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Equine physiotherapy: a comparative view of the science underlying the profession
Author(s) -
MCGOWAN C. M.,
STUBBS N. C.,
JULL G. A.
Publication year - 2007
Publication title -
equine veterinary journal
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.82
H-Index - 87
eISSN - 2042-3306
pISSN - 0425-1644
DOI - 10.2746/042516407x163245
Subject(s) - agriculture , natural resource , veterinary medicine , management , library science , geography , medicine , ecology , archaeology , biology , computer science , economics
This review presents a comparative viewpoint to accompany that published by Buchner and Schildboeck (2006). In their review the authors searched the veterinary literature for evidence behind selected physiotherapy modalities that have been used in the horse. However the present review focuses on the science behind physiotherapy and extends beyond the boundaries of the veterinary literature into the basic science and physiotherapy literature. Physiotherapy is an important allied health profession in the medical field where physiotherapists contribute an essential part to the care of individuals, from the young to the aged; including an essential role in elite sports. Depending upon the country, the legally protected professional title varies and includes physiotherapist, physical therapist and chartered physiotherapist. More recently, animal physiotherapy has emerged as a special clinical interest area of the physiotherapy profession, working closely with veterinarians in the treatment of animals. In the equestrian world, this encompasses the assessment and treatment of horse and rider. The profile of this relationship has been heightened by the official use of physiotherapists during Olympic and international level equestrian competitions for many of the teams including England, Australia and New Zealand. The equestrian sports are rapidly catching up with other international competition sports, such as football and athletics, where individuals and teams utilise the professional service of physiotherapists in the treatment, maintenance and performance enhancement of horse and rider. Despite the high profile of equine physiotherapy, it is still an emerging subdiscipline of the physiotherapy profession; and limited information is available about its definition and where it fits professionally alongside that of the veterinary profession. Physiotherapy is a wide ranging profession with many formally recognised special interest areas. For example, there are 6 internationally recognised subgroups of the World Confederation for Physical Therapy (WCPT): namely the International: a) Federation of Orthopaedic Manipulative Therapists, b) Federation of Sports Physiotherapy, c) Organisation of Physical Therapists in Women’s Health, d) Association of Physical Therapists Working with Older People, e) Acupuncture Association of Physical Therapists and f) Private Practitioners Association. Therefore, it would be an impossible task to review the entire profession and its applicability to equine physiotherapy. The key area of physiotherapy applicable to horses is musculoskeletal physiotherapy, encompassing assessment, treatment and rehabilitation of neuromuscular and musculoskeletal disorders. Underpinning musculoskeletal physiotherapy are the sciences of functional biomechanics, neuromotor control and exercise physiology. The aim of this review is to discuss the science and evidence behind the physiotherapy profession; and the relevance or application of key aspects of musculoskeletal physiotherapy and its underpinning science to the performance horse.