6 Hours of CE Credit
This course module provides the foundation needed to evaluate horses with neck pain and dysfunction. Content includes detailed anatomical studies that describe and illustrate individual muscles within the cervical region. Biomechanical descriptions provide insights into the functional features of the cervical muscles, ligaments, articulations, and vertebrae. Detailed characterization and examples of soft tissue, neurologic, and articular pathology affecting the cervical region are provided. A structured outline is presented for comprehensive physical examination of the cervical region. Evidence-based treatment approaches are discussed based on currently available research.
Section 1 Functional Anatomy of the Cervical Region
This course module provides the foundation needed to evaluate horses with neck pain and dysfunction. Content includes detailed anatomical studies that describe and illustrate individual muscles within the cervical region. Biomechanical descriptions provide insights into the functional features of the cervical muscles, ligaments, articulations, and vertebrae. Detailed characterization and examples of soft tissue, neurologic, and articular pathology affecting the cervical region are provided. A structured outline is presented for comprehensive physical examination of the cervical region. Evidence-based treatment approaches are discussed based on currently available research.
Section 2 Biomechanical Features of the Equine Cervical Region
This course module provides the foundation needed to evaluate horses with neck pain and dysfunction. Content includes detailed anatomical studies that describe and illustrate individual muscles within the cervical region. Biomechanical descriptions provide insights into the functional features of the cervical muscles, ligaments, articulations, and vertebrae. Detailed characterization and examples of soft tissue, neurologic, and articular pathology affecting the cervical region are provided. A structured outline is presented for comprehensive physical examination of the cervical region. Evidence-based treatment approaches are discussed based on currently available research.
Section 3 Spinal Pathology within the Cervical Region
This course module provides the foundation needed to evaluate horses with neck pain and dysfunction. Content includes detailed anatomical studies that describe and illustrate individual muscles within the cervical region. Biomechanical descriptions provide insights into the functional features of the cervical muscles, ligaments, articulations, and vertebrae. Detailed characterization and examples of soft tissue, neurologic, and articular pathology affecting the cervical region are provided. A structured outline is presented for comprehensive physical examination of the cervical region. Evidence-based treatment approaches are discussed based on currently available research.
Section 4 Spinal Evaluation: Cervical Region
This course module provides the foundation needed to evaluate horses with neck pain and dysfunction. Content includes detailed anatomical studies that describe and illustrate individual muscles within the cervical region. Biomechanical descriptions provide insights into the functional features of the cervical muscles, ligaments, articulations, and vertebrae. Detailed characterization and examples of soft tissue, neurologic, and articular pathology affecting the cervical region are provided. A structured outline is presented for a comprehensive physical examination of the cervical region. Evidence-based treatment approaches are discussed based on currently available research.
Kevin K. Haussler, DVM, DC, PhD
Diplomate, American College of Veterinary Sports Medicine and Rehabilitation
Dr. Haussler obtained a Bachelor of Science in agriculture from the University of Nebraska-Lincoln in 1984. He graduated in 1988 from The Ohio State University, College of Veterinary Medicine, followed by a small animal internship at the Sacramento Animal Medical Group in 1989. Dr. Haussler was a relief veterinarian for multiple small animal practices, emergency clinics, and humane societies from 1989 to 1994, when he became interested in pursuing further specialized training in the diagnosis and management of pain and musculoskeletal disorders in animals.
He enrolled in Palmer College of Chiropractic-West, a human chiropractic program, to learn how to apply human chiropractic techniques and principles to the treatment of animals with musculoskeletal-related disorders and graduated with a Doctor of Chiropractic (DC) degree in 1993. Dr. Haussler started a veterinary chiropractic clinical practice treating horses and small animal patients in 1992.
Dr. Haussler went on to obtain a PhD in Comparative Pathology from the University of California-Davis, School of Veterinary Medicine in 1997. The focus of his PhD research was the evaluation of the anatomy, pathology, and biomechanics of the lower back and pelvis of Thoroughbred racehorses.
He then went on to complete postdoctoral training investigating equine spinal kinematics in 1999 at the College of Veterinary Medicine at Cornell University and was invited to be a Lecturer at Cornell University until 2005.  During this time, he was responsible for teaching equine anatomy, conducting biomechanical research, and initiation of a clinical Integrative Medicine Service for both the large and small animal clinics that provided chiropractic, acupuncture, and physical therapy services. Dr. Haussler’s research studies have included the evaluation of in vivo equine spinal kinematics, paraspinal muscle morphometry and histochemistry, and the initiation of equine chiropractic research assessing pain and spinal flexibility.
In 2010, Dr. Haussler was invited to be a founding member of the new specialty college, The American College of Veterinary Sports Medicine and Rehabilitation, where he has served as the Examination Committee chair, and on the Board of Director’s as secretary and president.
Currently, Dr. Haussler is an Associate Professor at the Orthopaedic Research Center in the College of Veterinary Medicine and Biomedical Sciences at Colorado State University where he has continued his research interests in objective measures of musculoskeletal pain, spinal pathology, and rehabilitation.