Vet Physio Kent

22/08/2024

Rehabilitation Done Right ✔️

Rehabilitation is complex! It's not just about box rest or controlled exercises like walking in-hand or pole work! Did you know there is a science behind how tissues respond to injury, repair, loading, when to load and when not load? Plus the correct rate of progression and how long is rehab... phew! it's complex when done right ✔️

Take all the worry out of your horse's rehabilitation and let Charlene from Vet Physio Kent assess your horse and work out a correctly applied rehabilitation plan for you.

✔️ We look at your horse as a whole and their clinical history, performance history and all factors leading to their injury or condition such as Kissing Spines.

✔️We perform a horse capability assessment to see how well they cope with proprioceptive work, pole work, spinal mobility assessment, gluteal and quad strength ... to name a few.

✔️ You'll be guided through both stable/ passive exercises and ground work applicable to your horse.

✔️ You will be supported all the way through your horses rehabilitation.

Call Charlene today for a free consultation to discuss how we can take the stress and worry out of your horse's rehabilitation and let's get you back on track 💪

📞07972381222
📧 [email protected]
🌎 www.vetphysiokent.com
📍Covering Kent, Sussex & Surrey borders

20/08/2024

Terminology Tuesday 🤔

This weeks topic is Tissue - Hard & Soft Tissue in the context of Physiotherapy ⬇️

Tissue Composition?
It's important to remember that a group of cells that have similar structure and function form tissue and together they function as a unit.
Did you know the word tissue originates from French, which means “to weave"? This is appropriate as the tissues can form striations as seen in the picture below of the histology of muscle tissue (pink image) ⬇️

Hard Tissue Vs Soft Tissue
If bone is your 'hard' tissue and also dentin and enamel (as in teeth) come under the umbrella term of hard tissue.
So 'soft' tissues are the structures that attach and connect bones and muscles. These tissues include your muscles, tendons, and ligaments.

In the realms of tissue injury and in the context Physiotherapy, a Soft Tissue Injury' (STI) not to be confused with the other 'STI' ( Sexually Transmitted Infection) - is often a trauma or when overuse occurs to muscles, tendons or ligaments. Although many soft tissue injuries are the result of a sudden unexpected or uncontrolled movement.

Whereas Hard Tissue injuries include fractures, dislocations and even loss of teeth, due to its 'hard tissue' classification.
A fracture is the technical term for a broken bone and they come in various degrees of fractures and complications. But you can also sustain other 'hard tissue' injuries too like a dislocation.

If you would like more information on how we can accelerate healing and repair of both soft and hard tissue injuries with the phenomenal, innovative and highly effective INDIBA therapy, contact Charlene -

📞07972381222
📧 [email protected]
🌏 www.vetphysiokent.com
📍Covering Kent, Sussex and Surrey borders

19/08/2024

17/08/2024

Even Box Rested horses need Physio 🐴

In fact, horses on Box Rest need regular Physio to help increase their blood circulation, maintain their muscle tone and increase joint mobility.

If your horse is on Box Rest from either injury, Post-Op or rehabilitation, then book a free consultation today to discuss how we can help your horse with Physio, Joint-mobilisations and Passive Stretches.
Book a Physio session and we can show you some simple exercises that will help your horse feel amazing during their confinement.

Contact Charlene on ⬇️
📞07972381222
📧 [email protected]
🌎 www.vetphysiokent.com
📍Kent, Sussex & Surrey borders

16/08/2024

Currently broken down on the lovely Isle of Sheerness. Awaiting AA recovery but they have changed the arrival time twice now 🥵
This car up until now has been great for reliability... now I hate her even more 🥵

Sorry to my afternoon clients that I have had to cancel and I am busy making alternative arrangements for vehicles for next week onwards!

15/08/2024

Horses are not machines...

And even if they were, you would have to have them regularly serviced and fine tuned to produce the best performance.

When was the last time your horse had a musculoskeletal MOT?

It's time to book your horses MOT ...

