This
retrospective study aimed to demonstrate
the correlation between qualitative
and quantitative readings taken before
and after the first osteopathic treatment
on 43 horses. The efficacy of the
osteopathic treatment was also assessed
according to improvements observed
in the readings. Qualitative evaluations
included assessment of the ability
of the horse to carry out reinback
steps as well as execute short turns
about the body, to the left and to
the right. Quantitative evaluations
were provided by infrared thermal
imaging (ITI) readings, concentrating
specifically on dorsal aspect views
of the lower back.
Gait evaluation readings were taken
by the osteopath, prior to the first
treatment and again following the
first treatment. ITI readings were
taken independently, on the same occasions,
by a veterinarian.
Both qualitative
and quantitive readings taken after
the first treatment indicated a statistically
significant difference between those
subjects that showed improvement and
those subjects that showed deterioration
following treatment, with a greater
amount of subjects showing improvement.
In reinback evaluation,
the percentage of subjects that showed
improvement following treatment was
statistically significantly higher
than those that showed deterioration
(P<0.01). In the same evaluation
following treatment, the sample population
showed a significant improvement in
the ability to rein back (p< 0.001).
Following treatment,
evaluation of ability to execute short
turns on left and right reins showed
a statistically significant difference
between those subjects that showed
improvement and those that showed
deterioration following treatment,
with a greater amount of subjects
showing improvement (p<0.001).
Quantitative readings
taken by ITI showed a statistically
significance from zero, both in improvement
and deterioration following treatment
(p<0.001 and p=0.005 respectively)
though the ITI readings did not present
a statistically significant difference
between improvement and deterioration
within the sample group (p=0.63).
Some agreements were noted between
the variables measured, including
a statistically significant agreement
between ITI readings and reinback
evaluation following treatment (p<0.01).
This retrospective
study concludes that qualitative and
quantitative readings taken after
one osteopathic treatment show a significant
measure of agreement between the readings,
both in improvement and deterioration
following treatment. Furthermore,
these readings demonstrate that after
one osteopathic treatment, improvement
is statistically significantly higher
than deterioration.
The results of the entire study demonstrate
the need for repeated qualitative
and quantitative evaluation for each
osteopathic treatment in order to
fully understand the process of improvement
following treatment, and to initiate
additional clinical investigation
in those cases where no change or
deterioration is observed following
the treatment.
Nicole Rombach, AEBW, APM,
MIPTI
Taken from dissertation for Post Graduate
Diploma in Animal Manipulation (2003)
– McTimoney College of Chiropractic
and University of Wales |
