| Horses are a beautiful creation of nature. To keep | | | | problems. An animal physical therapist can treat neck |
| horses fit and healthy for work, e.g. on farms and in | | | | pain, injuries of tendons or ligaments, back pain or any |
| racing, equine physiotherapy is used. Physical therapy | | | | problems in the back, bruising, joint and leg swelling or |
| and exercises specially designed for horses form a | | | | muscle spasms. |
| part of this medical practice. Long life and health of | | | | Rehabilitation of the horse may last for just a few |
| horses as well as freedom from stress is maintained | | | | weeks or for several months or even longer, |
| through this form of treatment. Horses undergoing | | | | depending on the exact cause. Typically, equine |
| equine physiotherapy recover from injuries at a faster | | | | physiotherapy will involve the horse, its therapist, owner |
| rate and with a high chance of success, if they are | | | | and / or trainer. Treatment method of various types of |
| treated with equine physiotherapy, according to various | | | | equine ailments, injuries or defects varies with each |
| studies. Just as human beings need special care with | | | | animal physical therapist. Among the techniques |
| treatments to heal, so do horses. | | | | commonly used in equine physiotherapy are |
| Therapy for horses may be resorted to for several | | | | therapeutic massage, soft tissue mobilization, |
| reasons that include injuries due to sports, advancing | | | | ultrasound, hydrotherapy for joint and limb mobility, heat |
| age, poor nutrition, over training, incorrect use of the | | | | therapy and pulsating electromagnetic field therapy. An |
| saddle, physical defects in the horse's body and | | | | animal therapist will also teach the client about |
| imbalance of the rider. Health care professionals that | | | | prevention of further injuries, such as those happening |
| are specially trained for this purpose know the equine | | | | by too fast a cool down. |
| anatomy very well and also study the current | | | | A range of tools and equipment is used by animal |
| technologies and any medical breakthroughs, to be | | | | physiotherapists in their work. Among these tools, there |
| able to apply the latest developments in practice. With | | | | is a pack that resembles a heating pad. It is meant to |
| the help of veterinarians and surgeons, animal physical | | | | cover the horse's breast or the saddle area and |
| therapists increase the animal's mobility, reduce pain, | | | | alleviate the back pain. It also helps rejuvenate the |
| lower pain and swelling and also prevent future irritation | | | | horse's muscular and circulatory systems. |
| or injury. Equine physiotherapy may be carried out at | | | | Generally speaking, animal physiotherapists commence |
| an animal hospital, or at the client's home. | | | | their studies with a human physiotherapist and |
| An animal doctor will examine the heart, bones, lungs, | | | | gradually switch over to equine physiotherapy. This is |
| muscles, digestive system and blood circulation of the | | | | becoming a competitive field of practice, with |
| horse, to decide upon the use of equine physiotherapy. | | | | increasing requirements for preventing injury and care |
| The animal physical therapist is trained to recognize | | | | of animals. |
| symptoms that indicate lameness and muscle or spinal | | | | |