Contact Charlene to discuss your horse and make that appointment today ⬇️

📞07972381222
📧[email protected]
🌏 www.vetphysiokent.com

13/08/2024

Terminology Tuesday

Hope you enjoyed last weeks 'Terminology Tuesday' demystifying anatomical, directional terminology?

This week's 'Terminology Tuesday' is looking at some of the common Clinical Abbreviations you may see on your Physio Report ⬇️

Hx - History
HPC - History of Current Condition
Dx - Diagnosis
Px - Patient
Rx - Prescription
Cx - Cervical Spine / or 'C' followed by a number of the cervical spine ie: C1
Tx - Treatment or 'T' followed by a number of the thoracic spine ie: T18
Sx - Symptoms
L - Left
R - Right
OA - Osteoarthritis
DJD - Degenerative Joint Disease
DDFT - Deep Digital Flexor Tendon
SL - Suspensory Ligament(s)
SIJ - Sacraolliac Joint
TS - Tuber Sacrale
TC - Tuber Coxae
ST - Soft Tissue
STW - Soft Tissue Work (type of manual therapy technique)
TP - Trigger Point(s)
TPW - Trigger Point Work - a technique to resolve painful Trigger Points
DSTW - Deep, Soft Tissue Work - a type of deep, massage technique
MFR - Myofascial Release - a manual technique for releasing fascial tension
FWB - Full Weight Bearing
NWB - Non-Weight Bearing
ROM - Range of Movement
PROM - Passive Range of Movement
AROM - Active Range of Movement
UWTM - Under Water Treadmill
Ant - Anterior (to the front of)
Post - Posterior (to the back of)
D/W - Discuss with ...

⬆️ phew ... there's quite a few listed here, but these are the more common ones you'll see on your reports. But please contact me if there is anything on your report that you don't understand or follow, as I am more than happy to explain. I know it can feel like its a different language but as you can see from the above, it's fairly simple when you look at the abbreviations 🤔

12/08/2024

I usually get super stressed getting stuck in traffic, but for these beautiful, albeit naughty escapee's, this made me smile 😊 Just look how awsome they are 🐮

11/08/2024

Wow amazing view ⬇️

Love Horses Inside Out their imagery is fabulous ⬇️

https://www.facebook.com/share/r/ZqCV3psQvaWUCGyj/?mibextid=WC7FNe

09/08/2024

Long week, long days and now phone is off until Tuesday. All outstanding reports / vet / insurance correspondence will be done over the weekend.
Over and out and have great weekend🥂🍾

09/08/2024

This has been a mega busy week, really busy day today and late finish again 😫.
I am a little behind with paperwork, physio reports, vet reports etc as always, sorry 😞 But I will catch up over the weekend 💪👍

Happy Friday and cheers to a great weekend 🍻🥂❤️

06/08/2024

Terminology Tuesday ⬇️

This kicks off my new 'Terminology Tuesday' for August, where I will help to decipher some of the terminology used in Physiotherapy.

I thought this subject may be of interest to you as many of you will see 'directional terminology' in your Physio reports.

'Directional Terminology' simply describes the positions of structures relative to other structures or locations in the body.

Why is it important?
When looking at anatomy, for example the forelimb - are we looking at an area nearer to the knee/carpal (proximal) or nearer to the fetlock (distal)? This gives us a directional term of the location of say an issue, injury or condition!

I hope these diagrams below help to simplify these terms ⬇️

But as always, if I write anything on your Physio reports that you don't understand please just ask me. I know it seems like a different language at times but I am so delighted when so many of my clients have a real interest in anatomy 😊

05/08/2024

August 2024 Location Diary

August is looking like another mega month for appointments. Locations listed below 👇

Most of these dates now are completely full (I am working early starts and really late finishes to fit everyone in) but will always try and get to you if possible.

