MCTIMONEY TREATMENT
Like people, animals can suffer from back, neck, pelvic and musculoskeletal problems, these can all prevent them from carrying out normal day to day activities. By having a McTimoney treatment these problems can be helped and can allow the animal to carry out activities free from pain and discomfort.
The McTimoney method is named after its founder John McTimoney, who in the 1950's adapted his human chiropractic technique to apply specifically to animals. The McTimoney College has allowed practitioners to help treat animals for over forty years, being the only college in Europe to have a validated course in Post Graduate Diploma in Animal Manipulation.
The McTimoney treatment is a non-invasive, safe, gentle but effective whole body physical therapy. The techniques aim to rebalance, realign and restore biomechanics and neurological function of the musculoskeletal system of the animals' body.
How does the McTimoney Technique work?
The animals' body is made up of the skull, spinal column and pelvis and is supported by four limbs. Surrounding these structures are complex networks of nerves, muscles, blood vessels and other soft tissues such as tendons and ligaments which can all be affected by disease and disorder. The McTimoney treatment concentrates mainly on the spinal column, pelvis and the tissues surrounding them.
The spin
The spinal column is made up of many bones known as vertebrae which are all moveable allowing flexibility in the animals' spine. The joints between adjacent vertebrae can become out of alignment with its neighbours, due to muscle tension and muscle spasm, which restricts the joints normal range of motion, and is known as a misalignment. A muscle spasm can occur if an animal suffers from an injury, muscle trauma or general wear and tear. As muscles are attached to bone via ligaments, a muscle spasm can cause a pull on the individual vertebra causing a misalignment of the spinal column. The spinal column contains the spinal cord which has nerves branching out through the vertebrae. These nerves allow information to be sent from the brain to the muscles, organs and soft tissues of the body. When the vertebrae are out of alignment it impinges on the nerve, which can cause pain and discomfort in that area or in the area where the nerve supplies.
The treatment is performed entirely by hand, consisting of rapid accurrate thrusts being applied to the misaligned joints, which in turn releases muscle spasm and allows the joint to move back towards its normal positioning without forcing or stressing the joint or the body.
A misalignment can occur from a number of reasons a few examples in the horse include: a fall, slip, playing in the field, poorly fitting tack, and conformation faults. Examples in the dog include: jumping on and off furniture, jumping in and out of the car, and from conformational problems. These problems can occur suddenly or have been long standing which have resulted in the horse/dog compensating and moving differently.
Common symptoms which may be seen include for example in the horse a drop in performance, bucking, or refusing a fence. Examples seen in the dog include reluctance to exercise, reluctance to get up, or a change in temperament.
The philosophy behind McTimoney is that the body has an innate ability to heal itself, providing all of the bodies systems are functioning correctly. Due to this, it can take 24-48 hours for the body to heal itself and for the treatment to be maintained. An aftercare programme will be given to you for your animal to get the most out of the treatment.
Chloe Williams BSc (Hons), PG Dip AM, EBW® - 07709 489840