Equine Sports Massage Therapy
Why Massage Therapy?
Massage has been used for therapeutic purposes - on both humans and animals - has been documented in our earliest cultures from the Egyptians... to the Phoenicians... to the Greeks... to the Romans and on to present day.
In equines, the muscular system makes up sixty percent (60%) of their total body weight- but often, this massive system tends to remain overlooked when it comes to overall health maintenance. Sports Massage is designed to promote maximum muscle efficiency and increase range of motion, as well as protecting against potential future injury.
The purpose of massage is to treat the cause of muscle tension, rather than the symptoms- serving as a corrective therapy as well as preventative.
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Muscle tension creates resistance in motion, thus causing the equine athlete to over compensate to work against the resisting muscles. Muscles that experience tension or spasms become unable to accommodate desired movement or extension, resulting in the increased possibility of a pull or tear.
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Every equine, regardless of age, discipline, or activity level is a candidate who will benefit from massage therapy.
Signs of Muscle Tension
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choppy, uneven gait
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difficulty bending laterally
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girthing issues
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resisting/refusing lead changes
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sour, aggressive, or nervous behavior
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"cold back"
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head tossing
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uneven tracking, bucking, kicking
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inhibited motion, shortened stride
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head tossing
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overall stiffness
Benefits of Massage*
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relieves soreness, muscle tension, and spasms
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promotes healing by increasing circulation and flow of nutrients & oxygen to fascia tissue, while releasing excess toxins and built-up lactic acid
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reduces inflammation and swelling in the joints by increasing flow of synovial fluid, thereby alleviating pain
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enhances overall muscle tone while increasing range of motion by restoring mobility to damaged muscle tissue
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reduces the build up adhesions within muscles as a result of trauma, injury, or surgery
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aids in reversal of muscular atrophy due to disuse or inactivity
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releases endorphins and aids in recovery
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helps maintain the whole body in better physical condition
