> LOW HEEL / HIGH HEEL SYNDROME - UNRECOGNIZED PROBLEMS & CONSIDERATIONS > > by Dr. Kerry J. Ridgway, DVM
Effects of High Heel / Low Heel Syndrome on Vertebral Function: >From a chiropractic standpoint I often find significant subluxation and pain in the 6th and or 7th cervical vertebrae. These subluxations are most often on the side of the higher heel and relate to the animals response of keeping his eyes on a horizontal plane. They often exhibit muscle pain and stiffness and spasm at the base of the neck. Moreover, because of dural connections, subluxations here also result in tension, dural twist (twisting of the dural-tube in which the spinal cord is suspended and anchored) at the level of the poll and at the lumbo-sacral connection. ______________________________________ High Heel / Low Heel Affects Saddle Fit: Now, let's step back to again consider the consequences of this condition on the fit of a saddle. The larger shoulder tends to exhibit some degree of muscle hypertrophy in the Trapezius muscle and the Serratus thoracis. Other involved muscles may include the Rhomboids, Deltoid, and Subscapularis muscles. The Trapezius muscle and the Longissimus muscle support the fork the "points" or gullet bar in the fork, or head of the saddle. These muscles support the forward part of the bars or panels as well. This applies to both English and Western saddles. Saddles are for obvious reasons built symmetrically, so when placed on a horse with muscle hypertrophy (enlargement) on one side, the tree rotates diagonally into a position in order to establish similar contact pressure on both sides of the "wither pocket." Torque of the saddletree, however, may make contact and place excessive pressure on one side of the lightly covered thoracic spines and leaves more open space on the opposing side. Pressure exerted in areas close to bone (with little muscle covering) result in a significant magnification of the pressure. The result of this unilateral pressure is pain, and loss of ability to perform bending and lateral movements. The pressure can also create chiropractic joint issues in the thoracic vertebrae of the withers. The shoulder that is "bulged" laterally may strike the edge of the panel or bar as the scapula moves through its range of motion. This can create significant muscle bruising and serves to further twist the saddle. Because the opposite shoulder typically has more slope, the saddle may tend to fall or slip to the sloping shoulder side of the horse. This is a second reason for pressure on the thoracic spinous processes. The problem of slipping to the side is particularly troubling if the croup is also involved and is lower on the same side. This is can occur when a high/low conditions exists in the hind feet as well. More often, however when the horse is observed in motion, one side of the croup raises more on one side than the other it relates to, muscle balance, chiropractic or joint issues in the hind limbs. Regardless of cause, it creates an even worse scenario for slippage when combined with shoulder asymmetry. The resulting hypertonicity can and does lead to lameness via the following biomechanical factors. High Heel / Low Heel Affects Horse Performance and Soundness as well as Rider Imbalance and Pain: The consequences for the horse are muscle pain in the shoulder(s) and shortening of gait. When any animal experiences pain the response is to alter the posture. This leads to inappropriate loading of a limb while moving within the required gaits. When the skeletal system support is inappropriate or inadequate the muscles attempt to take on the load. Performance is compromised as the condition will lead to subclinical and finally outright lameness. A rider who must alter his / her position and posture because of improper position of the saddle will eventually create further performance problems and increase the risk of lameness for the horse. Most "crooked riders" have slowly allowed their bodies to compensate and are usually quite unaware of their compensation until it is brought to their attention. Thus, the rider may end up with chronic back, hip or knee pain. The crooked saddle and side slipping saddle causes the rider to place more weight in one stirrup than the other. This, also contributes to creating a "crooked" traveling horse and, therefore, is a cause of subclinical and eventually clinical lameness. There are many other postural deviations of the rider that can add to the problem. Wither vertebral chiropractic problems are one of the most common causes for a horse to react badly to the tightening of the cinch or girth. The subluxations create neuromuscular irritability in muscles of the shoulder and in the area covered by the girth or cinch. Girth pain is so ubiquitous as to be considered "normal" or just a "behavioral" response. I contend that 90% of these horses are reacting to pain. The pain from the saddle creating pressure and the neuromuscular stimulation of the shoulder muscles creates a chain of muscle shortening in the posterior shoulder and forelimb muscles that can and does lead to superficial digital tendon strain and suspensory strain and eventual suspensory tears. As a side note on performance issues, horses, typically, also often experience trouble with a lead or lead change and may tend to cross canter. In cases not complicated by other musculo-skeletal issues, it occurs in the lead on the side of the higher heel. About 80% of horses are low on the left front, so in most (uncomplicated) cases the horse has more problem picking up or maintaining the right lead. Judy http://icehorses.net http://clickryder.com
