What Is Mctimoney?
McTimoney is a form of chiropractic manipulation used to treat pain and dysfunction of the musculoskeletal system. It predominantly focuses on optimising alignment of the spine and pelvis in order to restore correct function of the skeletal system, nervous system and surrounding soft tissue. The technique is non-invasive and gentle and is readily accepted by animals. The treatment aims to resolve dysfunction and balance the animal’s musculoskeletal system, restoring health and movement, soundness and performance.
Why McTimoney could be beneficial for your pet.
McTimoney chiropractic treatment can help relieve an animal’s pain and restore movement if they have been compensating or suffered a musculoskeletal injury. The vertebrae in the spine have a natural range of motion, to facilitate normal locomotion. If you were to watch a horse or dog move from above, you’d be able to see the spine almost swing as the limbs hit the ground. A restriction occurs when the vertebrae get fixed within this range of motion, creating dysfunction. Whilst this does not necessarily prohibit the animal moving, it does create a pattern of locomotion which is not optimal and can lead to muscular discomfort and nerve impingement.
These can be caused by a number of different things, both acute (short term) and chronic (long term) influences can lead to the development of joint restriction and associated soft tissue dysfunction. In horses for example, it could be an injury or accident, or a more long term issue such as foot balance or poorly fitting tack. Once the problem is resolved, or injury healed the dysfunction remains. The animal can move and function normally, but may still show signs of discomfort, stiffness and some experience changes in behaviour which is when some owners ask for investigation as performance and everyday comfort is still not resolved.After we help you discover what you want, we'll work together to find the very best way of achieving it.
McTimoney practitioners rely on the owner’s observations and the veterinary surgeon’s subsequent referrals. Indications in animals vary and most owners will recognise when their animal is in pain, or showing signs of distress. As a guide owners should consider seeking treatment if their animal displays any of the following signs:
DOGS:
- Crying out when getting up
- Difficulty climbing stairs or getting into cars
- Signs of discomfort when being stroked on their backs
- A reluctance to exercise
- Stiffness or pain after exercise
HORSES:
- Uneven strides or movement
- Uneven wear of shoes
- Sore or cold backs, uneven pressure from saddles or the saddle slipping to one side
- Unexplained deterioration in usual performance
- Asymmetry, such as stiffness on one rein, or a disunited canter
- Unexplained resistances, such as napping, rearing, refusing, bucking, etc.
- Uneven muscle development or atrophy
OTHER INDICATIONS CAN INCLUDE:
- Lameness after a fall or accident where alternative diagnoses have been ruled out
- Uncharacteristic changes in behaviour, performance or temperament
- Limb-dragging or odd, irregular action
- Recurrence of symptoms previously successfully treated by chiropractic treatment
- Absence of any resolution of the problem using conventional methods
- Rehabilitation after acute trauma for horses, dogs and cats
Contact The McTimoney Animal Association
If Tori is not in your area, or you have questions about McTimoney please access the McTimoney Animal Association website on: www.mctimoneyanimal.co.uk or email: info@mctimoney-animal.org.uk
Massage
Soft Tissue Therapy in Harmony with Chiropractic
Why Massage?
We all know massage is good for us and our animals, but why......?
Getting paid to pet horses, dogs or cats all day long – who hasn’t thought that would be the perfect way to make a living? In reality though, did you know that animal massage requires as much study and knowledge as human massage and can be even more physically demanding?!
Animal Massage in History
Animal Massage in History
Just as massage therapy has been utilized throughout history, so too has massage been utilized in the care of animals, both companion animals and livestock, throughout history. References to massage in general and animal massage specifically have been found in ancient India, Egypt and China. Experiments involving the physiological effects of massage have been done as early as the 1800s. And, in the 1970s, Jack Meagher began experimenting with massage therapy on race horses, even working with those in the Olympics in 1976. By 1985 he had written his book Beating Muscle Injuries, addressing the prevention and treatment of muscle injuries in horses.
Knowledge of Each Species Is Critical
When working on animals, it is important to have a thorough knowledge of the systems of the body in each species of animal you are massaging. This means that having a working knowledge of the cardiovascular, muscular, skeletal, digestive, respiratory, nervous and integumentary systems of each species of animal you work on. It is also important to note that animals can be much more sensitive than humans, especially their respiratory, digestive and integumentary systems as their senses may be more acute. This means that they may not tolerate strong scents, changes in diet, extreme heat or ointments and topical treatments as well as we might.
As in humans, massage on animals can benefit them at any time, but massage can also be utilized pre- and post-event to improve performance in those animals that perform in sporting events such as dog and horse racing. It is also important to have a working knowledge of the terms used for each type of animal you are working with. For example, withers (highest point of horse’s back), throatlatch (strap that passes under throat), fetlock (ankles) and tarsus (hock). Each animal has its own terms, which can also be breed-specific.
Because animals cannot speak, they must be evaluated by other means: palpation, gait analysis, conformation analysis (how they stand and hold themselves) and observation of their movements. Experience with the type of animal you are working with is vital as you cannot know if an animal is moving incorrectly without first knowing what correct movement looks like in that species. For example, elephants have a slow, lumbering gate that is quite normal for them and when they run, they simply move faster. (I always imagine a large person trying to run in high heels when I see an elephant running and it makes me laugh!) Dogs, however, have a much faster, shorter stride when walking, but when they run they extend their whole body and cover ground much, much more quickly. Similarly, cows get up back end first, while horses get up front end first. If you don’t know what normal movement looks like, you cannot detect problems in the animal.
Massage Techniques in Action
Massage techniques also mirror those utilised in human massage: compression, direct pressure, effleurage, petrissage, friction, vibration and tapotement, or percussion. Compression may be used to increase circulation through a “pumping” action. Direct pressure, like compression, relieves hypertonic muscle tissue and increases circulation, re-oxygenating and eliminating trigger points. Effleurage is used to “warm up” muscle tissue and aid in recovery from fatigue. This is also used to soothe and calm animals that may be experiencing some stress. Petrissage strokes can be used to feel and evaluate the tissue underlying the area, to roll the skin breaking up restrictions in fascia and to increase circulation, bringing in fresh nutrients for recovery and removing accumulation of fluids and waste for removal. Friction affects deeper layers of muscle by compressing the tissue against the bone, freeing adhesions and breaking up areas of restrictions. Finally, tapotement (percussion) and vibration can be used to decrease nerve sensation before deeper techniques are utilized or to loosen tissue and joints, allowing for greater range of motion.
11 Benefits of Animal Massage
Much as in humans, massage therapy for animals has been shown to:
- Relieve muscular tension, spasms and pain
- Reduce trigger point formation
- Reduce scar tissue
- Increase range of motion
- Improve tone in weak muscles
- Relieve intestinal gas and aid in digestion
- Interrupt the pain cycle by activating sensory receptors
- Increase circulation
- Increase lymphatic circulation and immunity
- Decrease blood pressure and reduce heart rate
- Calm animals – massage increases dopamine and serotonin levels and is linked to decreased stress levels
