Seven-year-old Quarter Horse, July 2007 | Parker, Vluggen
Abstract
A seven-year-old Quarter Horse mare used as a cutting horse was presented with the
complaint of not holding her stops and not making her turns. Osteopathic evaluation
revealed problems in the parietal, visceral, and craniosacral systems. The three systems
were treated osteopathically, with immediate response. Six weeks later on recheck, the
mare had fully returned to top performance. Three months after that time, she had a few
restrictions, which were easily manipulated, and she is scheduled for checkups every three to
six months to maintain her edge.
Introduction
In July 2007 Janek Vluggen, a renowned osteopath, and myself were asked to look at a
cutting mare that wasn’t performing for the owner. She was a seven-year-old Quarter horse
with the major complaint of not holding her stops and not making her turns especially to
the left.
Upon further inquiry with the owner it was discovered that she had been injected in her
hocks and stifles three times in the past year and a half with hyaluronic acid but without
lasting results. And the owner was concerned because in the last six months this mare had
gone from being very cooperative and willing to work to being hypersensitive and
grumpy all the time.
OSTEOPATHIC EVALUATION
On initial observation we noted her anal button was pulled in, she had atrophy of her
gluteal muscles and the medial part of the quadriceps, swayed back, and a prominent tail.
Also present was atrophy of the splenius muscle with increased development of the
hamstrings and she was standing with her left hind leg in outer rotation. She had a
lowered neck and constantly held her head in extension.
As an Equine Osteopath (EDO) I have been taught by Dr. Vluggen to see this mare a
little differently than I did in vet school. The principles behind osteopathy are three fold. First
you evaluate the parietal system, then the visceral and craniosacral systems. It is these three
pillars that distinguish osteopathy from the other vitalistic modalities such as chiropractic
and homeopathy.
Evaluation of the Parietal System:
Upon initial osteopathic evaluation of the parietal system we found both sacroiliac joints
in a bilateral ventral restriction, the left ilium unable to move dorsally and the left stifle in
an exorotation. In the spine the 6th lumbar vertebra was unable to flex and move to the
right side and the 3rd, 2nd and 1st lumbar vertebrae were unable to extend or move to the
left side. Thoracic vertebrae 17 and 18 were following the same direction as lumbar 6.
Another restriction was found in the left shoulder, as it was unable to move to abduction
as well as the first rib was not able to follow the inspiration. As the first ribs prominently
dominate the movement of the 7th cervical vertebrae it could not move to the right side.
Evaluation of the Visceral System:
The visceral findings included a uterus with the parametrium restricted on the left side at
the level of the cervix. The body of the uterus was positioned to the left side with a
restricted teres ligament (mesometrium). The left uterine horn would not move cranially
but could easily be moved caudally. The mesovarium of the left ovary was restricted
ventrally and the mesosalpinx which is peritoneal tissue attached to the inner side of the
pelvis could not move ventral. The left ovary had a retained corpus luteum and according
to the owner this had happened before and been treated conventionally.
Evaluation of the CranioSacral System:
Evaluation of the cranial sacral system showed the mare to have what we call a
compression of the SSB, which can be a cause of behavior disturbances.
OSTEOPATHIC INTERPRETATION
Interpretation of Lumbar Spine and SI Joints:
In the EDO program I learned that the mechanical visceral disorders like ptosis
(ligamental disorder) a spasm (a muscular disorder) or a congestion (a vascular disorder)
will cause a restriction of the spine and sacroiliac joints through their influence of the
automatic nervous system. Thus 80% of the time the organ is the primary cause of the
immobility of the parietal system. The segments of the SI joints are the parasympathetic
centers of the organs in the pelvic room. The segments of the 1st 2nd and 3rd lumbar
vertebrae are the segments of the lumbar splanchnical nerves connected to the same
organs. The segments of the SI joints are the same segments that innervate the
exorotators of the hip. So now how many times have you seen a mare standing with her
leg in an outer rotation?
