Case Studies

FROM THE ETT TEAM

TEXT: NANCY SCHRODING

Our previous articles reflected on the 'theory' behind the effective modality of ETT. So we decided for this article to share a few actual cases where ETT was used to improve and restore the working lives of horses. ETT is focused on prevention and is used as a means of minimising injury by keeping a balance within the neuromuscular and musculoskeletal body. Therefore, we recommend routine sessions before problems arise. However, there are many cases we treat where the injury came first. Below we look at cases of sweeny, facial nerve paralysis, locking stifle, and headshaking, and also how ETT can be used in racehorse preparation. These cases are from Registered ETT Practitioners, and their contact info can be found on our website www.ett-aap.com under 'registered practitioners’.

SWEENY BY TEA CARR-HARTLEY

Sweeny before

In January 2021, this polo pony suffered an injury to her left shoulder. After initial veterinary treatment and X-Rays, she was diagnosed with sweeny (suprascapular neuropathy). After seeing a similar case return to polo, I knew that ETT would be able to help owing to the nerve stimulation aspect of the Transeva technique.

Through the course of her ETT Sessions, the aim has been to stimulate the atrophied muscles (supraspinatus and infraspinatus), and the approximate line along which the suprascapular nerve runs (as the suprascapular nerve innervates the infraspinatus and supraspinatus muscles). However, it was equally important to address the compensatory issues that had arisen. In this case, there was a lot of compensation through the mare's pectoral chain, her trapezius and her triceps brachii. By addressing the compensation, the stimulation of the atrophied muscles proved even more effective.

The pictures show when I started working with the horse (30th July 2021 - before) to when she returned home (11th October 2021 - after). Currently, this horse is in the middle of her rehabilitation, and we do foresee a return to the polo field; she still has a way to go, but the results so far are astounding.

Sweeny after

TEA CARR-HARTLEY

Tea works in Nairobi, Kenya and surrounding areas.

FACIAL NERVE PARALYSIS BY KELLY COCHRANE

Facial asymmetry

Drooped lip

I was called to see a polo pony who had sustained a kick to the face a year before. A year later, her lip was still drooped on one side, and her nose/muzzle area was also pulled to the side. She was not playing polo due to a restricted air intake resulting from the injury.

I worked on her twice a week for a month, and there was minimal movement when working the masseter muscle, facial nerve and jaw area on the right side. The left side was very different, with a massive nose flick when stimulating the facial nerve.

There was very little change during the month I worked on her, and we thought that perhaps the injury was too old to restore nerve function. However, a month later I got a call to say the improvement over time had been huge. The facial nerve had taken a few weeks to 'reconnect' through the pathways but had now come 'back online' to function correctly again. The body is electric and sometimes needs that extra stimulation to help reconnect pathways for optimal movement. Seeing her back on the polo field now, you'd never think she even sustained an injury!

KELLY COCHRANE

Kelly has worked internationally but is based currently in Zimbabwe.

LOCKING STIFLE BY STACEY ARNOLD

This case looks at a warmblood who arrived in Namibia from South Africa at the age of 8 years old. He was sound upon arrival; however, after a few days of settling in, he presented with a locking stifle through his left hind coupled with an unwillingness to move forward. Locking stifle is a condition whereby the patella ligament becomes hooked over the ridge of the femur, causing the leg to be stuck in the extended position. Shortly after arrival, he received his first ETT session using the Winks Greene Transeva (WGT) to send rhythmic impulses, causing the muscle to contract and relax. The use of the Transeva allowed me to locate and improve the tension through his left hind hip and hock flexor and extensor muscles, as well as along the topline. He also showed sensitivity through his pectoral muscles.

He responded very well to the initial session, relaxing and moving around comfortably. A total of 8 sessions were performed over three months. During this time, I used the WGT in combination with controlled work under saddle to release restriction and tension in the muscle, increase blood flow to the stifle joint and strengthen the muscles throughout the body.

After every visit, the owner would comment that he was much softer in the mouth and more willing to engage his hindquarters. He showed substantial improvement under saddle every week.