Priority will be given to existing lovely clients and vet referrals 👍

01/08/2024

'A few steps backwards - unmounted - as part of groundwork and before mounting are a good idea to mobilise your horse's back'

⬆️ and this is why this movement configures in most of my rehab /training programmes 👍
Sharing this post from Gillian Tabor - Equine Physio & Rehab just to put the science behind the movement for increasing spinal mobility 💪🐴

https://www.facebook.com/share/p/1xzUpKWdKbEGuhGE/?mibextid=WC7FNe

Walking backwards - rein back - step back

This has always been an exercise I recommend and a recent article has used 3D motion capture to explore back and pelvis motion during the movement - Jobst, Zsoldos and Licka, 2024

'A significantly larger maximum and a greater ROM was reached between the withers, thoracic region and sacrum (labelled D-angWmT16S2) in Backwards Walking compared to Forwards walking, indicating a lifting of the back, an effect necessary to facilitate strengthening of the horse’s core and therefore often desired in equine physiotherapy and in equestrian sports (Clayton, 2016; Shakeshaft & Tabor, 2020)'

A few steps backwards - Unmount SD Cardnted - as part of groundwork and before mounting are a really good idea to mobilise your horse's back.

Link to article:
https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S1090023324001412?via%3Dihub

31/07/2024

Who's in Your Herd?

You have a Vet, a Farrier or EP, an Equine Dentist, a Saddler ... who is in your herd to ensure your horses musculoskeletal health is always at its best?

Why choose Vet Physio Kent?
Hi, I'm Charlene and I am a Degree Qualified Veterinary Physiotherapist with over 20 years experience as a musculoskeletal therapist.

I am also qualified in Equine, Canine & Human Sports Massage, Kinesiology Sports Taping for both horse & rider, Myofascial Release, Soft Tissue Therapy and Spinal Manipulation. Plus Kent's only Certified INDIBA Practitioner for both horse & rider.

Offering you and your horse the very best techniques, depth and breadth of knowledge, alongside the phenomenal INDIBA therapy ... your secret weapon to accelerating recovery time from training and injury 💪

Contact Charlene today on 📞 07972381222
Or visit www.vetphysiokent.com and complete a contact form and we'll call you back to discuss how we can fit into your herd and ensure your horse has the very best healthcare team🐴.

📞 07972381222
📧 [email protected]
🌎 www.vetphysiokent.com
📍Covering Kent, Sussex and Surrey borders

Veterinary Physiotherapy

30/07/2024

Ragwort Poisoning

Interesting post ⬇️

https://www.facebook.com/share/p/JjixbnCp2KaM8zr2/?mibextid=WC7FNe

29/07/2024

Help is on the way ...

🐴 Poor or Reduced Performance
🐴 Reluctance to go forward
🐴 Struggle with canter leads
🐴 Struggle with changes
🐴 Disunited in canter
🐴 Difficult to mount
🐴 Struggling to build topline
🐴 Or just not right ....

Make this week, the week where you sort out your horses problems 💪

Contact Charlene from Vet Physio Kent on 07972381222 or visit www.vetphysiokent.com and complete a contact form, and we'll call you back to discuss how we can help your horse and put you back on track 💪🥇

📞 07972381222
📧 [email protected]
🌏 www.vetphysiokent.com

26/07/2024

Equine Hyoid Apparatus

Love this from Horses Inside Out ⬇️

https://www.facebook.com/share/v/F1L4oDNj2E7QU4Q9/?mibextid=WC7FNe

24/07/2024

Sickened to see the footage of Charlotte Dujardin, but not surprised... are you? And we all know / suspect that and more goes on behind the scenes and not just her! It's not an isolated incident, is it??? 😡

How many of us have seen incident's like this that we don't agree with at the hands of trainers, horse owners or riders?

How many of us have stood back and (politely) not said anything, when our hearts are crying out for the horse? I know I have! I should have stepped up and said something but I didn't!

I hope if anything positive comes out from this now viral and national news footage, is that it may give people the confidence to speak out and not allow this behaviour to continue?

How do you feel about the video footage?

08/07/2024

Hi 👋

Here is the Vet Physio Kent July 2024 location diary for Equine Physio and INDIBA therapy.

