Dr. Jan Schilling
is Certified by the
American Veterinary Chiropractic Association
and licensed to
practice veterinary medicine in
Wisconsin and Minnesota


608-638-6380

Veterinary Spinal Manipulation

Introduction

Veterinary Spinal Manipulation or VSM, (also known as “animal chiropractic” in states other than Wisconsin) is a manual method of releasing restrictions in the position and movement of the bones of the spine, called vertebrae. Restoring normal range of motion to the spine restores flexibility, relieves pain and allows movement with less effort, all of which are important in old or debilitated animals as well as for athletic performance. It also helps insure the health and function of the various organs of t eh body by eliminating interference in the function of the nerves that supply those organs.

Please note that Veterinary Spinal Manipulation is not the same as Veterinary Orthopedic Manipulation (VOM).

Examples of some conditions that may be helped by
VETERINARY SPINAL MANIPULATION

For all species:

Stiffness and difficulty rising
Substandard athletic performance
Dragging toes or stumbling
Sore backs
Urinary incontinence
Gait abnormalities
Vague, low grade hard to locate lameness

Horses:

Resistance to saddling
Difficulty picking up a lead
Stiffness traveling in one direction
Reluctance to stand on three legs for hoof care
Head tossing

Cattle:

Stanchion fighter heifers
Downer cows

Examination

A veterinarian who performs Veterinary Spinal Manipulation will assess an animal by watching it move and examining its skin and muscles for hot or cool spots, areas of swelling or decreased size, tightness or tenderness before checking the vertebrae.

Each individual vertebra is checked for position and for its ability to move through its complete normal range of motion.

Treatment

Veterinary Spinal Manipulation is accomplished by using a practitioner’s hands to apply a rapid but carefully modulated thrust to a specific part of a specific vertebra in a specific direction. Bones are not “put in to place” but are allowed to return to their normal position. In addition to mechanically freeing the vertebra this rapid thrust causes a burst of nerve activation that changes the nerve input into the brain. This effect may be even more important than the more obvious physical effects. When bone or soft tissue isn’t moving and functioning normally there is a decrease in the nerve input to the brain. By activating these nerves Veterinary Spinal Manipulation not only changes the input to the brain but changes the output from the brain having profound effects on the affected tissues. Vertebra can also be freed and influence with a slower for of manipulation but this may result in the same sort of sensory stimulation that Veterinary Spinal Manipulation provides. The timing and number of treatments required depends on the condition being treated and the severity of the problem. Weekly treatments for two or three weeks is a common schedule. Chronic problems will require ongoing maintenance.

Causes of immobile vertebrae

  • Trauma is a big one and is easily understood.
  • Stress is widely recognized as a cause of back pain in people and probably applies to animals too.
  • Stiff, crooked, unbalance people cause many, many problems for the animals they handle or ride. Do your horse a favor and see your chiropractor!
  • Poor fitting, poorly adjusted equipment, particularly saddles are often the culprit in back problems.  
  • Organ disease or malfunction can cause nervous system/spinal problems. The nervous system is a two way street. Organ malfunction can cause nerve problems as wells as the other way around.
  • Toxins and Medications can also cause spinal problems.
  • Too long toes whether in dogs or horses cause erroneous input to the brain with the resulting erroneous output and strain on the entire musculoskeletal system.
  • Dental problems affecting the temporomandibular joint (TMJ) affect balance and brain input.
  • Diet and nutrition, over or under weight, are of course important in the health if the entire body including the nervous and musculoskeletal systems.

"Out" vs. "Stuck"

It is entirely possible for an individual vertebra to be in a normal resting position yet not be able to move as it should. It may be "stuck" without being "out of alignment". Either way the lack of motion between vertebrae results in torque, swelling and inflammation in the soft tissues between and connecting the bones. This causes pain in those tissues. It is the soft tissue swelling that puts pressure on the nerves, (ouch!) not direct bone on nerve contact. Thus the popular idea of a "pinched nerve" is a bit of a misperception. Direct bone pressure on a nerve would cause permanent nerve damage very quickly. The pressure equivalent to the weight of a dime can cause nerve damage within minutes.

Everything is connected to everything else and everything is important. Problems in one are of animal care may have consequences in other areas in ways that are not immediately obvious.

To make an appointment with Dr. Schilling please call 608-638-6380.

To find an American Veterinary Chiropractic Association certified doctor in your area visit www.animalchiropractic.org.