1. Complementary & Alternative Medicine
EQS 200

2. What is Complementary and Alternative Medicine?
A non-mainstream approach together with conventional medicine
Alternative
A non-mainstream approach in place of conventional medicine
Encourages the examination of the whole body
How one issue on a part of the body can cause reactivity
Chiropractic, Acupuncture, and Massage

3. Never Just One….
Complementary medicine should never be used as a substitute for thorough and complete medical care
In most emergency situations, Western medicine should be the first line of treatment
Treatment results are only as good as the diagnosis
Track down the source of the problem
Know when to refer the horse back to their routine veterinarian

4. Massage
Systematic manipulation of the body’s soft tissues, primarily the muscles, to benefit the nervous, muscular, and circulatory systems
Uses the hands, forearms, elbows
Goals
Promotion of circulation and tissue drainage
Muscle relaxation
Pain relief
Loosens and stretches dense connective tissue
Has a sedative effect on the central nervous system
Can enhance lymphatic and blood circulatory activity

5. Conditions Tight muscles and joints Contracted tendons
Immobile scar tissue
Chronic edema
Stocking up
Sometimes used as part of the warm-up or as part of a rehabilitation process

6. Rolfing Also known as Structural Integration Deeper form of body work
Applies pressure and manipulates the body’s soft tissue
Goal is to alter the body’s structure, balancing it to allow for better integrated movement with the force of gravity
Works with tissue that pull on bones and joints
Release restrictions in the fascia and allow for the body to re-align
Start at the hindquarters and work up
Slower than traditional massage
Helps with one-sided issues, horses rehabilitating

7. Friction Used to increase inflammatory response
Cases of chronic tendinitis or tenosynovitis
Uses small circular movements using the tips of the fingers, thumb or heel of hand

8. Myofascial Release Fascia Trigger points will twitch when pressed
Gelatinous substance, but can become rigid and fibrous
Elastic, but can be shortened with fibrotic bands when stressed
Has numerous nerve endings and produce pain of a burning sensation
Trigger points will twitch when pressed
Aims to soften and relax fibrotic fascia
Prolonged light pressure, deep pressure when needed

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