Lower Cervical and Upper Thoracic Mobilisation in the Horse. Manual Therapies are Dose Dependent and an Increase in Patient Mass is Normally Associated with an Increase in Dose.
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.48165/ijvsbt.21.3.31Keywords:
Manipulation, Mobilisation, under anaesthetic, under-dosingAbstract
Numerous manual therapy techniques have been developed to deal with musculoskeletal pain, stiffness and associated spinal joint restrictions or loss of range of movement. Cervical vertebral mobilisation under anaesthetic was one of these. It was specifically developed to deliver an adequate and maintained dose or pressure when attempting to restore lost range of movement in the lower cervical and upper thoracic joint complexes of the horse. There was however a perceived reluctance amongst clinicians to explore this approach. They understandably preferred to utilise modalities that they were more comfortable with even though these were less likely to deliver a therapeutic dose.
Downloads
References
Snodgrass J S, Rivett D A, Sterling M, Vicenzino B. Dose Optimization for Spinal Treatment Effectiveness: A Randomized Controlled Trial Investigating the Effects of High and Low Mobilization Forces in Patients With Neck Pain. J of Orthopaedic sprouts Phys Therapy 2014; 44(3): 114-152. https://doi.org/10.2519/ jospt.2014.4778
Colles CM, Nevin A, Brooks J. The osteopathic treatment of somatic dysfunction causing gait abnormality in 51 horses. Equine Vet J 2014; 26(3): 148-155. https://doi.org/10.1111/eve.12122
Ahern TJ. Cervical vertebral mobilisation under anaesthetic (CVMUA) a physical therapy for the treatment of cervicospinal pain and stiffness. J Equine Vet Sci 1994; 14(10): 540-545. https:// doi.org/10.1016/S0737-0806(06)81638-2
Ahern T. Cervical Vertebral Mobilisation Under Anaesthetic CVMUA: An Update. World J of Vet Sci 2019; 7: 24-26. https://doi. org/10.12970/2310-0796.2019.07.05
Riazuddin M, Shakir S, Naveed A. Manipulation under anaesthesia for stiffness following knee arthroplasty. Ann R CollSurg Engl 2009; 91: 220-223. https://doi.org/10.1308/003588409X359321
Kraal T, Beimers L, The B, Sierevelt I, van den Bekerom M, Eygendaal D. Manipulation under anaesthesia for frozen shoulders: outdated technique or well-established quick fix? EFORT One Rev. 2018; 4(3): 98-109. https://doi.org/10.1302/2058-
5241.4.180044
Rotman D, Factor S, Schermann H, Kadar A, Atlan F, Pritsch T, Rosenblatt Y. Manipulation under anesthesia for the postsurgical stiff elbow: a case series and review of literature Our J Orthop Sure Traumatol. 2019; 29(8): 1679-1685. https:// doi.org/10.1007/s00590-019-02492-6
Morningstar MW, Strauchman MN. Manipulation under anesthesia for patients with failed back surgery: retrospective report of 3 cases with 1-year follow-up. J Chiropr Med. 2012;11(1):30–5. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jcm.2011.08.006
West DT, Mathews RS, Miller MR, Kent GM. Effective management of spinal pain in one hundred seventy-seven patients evaluated for manipulation under anesthesia. J Manipulative Physiol Ther. 1999; 22(5):299–308. https://doi.org/10.1016/S0161-
4754(99)70062-X
Herzog J. Use of cervical spine manipulation under anesthesia for management of cervical disk herniation, cervical radiculopathy, and associated cervicogenic headache syndrome. J Manipulative Physiol Ther. 1999; 22(3):166–70. https://doi.org/10.1016/S0161-4754(99)70131-4
Hughes B. Management of cervical disk syndrome utilizing manipulation under anesthesia. J Manipulative Physiol Ther. 1993;16(3):174–81.
Davis CG. Chronic cervical spine pain treated with manipulation under anesthesia. Journal of the Neuromusculoskeletal System. 1996;4(3):102–15
DiGeorgi D. Spinal manipulation under anesthesia: a narrative review of the literature and commentary. Chiropr Man Therap. 2013; 21(140) 2-14. https://doi.org/10.1186/2045-709X-21-14
Donawick WJ, Mayhew IG, Galligan DT, Osborne J, Green SL. Stanley EK. (1989) Early diagnosis of cervical vertebral malformation in young Thoroughbred horses and successful treatment with restricted, paced diet and confinement. Proc. Am. Ass. equine Practnrs. 1989; 35, 525–528.
Nout YS, Reed SM. Cervical vertebral stenotic myelopathy. Equine Vet Edu. 2003; 15(4): 212-223. https://doi. org/10.1111/j.2042-3292.2003.tb00246.x
Sleutjens J, Cooley J, Sampson S, Wijnberg I, Back W, van der Kolk J, Swiderski C. The Equine Cervical Spine: Comparing MRI and Contrast‐Enhanced CT Images with Anatomic Slices in the Sagittal, Dorsal and Transverse Plane. Eq. Vet. J. 2014; 46: 74 - 84. https://doi.org/10.1111/evj.12267_146
Bergmann W, Bergknut N, Veraa S, Gröne A, Vernooij H, Wijnberg ID, Back W, Grinwis GCM. Intervertebral Disc Degeneration in Warmblood Horses: Morphology, Grading, and Distribution of Lesions. Vet. Pathol. 2018; 55(3): 442-452. https://doi.
