.jpeg)
What is Sports Massage Therapy?
Sports Massage is a therapeutic technique that involves the manipulation of soft
tissue structures within the equine body including, tendons, ligaments, fascia, and
muscles. It is an ancient complementary therapy that was first documented by the
ancient Chinese in 2,700BC and has been adapted over time by different cultures.
All equines can suffer from soft tissue pain and discomfort in a similar way to
humans. This pain and discomfort can inhibit the bodies movement, causing
compensatory changes, which in turn causes further discomfort and predisposes the body to further injury.
In her treatments
Sarah uses a variety of manual techniques including:
Massage
Myofascial release
Trigger Point Therapy
Passive Stretching
Kinesiology taping
Positional release techniques
Low-level light therapy
Sarah will aim to treat the whole horse in a session, unless this is contraindicated. This ensures any compensatory patterns that your horse or pony may not visibly show yet are detected and treated. A muscular injury can usually result in the muscle not working correctly or efficiently causing it to become inflexible. When a horse is in pain or discomfort the body will try to protect the site of injury, the injured muscle fibres shorten to try and heal and protect themselves, resulting in the muscle and fascia becoming less supple and flexible, predisposing the muscle to strain. The tissue can then go into spasm causing the whole muscle to tighten, which blocks the kinetic chain to the rest of the body, causing compensatory movement patterns.
What Are The Benefits Of
Equine Sports Massage?
Improved posture
Increased range of movement and joint mobilisation
Relieves psychological stress inducing relaxation
Reduces the swelling and build up within soft tissue
Aids recovery from injury and trauma, increasing cell renewal and tissue repair, reducing healing time
Increases lymphatic drainage
Reduces muscle tension
Reduces muscle asymmetry and encourages even muscle development
Reduces scar tissue formation
Reduces muscle atrophy after injury or box rest
Improves muscle tone
Reduces risk of repetitive strain Injury
Improves coat and skin condition
Improves proprioceptive response aiding co-ordination and balance
Releases trigger points
Decreases fatigue by increasing lactic acid elimination
Indications For Equine Sport
Massage Therapy
Some common indications include...
Poor Performance
Change In Behaviour
Reluctance To Perform Certain Movements
Loss Of Impulsion
Muscle Atrophy
Muscle Asymmetry
Reluctant Or Reactive To Having Rugs Or Tack Put On
Uneven Wear Of Shoes
Changes In Gaits
And Movements
Generalised
Stiffness
Rehabilitation Post Injury/Illness
