McTimoney Chiropractic
Integrating Animal McTimoney Chiropractic with Soft Tissue and Myofascial Therapy
Animals can suffer from back pain, neck pain and other musculoskeletal issues in the same way that humans can. All animals can benefit from treatment whether they are pets looking to be as comfortable as possible, or sports or performance animals, looking to be in tip top condition to be at their best in competition.
Alongside enhancing performance and maintaining comfort and optimum health, McTimoney and soft tissue therapy can be an effective part of any rehabilitation plan following injury or surgery.
What is McTimoney Chiropractic?
The McTimoney method of Chiropractic was developed in the 1950s by John McTimoney who later developed the technique for use on animals.
It is a holistic (or whole-body) treatment that looks to restore optimum communication between the animal’s brain and its body, allowing the nervous system to function at its best and ensuring that the animal’s comfort and performance is therefore as good as it can be.
Did you know?
Everyday activities (especially repetitive actions), along with more acute accidents or illnesses (including cruciate ligament, arthritis or hip dysplasia) can impact the animal’s musculoskeletal system and where the muscles effected are part of those that surround the spinal column (made up of the skull, the vertebrae, and the pelvis), areas of restriction in these joints can occur.
McTimoney treatment assesses and highlights these areas of restriction and looks to relieve the tension and any dysfunction that may have occurred.
The Treatment…
My treatments use only my hands. Adjustments are fast, yet gentle and aim to target and innervate specific muscles and encourage them to release any tension, thus allowing the joints affected to relax back into their neutral position, allowing the body’s own ‘innate healing’ to combat any inflammation and restore optimum nervous function.
McTimoney is then followed with soft tissue / myofascial therapy, this works on any surrounding muscles that are also tight (including fascial release and trigger point work to reduce muscle spasm).
These two treatment methods combined are proven to be very effective in easing restriction and restoring function.
What symptoms might your animal be showing?
There are a variety of symptoms that your animal may be showing which could suggest they are suffering from some areas of restriction or dysfunction:
Common symptoms that can affect all animals:
Signs of pain (vocalisations / panting / excessive yawning)
Stiffness
Changes in behaviour
Reluctance to exercise
Reduction in ‘normal’ sporting performance
Uneven gait
Uneven muscle development
Dogs or Cats:
Difficulty getting up after rest
Difficulty climbing or descending stairs
Difficulty jumping on / off furniture
Difficulty jumping in / out of car
Signs of discomfort when being groomed or petted
Horses:
‘Cold’ back or soreness in their back when being mounted
Asymmetry (e.g., stiffness on one rein or a disunited canter)
Refusing to move forward
Refusing to jump
Rearing or bucking
All animals may also benefit from treatment as part of a rehabilitation plan following surgery or other veterinary interventions for specific conditions.
“Jay recently carried out a treatment on my 21 year old gelding he definitely enjoyed it and was very relaxed. The next time I rode him there was a noticeable improvement in his way of going. I would highly recommend Jay!”
— Amanda