EQUINE MASSAGE THERAPY
WHAT IS EQUINE MASSAGE THERAPY?
The basics of massage therapy for horses originated from the age old notion
that physical touch can heal. Along with healing traumatized muscles it
also can soothe, calm and relax our equine friends. If you take the time
to observe a horse or any other animal for that matter in his natural setting
you will see that they are encouraged by their social instincts to partake
in manual grooming and other intimate contacts. The equine massage therapist
uses hands and body to manipulate soft tissue for the prevention and treatment
of muscle injuries, thereby maintaining free motion and encouraging optimum
performance in horses.
Massage therapy is a very valuable tool in preventative as well as remedial
therapy. Sport massage therapy which is a branch of massage therapy specializes
in preparing the muscles for exertion and easing the soft-tissue damage
afterwards. Neuromuscular structural realignment, in which an unbalanced
body is "re-educated" by eliminating the chronic pain response. These therapeutic
techniques seek to release patterns of chronic tension through slow strokes
and deep finger pressure on the contracted areas. Relaxing massage, on
the other hand, relys on superficial strokes applied without reference
to diagnosed soft-tissue injuries. Therapeutic massage improves soft-tissue
health through several other mechanisms.
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CIRCULATION-This is accomplished by hands-on movements using direct pressure.
It also stimulates the nerves which control the blood.
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LYMPHATIC SYSTEM-Direct pressure assists in the flow of lymph toward the
lymph glands. This helps in the elimination of toxins in the system.
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NERVOUS SYSTEM-Depending on the method of treatment, massage can soothe
or stimulate.
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MUSCLES-Massage can assist in preventing muscle wasting (atrophy) after
a trauma as well as to maintain (or create) balance in this tissue.
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RESPIRATORY SYSTEM-This increases the blood flowing to the heart which
in turn increases blood circulation to the lungs etc.
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DIGESTION-One way massage helps this system is through increased circulation.
The equine massage therapist uses hands and body to manipulate soft tissue
for the prevention and treatment of muscle injury, thereby maintaining
free motion and encouraging optimum performance in horses. Trauma to a
muscle can be caused from a variety of things such as from a fall, a blow,
or rider/tack error, causing inflammation and eventually scar tissue formation.
Skeletal or internal pain causes the horse to adjust his normal way of
going. This can result in spasms developing, resulting in stiffening the
horse in a habitual protective posture. All horses are potential victims
of muscle soreness, but the equine most likely to be protected and relieved
by massage therapy are the well-conditioned athletes who though essentially
sound and structurally"correct" are exhibiting nonspecific gait restrictions,
resisting training demands and just generally not performing to potential.
As massage therapists, we have to be careful to respect the boundaries
of our profession. We cannot correct structural or orthopedic problems;
these conditions would be unresponsive to massage. We cannot cure conditions
such as arthritis, bonechips, founder or comformational defects.
Athletic Injury Prevention is an area that remains unexplored in equine
sport medicine. There is still so much to learn about how to optimally
condition the horse for his work or sport. Perhaps as we gain knowledge
in this area, ways of preventing sports injuries will come to light. In
the meantime use of massage therapy, accupressure, kinesiology, herbology,
magnetics and other alternate therapies can be used in a timely manner
in hopes of treating injuries while it is in a more treatable stage.
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