B3 Equine Therapy

Sciatica in horses, its a pain in the ass theme of the day Sciatica is the result of a neurological problem in the Lumbosacral spine or an entrapped nerve i...n the gluteal area. There are a set of neurological symptoms such as: Pain (intense pain in the gluteal) Lumbosacral radicular leg pain Numbness (leg will give way) Muscular weakness Gait dysfunction Sensory impairment, poor proprioception Sensory disturbance Hot and cold or tinglings or burning sensations in the legs( itchy leg) Pain is a result of irritation of the sciatic nerve, it can be constant or intermittend. Pain is located along the distribution of the nerve and can be felt in the back, gluteal, stifle and distal limb. It only radiates down the limb and can result in reduced power, reflexes and sensation in the nerve root. Also gait dysfunction such as landing toe first, limb buckling and toe dragging. Sciatica can be caused by the compression or irritation of nerve L5, L6, S1 & S2. The sciatica symptoms depend on which section of the nerve is compressed or irritated. When the nerve is compressed or irritated the horse may feel pain, tingling and numbness in all or some of the hind end locomotion muscles. The horse also feels weak when bing ridden. A pinched (compressed) nerve is an uncomfortable sensation and numbness caused by increased pressure and compression of nerve that leads to damage and irritation of peripheral nerves. Sciatica in horses often becomes noticeable with an inability of the horse to collect, especially at the canter. Lead changes could be difficult, the horse may drags its toe and stumbles at times.The horse will have trouble in traveling downhill often giving the impression of a wobbly hind end. A horse with sciatica will usually be in pain, they often displays changes in behavior, especially when ridden. This is due to the increased weight on their back, that can exacerbate symptoms.A horse with sciatica may find it difficult to stand still or raise his legs for the farrier. Spinal mirroring, I have talked before of the mirror effect that happens in the spine meaning what happens at one end will affect the polar end. This is important to keep in mind. If you suspect your horse has sciatica please get them help having experienced it my self its very painful and debilitating. Step one call the Vet, step two call someone like me, step three keep it moving. Image taken from: Clinical anatomy of the horse by Hilary M. Clayton Peter F flood Diana S Rosenstien

Mature tendons are poorly vascularized and tendon nutrition is more reliant on synovial fluid diffusion than vascular perfusion, although they do have more bloo...d vessels than is commonly accepted. During development, tendons are highly cellular and metabolically active and are thus supplied with a rich capillary network. These are two pictures from a recent dissection of a full-term stillborn foal. The tendon (in tweezers) is a Deep digital flexor in two places (proximal area at the level of distal check ligament and fetlock area) See more

Craniosacral explanation...

A few more spots available in Monday.