Interpretation of the Diaphragm and Th17 and Th18:
The 17th and 18th thoracic vertebrae are the insertions for the diaphragm and the psoas
muscle. The loss of tone of the perineum will cause the diaphragm to move more caudal
during inspiration, which puts more traction on the insertions of thoracic 18 and 17
causing a hyperlordosis of the lumbar spine. A hyperlordosis of the lumbar spine will
cause the psoas muscle to contract and move the femur towards the ilium or the ilium
towards the femur: the ventral out flare.
Interpretation of the Shoulder and First Rib:
The innervation of the diaphragm is the phrenical nerve, which enters the spine at the
level of the 4th, 5th and 6th cervical vertebrae, which is where the brachial plexus exits.
The phrenical nerve has a side branch innervating the subclavian muscle at the height of
the shoulder. The irritation of the phrenical nerve will thus cause a contraction of the
subclavian muscle restricting the motion of the shoulder. As the diaphragm is connected
to the lungs and the lungs are connected to the seventh cervical vertebrae and first rib, a
diaphragm restricted in caudal direction will cause a constant strain in this area.
Interpretation of the Endocrine Disturbance:
At the level of the first rib and C7 is located the stellate ganglion. One of the
postganglionic branches of the stellate ganglion is the vascular branch. This vascular
branch runs together with the internal carotid artery as the internal carotid nerve or
plexus. This nerve after entering the skull through the jugular foramen gives off a
pituitary branch, which innervates the vascularization of the pituitary gland. Disturbance
of this innervation will disturb the complete endocrine system.
Interpretation of the CranioSacral Relation:
The sacrum is directly connected through the meningeal tissue (duramater) with the
occipital bone. A sacrum in restriction bilateral ventral will cause an occipital bone to
restrict in extension in relation to the SSB (the sphenobasilar synchondrosis).
TREATMENT
According to the principles of osteopathy the visceral restrictions need to be treated first
to release as many parietal restrictions as possible so the adjustments can be reduced to a
minimum.
In this particular case we first released the visceral restrictions of the uterus and ovaries
through osteopathic mobilization techniques. And tested the parietal system again. The
osteopathic visceral manipulation released the restriction of the ilium, the restriction of
L3, 2,1 therefore parietal manipulation was not needed. The bilateral ventral sacrum still
had to be adjusted in order to release the strain on Th17, 18 and the 1st rib and C7 the
diaphragm had to be mobilized. Several osteopathic techniques were used to release the
cervical spine. Finally I used craniosacral osteopathy to diminish the compression
disorder of the SSB.
EVALUATION of RESULTS
Immediately after treatment we observed the mare being very relaxed, less strain on her
lower cervical spine with a changed top line to almost normal position. Her respiration
became deeper and effortless. When she walked off she seemed to be more comfortable
in her whole body.
Upon recheck six weeks later the owner reported the mare had changed her personality and
behavior back to normal and she was holding her stops and could move her back, neck
and shoulders free in the turns. We found the exorotation gone from her stifle and her
spine still free from restrictions. We agreed to do a follow up evaluation in three months.
At this evaluation in mid November, we saw the mare developing her gluteal and
quadriceps muscles. She was filling out her loins and splenicus area and was back to
competing. We found a few restrictions in her spine, which she was easily compensating
for due to her increased mobility from the first adjustment. We suggested seeing this
mare regularly once every three months unless a major trauma happened before then.
Discussion
Osteopathy produces legitimate, long-lasting results in animals and this is especially
evident in performance horses. In my professional opinion, European Osteopathy is the
one modality, which has produced and reproduced by far the best results in my daily
practice. Finally I am able to successfully give the horse every adaptation possibility in
order to help them compensate for all that we require of them.
Author Kimberly Parker DVM, EDO
Coauthor Janek Vluggen DO, MRO, EDO
