Mctimoney

McTimoney For Your Dog

Like people, animals suffer from back, neck and other musculoskeletal problems. McTimoney therapy aims to restore and maintain health and performance by regulating balance within the animal's body. McTimoney is a manipulation and mobilisation technique which is gentle, safe and can be used to treat a variety of musculoskeletal conditions. McTimoney-Corley Spinal Therapy is a method of restoring health by gentle corrective manipulation of the bones of the head, spinal column, pelvis and limbs, thereby ensuring the proper functioning of the nerves and endocrine systems which control the natural self-healing capability of the body.

The treatment process includes gait analysis, a detailed case history, palpation, and treatment of affected areas using specific adjustments, massage and stretching. Special attention is paid to the spine and pelvis.
The practitioner will manipulate any misaligned joints throughout the whole body, paying special attention to the spine and pelvis. This helps to relieve pain, releases nerves from any pressure caused by spinal misalignment, and removes painful areas of muscle spasm. The treatment is carried out entirely by hand, which most animals accept quite readily, and it is a safe and effective treatment. McTimoney can stimulate the body’s own physiological healing mechanisms, and is useful in the treatment of ongoing or chronic conditions.

During a McTimoney treatment, the practitioner will manipulate any misaligned joints throughout the whole body, paying special attention to the spine and pelvis. This helps to relieve pain, releases nerves from any pressure caused by spinal misalignments, and removes painful areas of muscle spasm. Muscle spasm can occur when a joint is moved out of its normal range of motion (due to acute trauma such as RTA) or as a result of repetitive strain (e.g. greyhounds running in one direction only, pulling on the lead, poor conformation). Even pet dogs can have skeletal misalignments, which can be caused by obesity, pulling on the lead, accidents, or overexertion, especially when playing with toys such as frisbees. Muscle Spasms serve to protect the area from further damage but also holds the joint in an abnormal position and this may result in pain and loss of flexibility in the affected area, causing many animals to adopt an abnormal gait as a result. If the intervertebral joints are affected, neurological deficits may result due to impingement of the spinal nerves.

Dogs have extremely flexible spines, and while this allows them to run, jump and curl up tightly in their baskets, it also makes the spine susceptible to injury. As with horses, a canine injury can be the result of a one-off event or a longstanding compensation.

Whilst some other manipulation techniques rely on fierce, (or invasive), long-lever adjustments to correct bone misalignments, McTimoney-Corley Spinal Therapy works with the body, not against it. Treatment of the whole skeleton each time means that any misaligned bones are not forced back into place, but are coaxed gently into re-alignment by manipulative adjustments that encourage soft tissue release.

It is important to realise that McTimoney-Corley Spinal Therapy does not just relieve pain, but it can, and often does, remove the cause of other disease. No cell or organ of the body can function properly without its correct supply of nerve impulses.

McTimoney-Corley Spinal Therapists are trained to assess bone misalignments by using their hands, and to correct any of these subluxations with highly refined yet extremely gentle manipulations. Remedial exercises will be recommended and advice will always be given to help avoid a recurrence of the problem. The whole body is usually treated during each session, because a problem in one part of the body can lead to problems in other areas. Hence our motto, 'The Whole Body Whole'.

Symptoms that your dog may show include:

Crying out when getting up

Difficulty climbing stairs / jumping into cars

Secondary lameness caused by a chronic condition such as arthritis or CDRM

Showing discomfort when stroked along their backs

Reluctant to exercise / temperamental changes

Abnormal gait

Failure to resolve a problem using conventional methods

Most dogs benefit from a maintenance check-up every year, and also after an injury or a period of lameness. This is because gait alterations caused by lameness can place more strain on other parts of the canine structure. Bitches will also benefit from treatment after giving birth, as a difficult labour can affect the pelvis.

The above information is simply informational. It's intent is not to replace the advice of a veterinarian nor to assist you in making a diagnosis of your pet. Please consult with your own veterinarian for confirmation of any diagnosis. Your pets life may depend on it.