Chiropractic

Our Equine Vet Melissa Sim trained at the Backbone Academy for Veterinary Chiropractic and Healing Arts and is certified through their internationally recognised program. It is important to have standards of care to abide by as now Veterinary Chiropractic is recognized by the NZ Veterinary Council.

Chiropractic care is a manual method of treatment from a Greek word meaning “to perform with hands.”It is an evaluation of abnormal or restricted movement of joints that have an effect on the nervous system and entire body. It helps restore proper movement of the affected joints so the nervous system and body can function at their maximum health potential.

The practice of chiropractic focuses on the relationship between structure (primarily the vertebral column) and function (as coordinated by the nervous system) and how that relationship affects health. Chiropractic is a form of manual therapy that uses controlled forces applied to specific joints or anatomic areas to cause a healing response.

The primary signs that equine chiropractors look for are localized muscle or skeletal pain, abnormally increased muscle tone and restricted joint motion. This triad of signs can be found in a variety of lower limb disorders but is most evident in neck or back problems.

The chiropractic manipulation/thrust only occurs if there is abnormal or restricted movement and it is important to have a trained professional perform this to recognize when there is an injury where chiropractic would be contraindicated.

The goals of chiropractic treatment are to restore normal joint motion, stimulate nerve reflexes and reduce pain and abnormally increased muscle tone.