As always most days are fully booked but if you need me and I am in your area, you know I will do my upmost to fit you in 👍

We have recently had a number of successfully rehabilitated horses signed off by their vet, so we have a couple of spaces available for horses that require rehabilitating.

We successfully treat and rehabilitate
horses with PSD, Ligament/Tendon injuries, SI pain & dysfunction, osteoarthritis and horses diagnosed with Kissing Spine ... to mention a few conditions we can treat.

We are happy to discuss your horse and devise a treatment plan to get you back on the right road to recovery 💪

☎️ 07972381222
💻 www.vetphysiokent.com

04/07/2024

Today I have woken up with a pain in my neck ... quite literally! I certainly didn't go to bed with it and I don't recall any reason and bedroom antics (🤣) that would have caused it, other than scrambling for some room on the bed shared between 3 Westies! But, fact - I have neck pain today which is restricting my head rotation to the right. The trigger point is actually on the left of my neck, so when I rotate my head to the right just at a certain point the trigger point rings like a bell 🔔. This causes me pain in the immediate area and restricted mobility.

So if I was a horse and you were going to ride me today, I wouldn't be too happy! I would definitely tell you probably in the form of dancing around the stable and my bestest pain face to try to warn you off!!!

🤔 Would you listen? Or would you get angry with me?
🤔 Would you think I was just being silly or difficult or being a complete *hit for the sake of it?
🤔 Or would you consider that may be today I wasn't feeling as good as I felt yesterday?
🤔 Would you consider that maybe I had had a bad night in the field or stable and that I was in pain today?
🤔 Would you check me over first to see if there was a physical problem? 🤔 Would you know how to?
🤔 Would you like to know how to?

Thought provoking? But maybe we should just take some time to stand back and reflect on our horses and that they are not machines and they have days when they are uncomfortable or in pain. And like my neck pain, yesterday it was fine but today I hurt! I have the tools to resolve it and I can verbalise my pain .. your horse will tell you with subtle signs ... can you read them? And what would you do?

Just a thought ...

If you would like to know how to check over your horse for signs of pain or discomfort just comment 'YES' and we'll be in touch with details of our next horse owners course.

☎️ 07972381222
💻 www.vetphysiokent.com

04/07/2024

Amazing 🐾 ⬇️

https://www.facebook.com/share/v/9ogQV4eazRtmYsQv/?mibextid=WC7FNe

03/07/2024

Equine Physio/ INDIBA therapy appointment available now this
Fri 5 July (afternoon)
Thanet/ Deal/ Canterbury / Ashford area
DM to book 👍

12/06/2024

Treating and Rehabilitating PSD

1️⃣What is Proximal Suspensory Desmitis (PSD)?
It's a clinical term used to describe inflammation/damage/lesions to the upper region (proximal) of the
suspensory ligament at the top of the cannon bone where the structure mostly originates. Hind limbs often affected but not limited to and I often now see more fore limb PSD too.

2️⃣Symptoms?
Varying degrees of lameness but often seen as reduced performance over a period of time and often mistaken for hock or SI issues! And actually there are often SI issues too due to the hind limb dysfunction, but this is secondary to the primary cause of PSD. Horses may present worse on a soft surface and may even present as pain upon palpitation.

3️⃣Treatment?
There are a number of treatment options from good old rest and NSAID's, to regenerative therapy, shockwave, laser, microcurrent and by far one of the most effective therapies is INDIBA.

Fortunately, INDIBA therapy is widely supported as one of the most effective treatment options for PSD due to its unique ability to reduce inflammation quickly, as it can be used sub-thermally (no significant heat) and accelerate the body's own heal and repair process leading to a quicker return to work.

4️⃣Correct Physiotherapy and controlled exercise /rehabilitation plan to strength the new tissues is a must and to restore correct function of the horse dynamically.

Remember a horse is on all four limbs and they will have acquired a compensation pattern that will need to be unraveled once the pain has been resolved. That's why I treat not only the PSD but the body as a whole so your horses rehabilitation is well on the way to recovery once your vet has confirmed a reduction in inflammation and there is a good fibre orientation.

