Physiotherapy for Maintenance?

Physiotherapy for maintenance? Everyone knows that in the horsey world opinions tend to be strongly divided,

with Equine Physiotherapy generally being overlooked as a luxury rather than a necessity.

I would like to start changing this perspective by exploring and explaining what we achieve when working closely with horses and riders:

• Improve performance

Through physiotherapy, we enhance joint range while reducing restriction and weakness within the body. Basically allowing for better bascule, more expressive half pass and more explosive propulsion out of the line out on the polo-cross field.

• Catch potential issues early

Physios are trained to notice subtle movement asymmetries and muscular discrepancies that lead to diminishing performance and injury, we combat these with

exercise programs and body work.

• Prevent injury

Physios are trained to recognize subtle thickening of a tendon or trigger points or heat in a muscle that could be the start of an issue. We recognize overload and overuse in the body and address these areas with pain reduction, improved musculoskeletal stability and flexibility through body work. So instead of muscle tear, chronic tendinitis or navicular syndrome, we start addressing the small signs as they arise.

• Promote longevity

Physio aims to give a horse the best possible career; be it happy hacker or A division polo pony. We prevent unnecessary overload but promote effective strengthening and suppeling programs along with addressing discrepancies and discomfort in the body.

Finally and most importantly

• Owner Education

We teach you to start seeing and improving on the subtle things that make the difference in your training in all the horses you work with. Owner education will minimize the frequency of treatments.