Blackshaw Royd Veterinary Physiotherapy and Rehab

21/03/2024

🔴 Red, Infrared & Blue light Phototherapy 🔵

I’ve recently purchased a second Red and Blue light therapy machine to add to my toolkit to give me more options when treating horses 💪🏻

The new hand held device is battery operated therefore wire free when using which helps with difficult horses that are sensitive to touch when the wires tickle their sides during treatment 🙈

The Optimus Lumina device is small, powerful, simple to use and very portable making it a great piece of kit 👌

Phototherapy is a treatment using artificial light wavelengths from the ultraviolet part of the sun spectrum 🌞 where lights of a certain wavelength can be delivered at a higher intensity, without the light of all the other wavelengths that are heat producing light 🔥

Without going into too much scientific depth on photon absorption, electron bonding and the thermal agitation of molecules, below is a list of effects of each type of phototherapy! 😆

🔴Visible Red & Infrared Light phototherapy 🔴

🔺 Increases proliferation of cells essential for tissue repair
🔺 Increases vasodilation at capillary level
🔺 Accelerates collagen synthesis, the base requirement for tissue repair
🔺 Stimulates epithelial cells growth therefore reducing scar tissue, helps prevents proud flesh
🔺 Encourages the margins of WOUNDS to close together so perfect for any wounds or skin injuries 👌
🔺 Application of red light over acupuncture points changes conductivity of the skin releasing endorphins helping relax the horse

🔵 Blue Light Phototherapy 🔵

🔹 Inhibits bacterial proliferation at the site of wounds which
🔹 Reduces the possibility of infection
🔹 Higher energy levels available in blue light causes an adverse photo chemical reaction in the bacteria damaging or killing it 🦠🔫

I often use my red light down a horses bladder meridian / acupuncture points if I’m struggling to get a horse to allow me to touch them as they are so sore. This helps to relax them to my touch at the start of a treatment then they soon allow me to treat them…. It’s literally like magic! 🤣

It’s also very handy to use on wounds when a horse is extremely reluctant to have you touch their wounds as it’s so non invasive, you can use without touching the horse at all 💪🏻

23/12/2022

🎄 That’s a wrap for 2022 from Blackshaw Royd Veterinary Physiotherapy 🎄

Huge thank you to all clients who have supported me in my first few months of physio business, it is greatly appreciated and I’ve loved every minute of helping you and getting your horses more comfortable 👌

My new work wear freshly embroidered has just arrived and I can’t wait to get wearing it in 2023 💪🏻

I’m closed now for a steady week or 2 but the diary is open for the new year do if you want to start 2023 on the right foot, feel free to drop me a message to book an appointment for your horse 😍

10/10/2022

🤕 REHAB LIVERY 🤕

Are you struggling with your horse following illness / injury?

Do you find it hard to do all the rehabilitation advice given by your vet to get your horse going again following an injury or surgery?

We can help with:

🔹Kissing Spine surgery / injection treatment

🔹 Stifle arthroscopy

🔹 Bone Fractures

🔹 DDFT or SDFT injuries

🔹 Tendon injuries

🔹 Check Ligament injuries

🔹 Wound Healing / Pharmacology

🔹 Neurological Dysfunction

Here at Blackshaw Royd Equestrian we can help you get your horse back on track. With Alanna Pilling Vet Physio a fully qualified Physiotherapist who owns the yard, we can cater for any type of issue / injury to give your horse the best prognosis to return to full work 💪🏻

We have a multitude of ways to assist in your horse’s recovery whether it’s post surgery or an injury requiring rest:

🔹 Pulsed Electro Magnetic Field Therapy

🔹 Theraputic Ultrasound

🔹 Neuro Muscular Electro Stimulation

🔹 Red Light Phototherapy

🔹 Blue Light Phototherapy

🔹 Class 3B Laser Therapy

🔹 Heat Therapy

🔹 Cryotherapy

🔹 Good old fashioned Hand Walking!

