RE: Chiropractors

["Kathy Mayeda" <Kathy_Mayeda@atce.com>]

I truly believe that the ligaments and musculature does have a lot to do with how well the adjustments stay in place, and that's why she uses so much "muscle therapy" stuff in her visits. The proof is that her adjustments "stuck" a lot better than the other chiropractor - I ALWAYS felt like I needed another adustment a few days after the other chiropractor adjusted me, and maybe that's why they always had repeat visits. The problem that my current chiropractor sees with having that many adjustments in the row is that you may lose ligament strength because they don't have enough time between adjustments to let the ligaments readjust themselves, and that could actually cause the bones to pop out of alignment more easily.  Although, if there is an acute injury, she may see the patient quite frequently after the injury.

 

My horse has had a high-low heel syndrome that we've been fighting for a long time. And he was terribly assymetrical as the result of this and his teeth alignment.  I chanced on a really good equine lay chiropractor/farrier (don't normally recommend that you use a lay chiropractor) that adjusted him using a long lever method (again - not normally recommended).  He then balanced Beau's high/low syndrome with great farrier work.  Beau was TERRIBLY sore for a week afterwards, but the adjustment stayed pretty well because he did not need an adjustment on the recheck a month later. But of course, I was doing the required butt tucks, belly lifts, carrot stretches... This was Beau's first adjustment. 

 

Since then, I have been using Nancy Elliott for Beau's once or twice a year adjustment and she has never asked for a recheck. However, she treated my friends horse, and since the mare is older she said that she would need several follow-up visits.  I just call her when he seems to be "out" - usually corresponding pretty well to when his locking stifle starts acting up!  Yeah - he's a mess, but he's getting a LOT better.  I would consider Beau's issues to be long term problems, because the adjustments are always in the same locations and it's always caused by the same issues: dental alignment, hi/low syndrome, locking stifle, (crooked rider).....

 

Much rather use a competent chiropractor who can resolve problems in a visit or two.   Beau had a chiro visit mid-December and Beau ended up doing real well at DVE a couple of weeks later.

 

K.

 

 

 

-----Original Message-----
From: Maggie Mieske [mailto:mmieske@netonecom.net]
Sent: Wednesday, January 30, 2002 4:46 PM
To: Kathy Mayeda; ridecamp@endurance.net
Subject: Re: Chiropractors

I went 3 times a week for so long and now only need an occasional adjustment.  I think in the beginning, it's important to be consistent and regular as one retrains their muscles to allow the vertebrae to "stay" where the chiro puts them.  Our muscles get so used to things being out of whack that those bones easily pop back out of place.  I "think" (means I don't know for a fact) that might hold true for horses especially if they have experienced a long term problem.  I don't think one adjustment will fix them.

Maggie