doctor involves the application, by hand, of
an adjustment - which was described as a very specific, high velocity, low amplitude, thrust.