🔹 Small paddock / restricted turnout

It can be daunting trying to rehab your horse around work and other life commitments but we can make that easier for you.

Please get in touch by PM to Alanna or ☎️ 07774 734719

05/08/2022

😍 It’s official - I’m a qualified Animal Physiotherapist! 😍

3 years of hard work has paid off, the stress of revision and exams 🙈 all worth it though. I’ve learnt more than I ever expected 💪🏻

My Insurance is upgraded to cover physio as well as massage, so from next week I’m opening up the diary and taking appointments

Physiotherapy can make sure a difference to your horse, whether it be regular maintenance MOT work, post surgery rehabilitation or keeping you competition horse in peak condition.

We work to assist in the healing of tissues which are damaged by musculoskeletal and / or neurological dysfunction. The main aims of physio are controlling pain, increasing range of motion and restoring function to the tissues.

This can be achieved a number of ways:

🔹 Manual Therapy (hands on)

🔹 Joint Mobilisation

🔹 Pulsed Electro Magnetic Therapy

🔹 Theraputic Ultrasound

🔹 Neuromuscular Electro Stimulation

🔹 Stretching / Range of Motion

🔹 Exercise Prescription

🔹 Rehabilitation

All this works in conjunction with your ongoing support team of Vets, farriers, saddle fitters, dentists etc

Anyone wishing to discuss their horses needs please feel free to PM me on here xx

09/06/2022

Thankfully this research has now been conducted. People like to put their horses on a water treadmill without thinking “why” they are actually doing in and what they are trying to achieve. They should be closely monitored by a physiotherapist whilst using one…. They can be a useful tool in certain circumstances but can cause injury in other circumstances….

**NEW WATER TREADMILL RESEARCH**

Great to work with an exciting group of researchers looking at the effect that water treadmill exercise has on equine locomotion.

Here is a new paper published in Journal of Equine Veterinary Science, titled “Effect of Water Depth on Limb and Back Kinematics in Horses Walking on a Treadmill”, authors: Carolyne Tranquille*, Jack Tacey, Victoria Walker Russell Mackechnie-Guire, Julie Ellis, Kathryn Nankervis, Richard Newton & Rachel Murray*.

For a limited time, this paper is available as Open Access using the link below. Additional papers are underway from this exciting area of research. Massive thanks to the Petplan Charitable Trust who funded this research.

*lead authors

https://nam12.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fauthors.elsevier.com%2Fa%2F1fCJ52dbxqfItU&data=05%7C01%7C%7Cd3580f931ce94945f39408da47d4264f%7C84df9e7fe9f640afb435aaaaaaaaaaaa%7C1%7C0%7C637901273752530540%7CUnknown%7CTWFpbGZsb3d8eyJWIjoiMC4wLjAwMDAiLCJQIjoiV2luMzIiLCJBTiI6Ik1haWwiLCJXVCI6Mn0%3D%7C3000%7C%7C%7C&sdata=RfQdB%2FJZ3GzRPaCbwp9S9qehTLhUau22hdWQG4j03SY%3D&reserved=0

10/03/2022

👩🏻‍🎓 My final theory unit results are in! 👩🏻‍🎓

Just my theory and practical exams to sit now in June and I will then🤞🏻😬 be a qualified Equine Physiotherapist 🐴🐎😍

It’s been a tough road of non stop learning but the end is in sight 💪🏻 Covid made it even more difficult to get through but it’s nearly done 👌

My essay writing skills seem to be improving 😂😂 as the units went on, never my strong point! Just need to try and remember all I’ve learnt along to way to sit my exams 😬🙈

21/02/2022

A sad but true story. See it everyday on Facebook!

Animal Health Issues!

15/02/2022

So very true!!

Fat streaking muscle in the equine

It’s not healthy to over feed horses but it’s so hard not to. I’m the first to give yummy hard feeds to my horse but… he is a skinny TB that needs every calorie he can get.

