WHAT IS OSTEOPATHY?

Osteopathy is a gentle hands-on approach to treating a wide range of issues; with the aim of restoring and maintaining optimal health and well-being. The treatment approach not only focuses on the identified areas of dysfunction but also takes into consideration the entire musculoskeletal framework of the animal; this enables fast positive change to occur with lasting long-term benefits. 

New Forest, Canine Osteopath Hannah Stevenson form HLS Osteopathy

Osteopathic techniques used during treatment will be carefully selected and tailored for your animals’ specific needs, these include;

  • Joint mobilisations & manipulations

  • Soft tissue massage

  • Myofascial release techniques

  • Muscle stretching

  • Cranial release techniques

Such techniques allow positive changes to occur within the animals’ musculoskeletal system by influencing their circulatory, lymphatic and nervous system. These all contribute to achieving ultimate health and well-being; therefore, enabling your animal to achieve optimal performance whilst remaining injury free.

Equine Osteopathy 

New Forest Equine Osteopath, Hannah Stevenson of HLS Osteopathy.

What are the benefits?

Keeping a horse happy and healthy is a complex task; incorporating osteopathy can help to ensure optimal health and performance of your horse, as well as helping with injury rehabilitation. Osteopathic treatment can help to:

  • Improve mobility and function

  • Improve performance

  • Reduce injury risk

  • Faster recovery from injury

  • Reduce stiffness

  • Improve behavioural issues 

  • Pain relief

Signs of discomfort-

Horses are unable to tell us if they are feeling stiff, achy, or are in pain and therefore we must be vigilant and responsive to any signs and signals that they give us, these can include:

  • Reduced performance

  • Unexplained unlevel-ness 

  • Hollowness or lack of softness

  • Uneven muscle bulk

  • Refusing or knocking down poles

  • Head shy or headshaking 

  • Difficulty flexing/bending & resistance to the bridle

  • Reluctance to go forwards

  • Problems with transitions

  • Behavioural changes - bucking, rearing, bolting, irritability, pinning ears back, reluctance to girthing up, general sensitivity, weaving, etc.

Canine Osteopathy

Canine Osteopathy with Hannah Stevenson from The New Forest, Hampshire.

What are the benefits?

Osteopathic treatment can help your dog recover from injury and is also a means of preventative care. The benefits include:

  • Pain relief

  • Enhancing and optimising performance

  • Improved bio-mechanical balance

  • Improved mobility and function

  • Improved stride length and cadence

  • Reduced injury occurrence

  • Faster recovery from injury

  • Reduced stiffness

  • Relief from arthritic pain

  • Managing behavioural issue

  • Protentional alternative to medical intervention

Signs of discomfort-

Dogs are not able to tell us when they are in pain; they use body language and behaviour to display this. This can include:

  • Reduced or limited performance

  • Reluctance to move, climb stairs or jump into the car

  • Abnormal posture or gait

  • Deterioration in performance

  • Unsteadiness in standing

  • Hypersensitivity to touch

  • Reluctance to being groomed

  • Changes in behaviour

  • Lying on one side only

  • Yelping when performing certain movements

  • Undefined lameness or slowness in moving

  • Carrying the tail to one side