Is That Even Indicated?

Understanding the why behind every technique is essential for safe and effective treatment.

When working with horses, it’s essential to pause and ask yourself: 𝐈𝐬 𝐭𝐡𝐢𝐬 𝐭𝐞𝐜𝐡𝐧𝐢𝐪𝐮𝐞 𝐞𝐯𝐞𝐧 𝐢𝐧𝐝𝐢𝐜𝐚𝐭𝐞𝐝? Every therapeutic approach—from basic massage to advanced osteopathic techniques—should be purposeful, informed, and tailored to the horse in front of you.

But what does “indicated” mean in this context?

𝐈𝐧𝐝𝐢𝐜𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧 𝐯𝐬. 𝐂𝐨𝐧𝐭𝐫𝐚𝐢𝐧𝐝𝐢𝐜𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧

✅ An 𝐢𝐧𝐝𝐢𝐜𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧for treatment is the green light—a sign that a particular technique is suitable and likely to provide the desired outcome. For example, an indirect myofascial release technique may be indicated for a horse presenting with restricted fascial movement due to an old injury.

🚫 A 𝐜𝐨𝐧𝐭𝐫𝐚𝐢𝐧𝐝𝐢𝐜𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧, on the other hand, is a red flag—a condition or factor that suggests a technique should not be applied because it might cause harm or worsen the situation. For instance, using a mobilization on a horse with ostephytes in that joint would be contraindicated.

𝐓𝐡𝐞 𝐈𝐦𝐩𝐨𝐫𝐭𝐚𝐧𝐜𝐞 𝐨𝐟 𝐀𝐬𝐬𝐞𝐬𝐬𝐦𝐞𝐧𝐭

Knowing whether a technique is indicated or contraindicated starts with a proper assessment. Without it, you’re essentially guessing.

𝐀𝐬𝐬𝐞𝐬𝐬𝐦𝐞𝐧𝐭𝐬 𝐩𝐫𝐨𝐯𝐢𝐝𝐞 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐭𝐡𝐞𝐫𝐚𝐩𝐢𝐬𝐭 𝐰𝐢𝐭𝐡 𝐚 𝐜𝐥𝐞𝐚𝐫 𝐩𝐢𝐜𝐭𝐮𝐫𝐞 𝐨𝐟:

▶ The horse’s current condition

▶ The root cause(s) of dysfunction

▶ What techniques may be effective and safe

𝐈𝐟 𝐲𝐨𝐮 𝐝𝐨𝐧’𝐭 𝐚𝐬𝐬𝐞𝐬𝐬, 𝐲𝐨𝐮’𝐫𝐞 𝐧𝐨𝐭 𝐭𝐫𝐞𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐧𝐠—𝐲𝐨𝐮’𝐫𝐞 𝐞𝐱𝐩𝐞𝐫𝐢𝐦𝐞𝐧𝐭𝐢𝐧𝐠.

👉 𝐊𝐞𝐲 𝐐𝐮𝐞𝐬𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧𝐬 𝐄𝐯𝐞𝐫𝐲 𝐓𝐡𝐞𝐫𝐚𝐩𝐢𝐬𝐭 𝐒𝐡𝐨𝐮𝐥𝐝 𝐀𝐬𝐤 𝐁𝐞𝐟𝐨𝐫𝐞 𝐀𝐩𝐩𝐥𝐲𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐀𝐧𝐲 𝐓𝐞𝐜𝐡𝐧𝐢𝐪𝐮𝐞:

▶ Why am I doing this? What’s my rationale for choosing this technique?

▶ What are the physiological effects? How will this technique affect tissues, structures, and systems?

▶ What am I trying to achieve? Am I aiming to reduce pain, improve mobility, or release restrictions?

▶ What are the risks? Could this technique cause harm, discomfort, or stress?

𝐑𝐞𝐚𝐬𝐬𝐞𝐬𝐬 𝐟𝐨𝐫 𝐄𝐟𝐟𝐞𝐜𝐭𝐢𝐯𝐞𝐧𝐞𝐬𝐬

The job doesn’t stop after you’ve applied the technique. Reassessment is critical to determine if your intervention was effective.

𝐃𝐢𝐝 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐭𝐞𝐜𝐡𝐧𝐢𝐪𝐮𝐞 𝐩𝐫𝐨𝐝𝐮𝐜𝐞 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐝𝐞𝐬𝐢𝐫𝐞𝐝 𝐜𝐡𝐚𝐧𝐠𝐞? 𝐈𝐟 𝐧𝐨𝐭, 𝐰𝐚𝐬 𝐢𝐭:

▶ The wrong technique?

▶ Misapplied?

▶ Simply not indicated in the first place?

Reassessments keep your treatment dynamic and responsive, ensuring it aligns with the horse’s evolving needs.

𝐄𝐯𝐞𝐫𝐲 𝐓𝐞𝐜𝐡𝐧𝐢𝐪𝐮𝐞 𝐂𝐚𝐫𝐫𝐢𝐞𝐬 𝐑𝐢𝐬𝐤

No matter how “basic” a technique may seem, all interventions carry risks. This is why knowing if it’s indicated is 𝐬𝐭𝐞𝐩 𝐨𝐧𝐞. Without this foundational knowledge, you may inadvertently cause harm.

𝐑𝐞𝐦𝐞𝐦𝐛𝐞𝐫: Therapeutic success lies not in the quantity of techniques used but in their precision and appropriateness.

By committing to thorough assessments and a deep understanding of your techniques, you ensure that every intervention is purposeful, effective, and safe. The horses —and your practice—deserve nothing less.

𝙇𝙚𝙖𝙧𝙣𝙞𝙣𝙜 𝙖𝙣𝙙 𝙖𝙥𝙥𝙡𝙮𝙞𝙣𝙜 𝙞𝙣𝙙𝙞𝙘𝙖𝙩𝙞𝙤𝙣𝙨 𝙖𝙣𝙙 𝙘𝙤𝙣𝙩𝙧𝙖𝙞𝙣𝙙𝙞𝙘𝙖𝙩𝙞𝙤𝙣𝙨 𝙞𝙨 𝙢𝙖𝙣𝙙𝙖𝙩𝙤𝙧𝙮 𝙞𝙣 𝙝𝙪𝙢𝙖𝙣 𝙝𝙚𝙖𝙡𝙩𝙝𝙘𝙖𝙧𝙚 𝙡𝙞𝙘𝙚𝙣𝙨𝙞𝙣𝙜—𝙞𝙩'𝙨 𝙩𝙞𝙢𝙚 𝙬𝙚 𝙝𝙤𝙡𝙙 𝙚𝙦𝙪𝙞𝙣𝙚 𝙩𝙝𝙚𝙧𝙖𝙥𝙮 𝙩𝙤 𝙩𝙝𝙚 𝙨𝙖𝙢𝙚 𝙨𝙩𝙖𝙣𝙙𝙖𝙧𝙙 𝙤𝙛 𝙨𝙖𝙛𝙚𝙩𝙮 𝙖𝙣𝙙 𝙚𝙛𝙛𝙚𝙘𝙩𝙞𝙫𝙚𝙣𝙚𝙨𝙨.