Chiropractic
About Chiropractic Therapy for Pets
Chiropractic medicine whether for humans or animals is a very misunderstood medical modality. Most people who go to chiropractors for treatment, think that when they get an adjustment the chiropractor is actually "putting bones back in place". They believe that they feel relief from the chiropractic adjustment because their spine is immediately realigned. This misconception stems from old chiropractic theory that actually taught chiropractors that they were "putting bones back in place". Newer chiropractic theory however teaches chiropractic students that when they perform an adjustment they are creating movement in the joint but not putting the bone back in place. The movement they create in the vertebral joint stimulates "mechano nerve receptors" in that joint to produce a reflex that blocks pain transmission. The blockage of the pain reflex provides pain control by alleviating muscle spasm and by dilating blood vessels. The relaxation of the paraspinal muscles and not the thrust of the adjustment is what indirectly results in the spinal realignment.
Chiropractic care can do more than eliminate back and neck pain. Through the stimulation of "somato-visceral reflexes" chiropractic care can support internal organ function. Chiropractic care can also produce "myofascial release" by stimulation of the "golgi bodies" in the muscle tendons. Consequently chiropractic can help people and pets with myofascitis and"fibromyalgia"
There are 2 groups which train veterinarians in spinal adjustment. One association is American Veterinary Chiropractic Association (AVCA) and the other organization is VOM (Veterinary Orthopedic Manipulation). AVCA is primarily a manual adjusting group which means they use only their hands to perform an adjustment. VOM, on the other hand, teaches adjustment using mechanical and electrical devices called accelerometers. Dr. Simon has been trained in both approaches. In addition he performs a third type of adjustment known as "Logan Basic". Logan Basic is a very gentle form of chiropractic that was developed and first taught at Logan Chiropractic College. It involves putting pressure on the pelvic sacrotuberous ligament in order to relax the paraspinal muscles. This relaxation allows adjustments to be done with very little force. Dr. Simon frequently utilizes Logan Basic in conjunction with VOM.
Just as with acupuncture, chiropractic requires a series of treatments to get desired results. Chiropractic care can treat a wide variety of problems and is not limited to musculo-skeltal and neurological problems.
Dr. Simon is aware that there are human chiropractors who attempt to adjust pets at night after their regular office hours. He would like to warn pet owners that only chiropractors that have attended post graduate courses in veterinary anatomy and chiropractics should attempt such adjustments and only under veterinary supervision.
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About Veterinary Orthopedic Manipulation
Veterinary Orthopedic-neural Manipulation (otherwise known as VOM) is a non-invasive healing technology that is similar to classical chiropractic medicine in that it locates areas called subluxations that exist along the animal's spinal cord and reduces the subluxations such that proper nervous tissue communication is re-established. A "spinal accelerometer" is used to assess the health of the spine and adjustments are made using this same instrument. As the practitioner tests the entire spine with the accelerometer he watches for specific reflexes, called "reads", to occur. These reads are evidence of pathology called "subluxations". Subluxations cause vascular constriction, reduced circulation and decreased oxygenation to muscles and other tissues of the body. The results of these subluxations changes can be seen as muscle spasm, pain, swelling, and reduced range of motion. After identifying these abnormal areas along the vertebral column the practitioner will use the same instrument to apply light force to the vertebrae in the affected area. The motion created will stimulate a nerve impulse in the mechanoreceptors of the vertebral joint. These nerve impulses will travel to the spinal cord where they in turn stimulate cells called "interneurons". Interneuron stimulation dilates blood vessels, increases circulation and oxygenation of muscles, reduces spasm, stops pain, and increases range of motion.
Most abnormal functions of the body are a result of mu scle spasm of one sort or another and consequently reduction of subluxations can have far reaching health benefits. The VOM technology uses a very gentle adjusting technique which are safer than classical, chiropractic methods. The VOM practitioner is termed a "chiropractitioner" as opposed to a chiropractor. However, just like chiropractic care VOM therapy is not accomplished in a single visit or adjustment. Follow up evaluations and adjustments scheduled at very specific intervals are required if long term healing is to occur.
The VOM technique is often followed by the MFR technique which produces myofascial release. MFR enhances VOM by further relieving the increased muscle spasms and fascial tension caused by subluxations. The resulting decreased muscle spasm provides the animal with pain reduction and decreases the recurrence of subluxation. Consequently the overall healing process is accelerated.
VOM can be used to treat non-musculo-skeletal conditions including organ disease (somato-visceral disease). VOM is used to promote a balance between the sympathetic (fight or flight) and parasympathetic (organ function) components of the autonomic nervous system. Using VOM in this way complements its use on musculo-skeletal system by further altering the blood flow and nervous stimulation to all areas of the body. VOM utilizes sites on the body similar to acupuncture points as well as other sites to return balance to the autonomic nervous system.
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© 2006 Dr. John Simon, Woodside Animal Clinic
