WHAT IS EQUINE OSTEOPATHY?

Osteopathy is a form of manual therapy that has been adapted from human osteopathy and translated to the anatomical and physiological needs of the equine.

As osteopaths, we work on the body as a whole, meaning we want to include all systems of the body. These include:

• the parietal system (muscles, bones, tendons, ligaments),

• the visceral system (organs),

• the cranio-sacral system (mechanical and fluidal connection between the head and the sacrum) 

• the fascial system (connective tissue)

Our goal is to achieve a healthy homeostatic balance in the body and between all systems, so the body’s innate ability to self-correct can work as optimally as possible, bringing the body back to a healthier state. To do that we assess the mobility of every joint and the vitality of every system in the body, and then make a plan of treatment according to what we find. We have several different modalities we can use to address any lack of mobility we find in joints, organs, soft tissue, etcetera. 

We work on the body, always keeping in mind and adhering to the principles of osteopathy.

THE PRINCIPLES OF OSTEOPATHY

• Cause and Effect: any symptom we end up seeing in the body is the result of some kind of change that has happened somewhere in the body. This change can be local (at or near the location of the symptom), but more often than not, the root cause of an issue will be found elsewhere. Meaning most symptoms we see are a result of Cause and Effect chains.

• Function determines structure & structure determines function: this means any change in a structure will (over time) change the function of that structure, and any change in function, will (over time) change the structure.

• Unity in complexity: the body is a socio-psycho-somatic totality, this means that anything that happens in one system of the body will have its repercussions on the rest of the body and its different systems. No part of the body can be seen as completely seperate from another, which is why it is so important that we address all systems of the body in osteopathy.

• The Vital Force: the body thrives to stay as healthy as possible in an optimal homeostatic balance. The body does this using all kinds of different processes (mechanical, chemical, neurological, vascular, etc.). The Vital Force is seen as an undefined energy that is the Force responsible for keeping the body in a state of homeostasis. This Vital Force can be seen as the equivalent to what we call Qi in TCM (Traditional Chinese Medicine). 

• The Arterial Rule: the arterial rule describes the necessity of an artery to be unobstructed. This means that there cannot be any obstruction in any flow of fluid in the body. If there is an obstruction somewhere, this will lead to an area in the body that has a decreased resistance to dis-ease, meaning it will be more likely for this area of the body to develop problems. We call this area of decreased vascularity a terrain. And with a decrease in the flow of fluid also comes a decrease of the flow of Vital Force. 

Parietal osteopathy addesses the mobility of the musculo-skeletal-system. It’s purpose is to find any restrictions in the joints, muscles, tendons, ligaments, and fascia.

In osteopathy, we call any two anatomic structures that have motion between them a joint, meaning we want to assess and address the mobility of these joints in whatever way necessary.

This area of osteopathy is about addressing the mobility and motility of the inner organs and their surrounding structures. The sliding surfaces of the organs, its neighboring organs or other tissues need to be able to glide along each other without restrictions. When there are issues with the organ’s motility, that needs to be addressed for the organ and therefor the rest of the body to function optimally.

Because of the specific way the body is innervated (nerve supply), the organs play a tremendous role in the overall health of the body. A restriction/issue of an organ can have far reaching effects throughout the body – to keep it as simple as possible: for any one nerve running from the spine to an organ, there are four times as many running from an organ back to the spine. That indicates that it is 80% more likely for a restriction in the spine to be caused by an organ, which is why it is so important to address the viscera as well.