Why should we not over feed? I think it’s like us humans- we put on weight- not muscle but fat. Fat that we should use in the winter when food is scarce but but we don’t use it! Food is not scarce!

I read that fat horses are not healthy. Fat horses create big pressure on joints and I can totally see that in myself. When I put on weight my knees hurt. Loose the weight and I’m prancing again.

In this photo the horse was not particularly fat looking. He was a 13 year old pony with chronic laminitis. He was loved by his owner - too much- and I do understand. He had a huge cresty neck, full of fat, a apple shaped rear end that on post mortem was full of fat. And even his muscles were fat infiltrated. He really did not look fat but I’m pretty sure it helped his laminitis and metabolic syndrome to flare up and cause no end of issues.

My words- I’m learning about this. What’s your thoughts on this and how does obesity affect feet? Apart from the excess weight the feet have to support, does fat have a direct affect on feet?

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Melissa LaFlamme
Equine podiatrist and teacher
Quebec

Tiffani Radake
Owner at Hug Your Horse
US Hidalgo, Consultant
Illinois, US

19/01/2022

In OT school I had a professor thrill us (😉) with the phrase “proximal stability equals distal mobility” very often.

I had no idea how much value that phrase would really hold in my work, and I don’t even treat humans anymore. 😆

👉🏻Proximal - situated nearer to the center of the body

👈🏻Distal - situated away from the center of the body

If you’re not stable at your core, you don’t have much control over the movements far away from your core.

🏄‍♀️ If I’m on a surfboard, I’ll give you a terrible high five.

🖐🏻If I’m on concrete I’ll give you a fantastic high five.

The translation from what I see in horses is this:
Spine and core stability equals correct leg and foot placement.

If the spine is out of balance, both the nervous system and the soft tissue suffer.

The nerves exit the spinal cord and go to work for the rest of the body. If there’s a problem at the exit ramp, the rest of the nerve won’t be working correctly either.

The soft tissue gets tangled and torqued just by trying to protect its own spine. The tensegrity is compromised for the sake of protection.

Foot placement is the last of your horse’s priorities if they’re trying to stabilize their spine (that you’re sitting on) and core.

They might stumble or trip, they seem like they’re not listening.

🏄‍♀️ If you’re asking your horse to give you a high five while they’re on a surfboard, good luck.

I can accidentally land a high five every now and then from a surfboard too. But mainly I’m just trying to stay upright.

All correct movement comes from a balanced spine, supported by a strong core.

✍🏻 Proximal stability equals distal mobility.

20/11/2021

Interesting pictures!!

21/09/2021

🐾🐾 Jakey Update 🐾🐾

Today was Jake’s 4 week post surgery follow up consultation at Dovecote Veterinary Hospital in Derby with Neurology Surgeon Sara Longho 🐶

Whilst I’m very happy with Jake’s progress, it’s also nerve wracking awaiting the review from the professional 😬

Though, my worry wasn’t necessary as she was very very happy with his progress and even a little emotional to see him walking so well so soon 😍

She checked his deep pain response to make sure the very inner part of his spinal cord had feeling and could function, and he has his deep pain response 💪🏻

Over the last few days Jake has managed to:

👍 scratch his head with his back leg

👍 walk out easier and even try running

👍 pull back his legs away from me when doing range of motion stretches making them become more active stretches than passive stretches

👍 the ability to climb steps is become easier

👍 he has full awareness of all his hind end

👍 can shake his whole body from head to toe

👍 bowel and bladder function are now totally normal

With all these signs, it was really a given that he would have deep pain back 😀

The next step is to continue what we are doing, include some water treadmill sessions into his physio routine and review in another 4 weeks 😍

10/09/2021

I like this guy!!! 💪🏻💪🏻

Your horse’s piaffes have pfizzled. His slides have slid. His rollbacks have rolled back. His leads aren’t changing. Almost reflexively, someone will say, “Maybe he needs his hocks injected.” Maybe he does. But maybe it’s a lot more complicated than that. At least it should be. FIRST ASIDE...