Featured Healthcare Business Oh My Aching Back!!

Riders and horse owners often experience back pain, and many seek the assistance of a human chiropractor for treatment. Chiropractic care can also be an effective prescription for improving equine performance problems, as horses can experience the "aching back" syndrome as well. Dr. Clint McKnight of Pacific View Equine says that horses with the following symptoms may be good candidates for chiropractic therapy: short-striding, cross-cantering, loss of collection, refusal to pick up leads, lack of suppleness, difficulty with lead changes, and single sided problems with spinning or bending. These are only a few examples of dysfunction in equine performance which can signal spinal problems which could be addressed through quality chiropractic treatment. For all equine patients, Dr. McKnight conducts a complete examination with case history, prior veterinary work, posture and gait analysis, palpation of the spine and muscles, and checking temperature changes over the spine. After the exam, Dr. McKnight will recommend the exact area of adjustment, not just giving the horse a whole body adjustment. This is a critical difference because depending on the symptoms and diagnosis, only certain areas of the spine and joints may be affected. Once they are treated with a specific adjustment, those primary problem areas can return to normal motion and alleviate muscle spasms and pain. Another important factor in the Pacific View Equine chiropractic care is that Dr. McKnight does not use vibrating machines or osteopathy, but only certified veterinary chiropractic techniques. This ensures the horses are treated to the best of industry standards. Many horse owners wonder whether chiropractic care for their horses is necessary. Dr. McKnight stresses that although chiropractic does not replace traditional veterinary medicine, it actually is a terrific complement to the overall medical treatment of the horse. This is especially true for high level performance horses, which can perform at optimum levels through an on-going, comprehensive approach that combines veterinary medicine and chiropractic care. It comes down to the bio-mechanics of the horse's spine, in consideration with the horse's conformation and function in their specific discipline. As chiropractic treatment focuses on the bio-mechanical dysfunction of the spine, the goal of the treatment is to maximize mobility and improve nervous system function so that the horse's brain is able to signal to the body's organs properly. Restricted mobility is what shows up in the horse through their performance, such as the symptoms listed earlier. Such symptoms can result from the stresses of performance in virtually any discipline, as well as from chronic degenerative conditions (like arthritis), or from trauma (such as a horse that has fallen or been injured), or even from conformation of the horse. Dr. McKnight encourages horse owners to discuss their horse's specific case, so he can recommend the most appropriate course of action to help the horse. In addition to the specialization in chiropractic care, Pacific View Equine provides dentistry services and preventative care. For the past seven years, Dr. McKnight has utilized motorized, power float equipment in his practice. This technologically advanced tool allows him to reduce the sharp points of the horses' teeth more quickly, giving a better result than a hand float alone, and Continued at right...>