Physios or Chiros?

[FirenLady]

I am pretty confused by them. The saddler said in very basic terms a Chiro did bones and a Physio did muscles. I mentioned this to the physio and she said it was a little more complex then that. I had both out to Fire last year and found the Physio completley changed him (It was like she used fairy dust). Didn't think the Chiro made much difference to him. I know that some people though looove there chiros. They seemed to have similar moves, although the physio had a laser box. Who does what? and what is the differnce?

[rebanna]

physio every time they are god got me walking agane, chiro did bugger all had them for Roo and just thought it was a waste of time tbh

[spotti]

I LOVE my chiropractor! Well, I say mine...I mean the one we have for Faith She is brilliant!! She has worked wonders with her pelvis and I have lots of hope that she will help us pull through this b*ggered back issue too.

I've never used a physio though so can't really compare the two. I guess I'd use a physio if recommended to do so, but with my ponio, its usually something BIG that she's damaged and usually involves bones hence using the chiro We have a local physio at uni though so might get her out sometime next year (pony's not coming back until september - boo ) and see what she thinks...

[maximum]

It will be totally dependant on what treatment the horse actually needs which you go for.

I use a sports physio on my horse at least once a year to ensure there are no wee niggles and to keep them loose and relaxed but if there was a problem which needed a chiro then I would get one out but not as an MOT as a treatment ( do see what i mean? if you do can you explain it back to me? hehe)

[spotti]

I think I understand you maxi It all depends on what the horse needs as to who you should use

As for MOTs, I think if I could afford it then I'd get both a physio AND a chiro out to check out the pony - just to get a second opinion Then again, I am a perfectionist!!

[soniab]

have a physio comming to gulliver at the weekend. already had a mctimmoney but she didn't sen to do much was using that new soft tissue manipulation technique will let you know how we get on.

[duckles]

I used to get a physio regularly (a very well respected one- good ones are hard to get here) and she did a lot of treatments on my horse as he was in her words 'a wreak'- then she came regularly to review him and she said he was fine but would need 6 month checks - I mentioned he was still dragging his leg and she asked was he always like that and I said no and she said 'oh probably he got into the habit!' That and the fact that there was never any positive difference in my horse after treatment dissillusioned me completely in physios for horses. I contacted a chiro after that and it turned out he had loads wrong with his back and pelvis and poll. You would think a physio would notice a pelvis out of line??? I always found a diffence in my horse's way of going after the chiro. I may add the physio was a lot more expensive as well.
But I guess in general physios and chiros deal with different things, ie physio for muscular and chiro for bones. Some chiros do massage as well. In an ideal world physios and chiros should complement each other but in my experience they don't seem to get on that well or think much of each other's work.
Although I am very anti physio, I do believe in general (if you can afford it) it would be good to have one out once a year for a mot like you have the dentist. But if there is something wrong with the horse, get the chiro

[FirenLady]

hmmm thats odd, The chiro here was more costly than the Physio! Our physio had a look at his pelvis too like the Chiro did.

[duckles]

I suppose it is different countries really FL- horse physios have to do human physio first (which is 4 years in college) and then another 2 years so they are highly qualified. Chiro's can but don't necessarily have recognised qualifications. Human chiros are often considered quacks and a lot of people feel the same about horse ones. I know one, who is also a vet, who does charge an arm and a leg but the one I go to is usually about 50 euro and that includes travelling - the physio charged 70 plus travelling.

[fleabitten]

So would you recommend getting a physio or a chiro for an MOT?

[spotti]

If there doesn't appear to be a problem and you just want a check up then possibly a physio, but I'm still biased by chiropractors (love mine! )

[FirenLady]

I was thinking about how pyhsios chrios vets doctors etc don't seem very enthusiastic about eachother and its a shame really. My vet wasn't enthusatistic about the physio for Fires back but the lady worked magic!

My Nan says the doctor would only give her pain relief for her ailments where as the chiro cures them. She went to the dentist with an aching jaw and was told she had arthritis in it and there was nothing she could do, other than take pain medication. Happened to mention this in the health shop near by, where the people laughed and told her to book in with the chiro; who fixed it! dunno why they don't seem to get on with eachother...bet there would be a lot less soreness if they did get on.