🔥Be very careful not to
'over-treat and over-heat the tissues'
I see this so often now when electrotherapies such as laser and therapeutic ultra-sound (to name a few) are used by unsuitably qualified individuals or devices are purchased by over-zealous horse owners looking for a rapid return to work and end up damaging the tissues even more! Setting you, and more importantly your horse back even further.

🔬Tissue repair is a complex science and each stage of tissue repair is chemically mediated within the body and is absolutely essential you get this right to achieve a good repair or you'll be back in rehab before you know it!

5️⃣Correct management of the PSD equine patient is absolutely 💯 essential for the successful and long term rehabilitation and resolution of PSD. It's not just about treating the PSD tissues, it affects the entire horses body!

🎗️If your horse has recently been diagnosed with PSD and your unsure of how to move forward, feel free to reach out to discuss how we can support you all the way through your horses PSD journey from rehab to return to work - www.vetphysiokent.com

Lastly, I have attached this link below as I think you'll find interesting as this highlights how farriery and how correct foot balance can also support your horse through their PSD journey. If you have time read this article below 👇

https://www.facebook.com/share/9KNgqBfPpcnwrYAd/?mibextid=WC7FNe

How much influence do farriers have on ligament injury?

The hoof is the first point of contact with the ground and the forces transmitted through that travel up the limb into all the musculoskeletal structures including the ligaments, farriery will have a direct effect on this energy transfer!

It is now becoming widely accepted that working on surfaces plays a significant role in the onset of many equine pathologies (Murray et al 2010, Hobbs et al 2014) and ligament damage is one of them. Conformation, work and workload also play large roles, farriery can play an integral part in each of these predispositions. Two ligament pathologies stand out as causes of equine lameness most relevant to farriery practice, proximal suspensory desmitis and collateral ligament desmitis.

The first of these is Proximal Suspensory Desmitis (PSD)

Proximal Suspensory Desmitis (PSD) emerges as a prevalent cause of lameness and reduced performance in race and sport horses, manifesting predominantly in the forelimbs of racehorses and hindlimbs in sport horses.

The suspensory ligament comprises proximal, body, and branch sections, originating at the 3rd metacarpal/tarsal. PSD specifically affects the proximal aspect, involving avulsion fractures, tearing of Sharpey’s fibers, and, in chronic cases, ossification of ligamentous structures.

Farriery is highlighted as a pivotal element in PSD management, focusing on static and dynamic balance and a regular, bespoke shoeing cycle. Environmental variables, such as different surfaces, are acknowledged, emphasizing farriery's role in manipulating ground reaction forces to optimize biomechanics. The interaction between the hoof and soft ground and its impact on soft tissues is profound, farriers play a role in mitigating strain during treatment and rehabilitation.

Want to learn more? Check out the rest of the article for the discussion of collateral ligament desmitis

https://www.theequinedocumentalist.com/post/ligaments-their-farriery-relevance

You can also Join Dr Neidhart and myself as we delve into the world of the modern sport horse and the issues facing them…

https://equineeducationhub.thinkific.com/courses/modern-sport-horse. …

27/05/2024

Devastating news and such a sad, sad loss. My heart and prayers goes out to family and friends 🤍💜🕊️

25/05/2024

Enjoy 🍾🥂

05/05/2024

Just thought I would share this post from EquiNutritive 👇

https://www.facebook.com/share/p/wWGYk2tqAsDHoVmG/?mibextid=WC7FNe

Hemlock and Cow Parsley are two very common plants that you may come across when out and about this Summer. To the untrained eye, both these plants can appear almost identical 🤏

As horse owners it is important to know the difference between Hemlock and Cow Parsley. This is because one is a tasty, harmless treat and the other is EXTREMELY toxic! ☠️

Here we've summarised the key differences between these two plants that can assist in identification however if you have any doubts about any plant you see, do NOT let your horse graze it - doing so can result in a very expensive vet bill or worse... 🤕