196 The 9th Chiropractic, Osteopathy & Physiotherapy Annual Conference

Objective:

1. T

o explore the osteopaths’ current practice situation within the field of animal treatment in the UK. 2. T o identify the influences on osteopaths working in this area and conceptualise these as a model.

Design: Mixed method design: quantitative, descriptive questionnaire analysis; qualitative one-to-oneinterview data gathering using framework analysis.

Subjects: Osteopaths registered with the GOsC currently treating animals in the UK (n = 58) weresurveyed. Further convenience sample of 5 registered osteopaths working in animal practice for one toone interviews.

Methods: Questionnaires were posted and descriptive statistics captured. The thematic frameworkanalysis was chosen to help interpret the results of the semi-structured interviews. Both questionnaireand interview process were piloted.

Results: The survey response rate was 52% (n = 30). This gave an overview of respondents’ background:gender, age, training modes and style of practice.

Three key themes were identified as having influenced the interviewees’ experience in animal practice:(1) motivation; (2) development; (3) barriers. A conceptual model showing the interactions between thesethemes was developed.

Conclusion: Determination towards working in the animal field was shown to be tempered by external andinternal factors. Job satisfaction and burnout were implicated within concepts of motivation and barriers.Lack of structure and professional recognition was felt to manifest as misunderstanding of osteopathy inanimal practice. Despite these barriers, practitioners see potential for the acquisition and development of adistinct professional status within osteopathy.

http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.clch.2012.10.034

An investigation of the incidence of non-specific low back pain in competitive show jumpinghorse ridersCatherin Telle

Anglo-European College of Chiropractic, 13-15 Parkwood Road, Bournemouth, Dorset BH5 2DF, UnitedKingdom

Rationale: Show jumping is the most favoured and most injury prone of the disciplines within competitivehorse riding. The influence of participating in show jumping competitions on the spine back pain have to daterarely been explored. The study was undertaken to highlight the incidence of non-specific low back pain(NSLBP) within a competitive German show jumping population.

Objective: The study aimed to answer the following questions:

1. W

hat is the incidence of NSLBP amongst competitive show jumping horse riders? 2. A re there factors which may predispose an individual to develop NSLBP? 3. W hat treatments do show jumpers received and what role does chiropractic, if any, play in this

population?

4. W hat are the attitudes towards NSLBP and does it influence an individual’s show jumping success?

Design: A cross-sectional survey.Subjects: The survey was distributed to competitive show jumping horse riders in lower Saxony and

Saxony-Anhalt in Germany. All show jumping athletes within this region of Germany were eligible toparticipate. A total of 100 show jumpers participated in this study.

Method: A single paper based questionnaire was distributed to show jumping horse riders during regularcompetition event during the 2011 summer show jumping season.

Results: The results demonstrated a high incidence of non-specific low back pain in show jumping horseriders. Factors such as age of participants, high numbers of competitions and increasing the difficulty level ofriding were all highly correlated to the presence low back pain.

The 9th Chiropractic, Osteopathy & Physiotherapy Annual Conference 197

Conclusion: Low back pain is a common finding in competitive show jumping horse riders. As a result of ageneral paucity of evidence relating to the epidemiology of non-specific low back pain in this cohort furtherinvestigation is warranted.

http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.clch.2012.10.035