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The core curriculum for the basic course concentrates on the dog and horse, and consists of a minimum of 210 hours of classroom and laboratory instruction. The IAVC offers the student a thorough review of anatomy, neurology, biomechanics, relevant pathology, physiology, rehabilitation, ethics, philosophy and legalities, as well as hours of hands on laboratory instruction in adjusting techniques, topography, dissection, safety and handling. Classroom (Minimum of 135 Hours) Laboratory (Minimum of 75 Hours) Curriculum Outline and Structure Anatomy and Biomechanics Comparative Anatomy: 8 Hours. Pertinent aspects comparing equine, bovine, canine, feline and human osteology, myology and syndesmology will be discussed. Spinal models of the horse and dog, as well as many individual bones are available for student use in these classes. Basic Spinal and Extremity Biomechanics:4 Hours. Normal movement and joint mechanics in each motion unit of the body will be discussed in order that the student will be able to analyze normal versus compensatory movement. Advanced Biomechanics: 3 Hours. This lecture will cover equine and canine gait analysis including topics such as normal gaits, abnormal gaits, as well as conformational faults and gaits. Functional Neurology Neurology (Biophysical): 8 Hours. The basic cellular and physiological processes of the neuron and nervous system will be discussed. Lectures will encompass the central and peripheral nervous system. Applied Functional Neurology: 7 Hours. These lectures explore the functional aspects of the nervous system as it applies to animal chiropractic diagnosis and treatment. Topics include the evolution of joint injury, mechanoreceptors and proprioception, spinal reflexes and cord level reactions. Suprasegmental control of nociception and mechanoreception is discussed. Animal Chiropractic Diagnosis Differential Diagnosis of Large and Small Animal Neuromusculoskeletal Conditions:4 Hours. These lectures emphasize an integrated diagnosis of the entire patient using diagnostic resources of signalment, history and consultation, posture analysis, static palpation ( osseous, muscle, temperature, coat changes, etc.) motion palpation and gait analysis. Emphasis is placed on how these diagnoses relate and integrate into the primary health care of the animal. Motion Palpation Laboratory: 8 Hours. These Laboratories assist the student in developing their “feel” for the normal versus abnormal movement in motion units. Motion Palpation is carried out on small and large animals as well as each other. Diagnostic Imaging: 4 Hours. Plain film radiography, digital radiography, myelography, fluoroscopy and magnetic resonance imaging are discussed and evaluated for normal and abnormal findings. Neurological examination: 2 Hours. This lecture explores the traditional equine and canine neurological examination including live and video demonstration. Animal Chiropractic Adjusting Techniques General Principles of Animal Chiropractic Adjusting: 4 Hours. Certain factors increase the efficiency, safety, reliability and comfort of the chiropractic adjustment. These factors are discussed and demonstrated. General Principles of Animal Chiropractic Adjusting Laboratory: 8 Hours. Students will learn and fine tune through hands on laboratories, the principles learned above. Topics such as doctor, hand and body positions, contact points, safety and handling, use of speeder boards, and intricacies of the chiropractic adjusting thrust will be practiced. Basic Animal Chiropractic Adjusting Techniques: 16 Hours. Specific animal chiropractic treatment techniques will be discussed and demonstrated. Areas included will be sacropelvic, thoracolumbar, cervical, front limb, rear limb, ribs, TMJ, tail and cranium. Basic Animal Chiropractic Adjusting Techniques Laboratory: 20 Hours. Individual hands-on instruction in all adjusting techniques taught in the course, are practiced on the dog and horse Review of Animal Chiropractic Adjusting Techniques: 7 Hours. All basic animal chiropractic adjusting techniques are reviewed. Review of Animal Chiropractic Adjusting Techniques Laboratory: 13 Hours. All adjusting techniques taught in the module before are reviewed and individual hands-on instruction is utilized for the second time on each technique. This individual hands on teaching occurs a third time during the integrated module as a review before the final examinations. Open Question and Answer Technique Laboratory: 4 Hours. Students are given a chance to ask any questions they may have while in a laboratory setting so that demonstration on the animal is possible. Comparative Animal Chiropractic Techniques Lecture and Laboratory: 4 Hours. At least four different animal chiropractic adjusting techniques are demonstrated and the students are encouraged to ask questions about each. This gives the student exposure to other methods and affords them the opportunity to seek further education in those techniques if desired. Rehabilitation: 2 Hours. This lecture offers a basic review of several muscle, exercise and rehabilitative techniques. Management of the Animal Chiropractic Patient Basic Case Management: 7 Hours. These lectures address some of the common topics in everyday case management including the lay lecture, introduction to leads and collars, introduction to saddle and harness fit, equine teeth and the equine foot. Integrated Case Management: 6.5 Hours. (All of the following are addressed by lecture, in small group discussion and/or with expert panel debate through an open question forum.) Review of the chiropractic theories and the contemporary vertebral subluxation complex; define, assess and apply animal chiropractic diagnosis of the vertebral subluxation complex; and investigate the creation and application of appropriate clinical goals and applying them to our integrative treatment protocols. Chiropractic Studies Basic Chiropractic Theories and Tenets: 16 Hours. Fundamental Chiropractic topics are discussed including terminology and listing systems, history of chiropractic, vertebral subluxation complex (VSC) I: chiropractic theories and VSC II: exploring the contemporary VSC. Chiropractic Pathology: 4 Hours. Pertinent chiropractic pathologies and how adjusting techniques as well as integrative modalities can influence treatment of those pathologies. Veterinary Studies Basic Veterinary Theories and Tenets: 16 Hours. Fundamental veterinary topics are discussed including safety and handling, physiology and pharmacology, zoonotic and metabolic conditions and lameness including demonstration of a lameness exam. Veterinary Pathology: 4 Hours. Pertinent large and small animal pathologies are discussed as well as their implications in complimentary chiropractic care. Discussions include how chiropractic and other integrative modalities can influence treatment of these pathologies. History and Philosophy of Animal Chiropractic Animal Chiropractic History: 1 Hour. This lecture explores the modern history of animal chiropractic. Philosophy: 4 Hours. Here we explore the philosophy behind the chiropractic approach to health care and how it influences the practice philosophies of the animal chiropractor. Introduction to the Vertebral Subluxation Complex: 1 Hour. This lecture provides the student with an overview of the vertebral subluxation complex so that he can relate to the chiropractic topics at an early stage in the course. Ethics and Legalities Ethics and Legalities: 4 Hours. The ethical as well as legal implications of chiropractors and veterinarians practicing animal chiropractic are discussed. Emphasis is placed the primary care of the patient by a veterinarian, as well as the integrative team approach to animal chiropractic. Current Research Current Research: 4 Hours. Pertinent current research topics are discussed. Students are expected to read a certain number of current research articles each module. Examination Written Examinations: 5 Hours. Students are tested each module on material covered in previous modules. A final examination is taken on the last day of classes. Practical Examinations: 6 Hours. Students are tested on their application of the basic animal chiropractic adjusting techniques taught at the previous module. A final examination is taken on the last day of classes. Home Study Case reports: At the beginning of the second through fifth modules each student is to hand in one case report. These reports should contain all aspects of an animal chiropractic case that they are managing at home. Reading Assignments: Each module the students are given reading assignments from required text, or other provided material. These readings are required and tested for on the next examinations. Test Questions: At the end of each module the material presented at that module is divided and each student is responsible for creating five test questions from their assigned material. This encourages the students to find the “main points” in all the materials. A selection of these questions is utilized in the written examination. |