About McTimoney Therapy

The McTimoney method of physical therapy was created by John McTimoney; taking his methods of treating humans, he successfully adapted them for animals, primarily horses and dogs.

It is a gentle technique which relies on speed and precision of making adjustments rather than force. UK practitioners have been successfully using the treatment for over 30 years.

What is the Theory behind it?

The spine is made up of a number of vertebrae and houses the spinal column; when there is restriction within a joint this can inhibit the nerve supply to the joint. This can cause dysfunction of the message relay system between the brain, nerves, and muscles, resulting in a build up of muscle tension around a particular area of the body. If left untreated, tension increases over time creating muscle spasm, inducing discomfort and eventually causing pain.

What are the signs that my animal may need a treatment?

If an area of the body or particular muscle group is under tension and restricting the range of motion of a joint there are certain signs to be aware of.

These include:

• Asymmetry, such as dropping of the hindquarters to one side
• Uneven muscle development
• Ears back, lack of desire to go forward
• Stiffness on one rein under saddle
• Decrease in performance
• Crookedness, under saddle or in hand
• Toe dragging
• Uneven shoe wear
• Changes in behaviour, such as aggressiveness when tacking up or being rugged
• Resistance, napping, rearing, bucking, or struggling with schooling exercises that are not usually an issue
• Decrease in jumping ability; knocking poles, or even running out or refusing