Treatment Protocols & Procedures Flashcards
7 cards from real ECC practice questions. Tap to flip, then mark Knew It or Still Learning — missed cards come back until you master them.
Read the first 7 Treatment Protocols & Procedures flashcards as text
What is the recommended maintenance treatment interval for a performance horse that has responded well to an initial course of equine chiropractic care?
Answer: Every 4-8 weeks depending on workload, discipline, and individual response
Maintenance intervals are individualized based on the horse's discipline demands, workload, and how long corrections are sustained, typically ranging from 4 to 8 weeks.
Which of the following describes the 'set-up' phase prior to delivering a lumbar adjustment on a standing horse?
Answer: Pre-loading the joint by taking up tissue slack and positioning the segment at the elastic barrier before the thrust
The set-up phase involves pre-loading the target joint to the elastic barrier so that the subsequent thrust requires minimal force to achieve joint gapping.
A horse is treated for a caudal cervical (C6-C7) subluxation. Which concurrent clinical sign most commonly accompanies this finding?
Answer: Difficulty picking up or holding a canter lead on the ipsilateral side
Caudal cervical subluxations frequently produce nerve root irritation affecting forelimb proprioception and shoulder musculature, which manifests as lead-change difficulty.
Why is it important to re-examine a horse's gait pattern AFTER completing a chiropractic treatment session?
Answer: To confirm the horse is sound enough to return to work and document any immediate functional improvement
Post-treatment gait evaluation documents any immediate functional improvement, detects adverse responses, and provides objective data to compare with the pre-treatment examination.
When a horse presents with a first-time acute neck injury following a fall, which treatment approach is MOST appropriate?
Answer: Defer chiropractic care until acute inflammation subsides, and co-manage with the attending veterinarian
Acute traumatic injuries require co-management with a veterinarian and time for initial inflammation to stabilize before HVLA adjustment is safely introduced.
Which assessment tool best quantifies objective improvement in thoracolumbar flexibility following a series of equine chiropractic treatments?
Answer: Standardized inclinometry or goniometry measuring lateral bending range of motion
Inclinometry and goniometry provide reproducible, standardized measurements of spinal range of motion that can be compared across treatment sessions.
If a practitioner identifies a subluxation complex that does not respond after two properly delivered adjustments in the same session, what is the recommended course of action?
Answer: Stop adjusting that segment, document the finding, and reassess at the next visit
Repeated unsuccessful thrusts at a segment can irritate tissues; the prudent approach is to document, discontinue, and reassess at follow-up rather than persist in the same session.