Once the WGT improved the majority of the restriction throughout his hindquarters, allowing him to move more effectively, he started jumping again. He is now successfully competing in jumping and dressage with monthly ETT 'check ups'. This ensures he remains supple through his back and neck. The regular sessions with the WGT help prevent a build-up of tension and keep him performing well.

STACEY ARNOLD

Stacey is based in Walvis Bay, Namibia, but often travels to other areas, including Otjiwarongo, Outjo, Okahandja, Omaruru and Windhoek.

RACEHORSE PREPARATION BY TASH THOMSON

Getting a horse to the racecourse in the prime physical condition is complex. Trainers spend time carefully planning their horse's racing calendar and then need to prepare them accordingly. The horse's health and well-being are the number one priority, and ETTTM helps maintain the athlete by managing the muscular system. Preparation, as well as recovery, is key to optimum performance. Working alongside the trainers, vets and farriers assists in getting a horse from race to race whilst maintaining peak physical performance.

Horses are prey animals, so they avoid looking 'weak'. This means they aren't always clinically lame when a problem is merely starting. ETTTM enables early detection of injury and imbalance, which allows for a proactive treatment process. This is important not only to prevent injury but also to make sure that the horse's muscles can function efficiently and help the horses reach their full athletic potential.

I do a lot of ETTTM sessions after the horse has worked fast, galloped or raced in order to prevent the lactic acid build-up, keep the muscles elastic and relieve any tension.

I also do pre-gallop, fast work and pre-race sessions so that any tension or discomfort is released in order for the horse to use himself correctly and to reduce stress on tendons, ligaments and joints and, ultimately, prevent injury. In a pre-race session, I want to make sure the horse feels comfortable, balanced and moves as freely and correctly as possible. Before starting a pre-race session, I assess the horse's movement at walk and trot, after which I'll assess the body to know which areas I need to target. The main aim pre-work is to improve muscle tone and elasticity, create suppleness, balance, and soothe any preexisting aches or pains before the race begins. The horses love it, and it is a key element in any training programme.

TASH THOMSON

Tash is based in South Africa, KZN, Summerveld and covers the upper highway/outer west areas.

HEADSHAKING BY BIRGIT SCHRODER

In human medicine, most doctors consider trigeminal neuralgia to be one of the most painful conditions you can suffer. Due to the immense pain experienced by suffers, it is understandable why when horses are diagnosed with trigeminal-mediated headshaking, euthanasia is very often the result. In horses, the condition is believed to have a myriad of causes and varying degrees of severity, but once there is an onset of symptoms, they seem to worsen as time goes by.

Being a migraine sufferer myself, researching the nervous system and the body's response to pain has been particularly interesting to me. Watching how head shakers behave and react to certain stimuli and pressures and then trying to mimic these when I was suffering from a migraine made me realise that the two conditions are not so very different in some cases.

Over the past couple of years, I have assisted owners together with the consulting veterinarian and farrier in setting up maintenance programmes for their head shakers. Being able to rule out as many triggers or structural issues as possible is vital. Discovering what works best for each case is also important as every horse is slightly different. The end goal is to improve the horse's overall threshold in the hopes of reducing the number of headshaking 'attacks'. Smudgie, as one of my head shakers is fondly known, is well into his 20s and happily living out his days with minimal to no visible headshaking. He has been receiving regular ETT sessions for ten years now.

BIRGIT SCHRODER

Birgit is based in KZN, South Africa and is ETTTM educator at BSET Academy.

ABOUT ETT

The vision of ETT-AAP is to continually improve the performance of equines all around the world, with over 50 ETTTM Practitioners in various countries, including South Africa, UK, Hong Kong, Spain, USA, New Zealand, Zambia, Zimbabwe and Kenya. We strive to improve horses in every discipline and reinforce the efficacy of the modality and technique. Our mission is to grow ETTTM and to continue producing clinical data reflecting the positive effects ETTTM has on the musculoskeletal and neuromuscular systems of the equine, improving movement, soundness and the overall well-being of the equine and equine athlete.

FOR MORE INFORMATION ON ETT

Visit www.ett-aap.com

M: +34 684 13 17 10

E: info@ett-aap.com