org10.1177/0300985817747950
Dyson S, Busoni V, Salciccia A. Intervertebral disc disease of the cervical and cranial thoracic vertebrae in equidae: eight cases. Equine Vet. Edu. 2019; 32(8): 437-443. https://doi.org/10.1111/ eve.13125
Veraa S, Bergmann W, Wijnberg ID, Back,W, Vernooij H, Nielen M, van den Belt AM. Equine cervical intervertebral disc degeneration is associated with location and MRI features. Veterinary Radiology and ultrasound. 2019; 60(6): 696-706. https://doi.
org/10.1111/vru.12794
Haussler KK, Pool RR, Clayton,HM. Characterization of bony changes localized to the cervical articular processes in a mixed population of horses. PLOS ONE 2019; 14(9): 1-27. https://doi. org/10.1371/journal.pone.0222989
Dyson S, Phillips K, Zheng S, Aleman M. Congenital variants of the ventral laminae of the sixth and seventh cervical vertebrae are not associated with clinical signs or other radiological abnormalities of the cervicothoracic region in Warmblood
horses. Equine Vet J. 2024; 57(2): 419-430. https://doi. org/10.1111/evj.14127
Riccio B, Fraschetto C, Villanueva J, Cantatore F, Bertuglia A. Two Multicenter Surveys on Equine Back-Pain 10 Years a Part. Front Vet Aci. 2018; 5: 95. https://doi.org/10.3389/fvets.2018.00195
Clayton HM, Townsend HG. Kinematics of the cervical spine of the adult horse. Equine Vet J. 1989; 21(3): 189-92. https://doi. org/10.1111/j.2042-3306.1989.tb02139.x
Hardeman AM, Bystrom A, Roepstorff L, Swagemakers JH, van Seeren PR, Serra Braganca FM. Range of motion and between measurement variation of spinal kinematics in sound horses at trot on the straight line and on the lunge. PloS One. 2020; 15(2): e0222822 https://doi.org/ 10.1371/journal.pone.0222822
Zsoldos RR, Licka TF. The equine neck and its function during movement and locomotion. Zoology 2015; 118(5): 364-376. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.zool.2015.03.005
Rudolfsson T, Björklund M, Djupsjobaka M. Range of motion in the upper and lower cervical spine in people with chronic neck pain. Manual Therapy 2012; 17(1): 53-59. https://doi. org/10.1016/j.math.2011.08.007
Ahern TJ. Cervical vertebral mobilisation under anaesthetic (CVMUA) a physical therapy for the treatment of cervicospinal pain and stiffness. J Equine Vet Sci 1994; 14(10): 540- 545. https://doi.org/10.1016/S0737- 0806(06)81638-2 Ahern T. Cervical Vertebral Mobilisation Under Anaesthetic CVMUA: An Update. World J of Vet Sci. 2019; 7: 24-26. DOI: https://doi.org/10.12970/2310-0796.2019.07.05
Russell B, Owens E, Hosek R, Keller M. Thrust force measurement of chiropractic supine cervical adjustments. J of Contemporary Chiro. 2024; 7: 71-76. https://journal.parker.edu/article/112921
Symons B, Wuest S, Leonard T, Herzog W. Biomechanics characterisation of cervical spinal manipulation in living
subjects and cadavers. J Electromyogr Kinesiol 2012; 22(5):747- 751. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jelekin.2012.02.004
Haussler KK. Soft Tissue and Joint Mobilization of the Cervical Region and Cervicothoracic Junction. American Assoc Equine Pract 360 Pain in the Neck 2016; Fort Collins, CO
Ahern T. Therapeutic modalities employed to restore reduced cervicospinal range of movement in horses and their limitations. World J of Vet Sci. 2020; 8: 1-3. DOI: https://doi. org/10.12970/2310-0796.2020.08.01
Molle S, Pressanto MC, Beccati F. Multimodal approach to rehabilitating a traumatic brachial plexus lesion in a Thoroughbred yearling. J of Equine Rehab. 2024; 2: 100014. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.eqre.2024.100014
Dyson S.J. Lesions of the equine neck resulting in lameness or poor performance. Vet. Clin. N. Am. Equine. Prac. 2011; 27: 417–437. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.cveq.2011.08.005.
Woods B.I., Hilibrand A.S. Cervical radiculopathy: Epidemiology, etiology, diagnosis, and treatment. J. Spinal Disord. Tech. 2015; 28: E251–E259. https://doi.org/ 10.1097/ BSD.0000000000000284
Story MR, Haussler KK, Nout-Lomas YS, Aboellail TA, Kawcak CE, Barrett MF, Frisbie DD, Mcilwraith CW. Equine Cervical Pain and Dysfunction: Pathology, Diagnosis and Treatment. Animals (Basel). 2021; 11(2): 422 https://doi.org/10.3390/ani11020422
Ahern TJ. Reflex Sympathetic dystrophy syndrome (RSDS), complex regional pain syndrome-type 1 (CRPS 1), neuropathic pain: An equine perspective. J of Eqine Vet Sci. 1996; 16(11): 463-468. https://doi.org/10.1016/S0737-0806(96)80074-8
Ahern TJ. Laminar corial hypereasthesia in chronic forelimb lameness. J of Equine Vet Sci. 1995; 15(11): 460-463. https:// doi.org/10.1016/S0737-0806(06)81811-3
Downloads
Published
Issue
Section
License
Copyright (c) 2025 Indian Journal of Veterinary Sciences and Biotechnology
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 4.0 International License.
