Equine body work is a therapeutic application of hands-on techniques. Sports massage and Myofascial Release are used along with conventional and complimentary health care, as well as proper training techniques, enabling the horse to perform at an optimal level.
Sports massage is a beneficial hands-on modality involving massage, stress point therapy, range of motion exercises, and stretching. Stress point therapy consists of 84 points throughout the body. When the stress point is addressed the horse may have a pain reaction indicating that there is an issue in that specific area. The pain can be alleviated by direct pressure, cross fiber friction, and massage strokes which allows the body to obtain normal range of motion and movement.
Myofascial Release is an effective hands-on modality that provides sustained pressure and slow movement into the fascia to assist in restoring proper motion of the body, and eliminates restrictions in the myofascial system caused by accumulative or tramautic injuries.
Before Myofascial Release:
After Myofascial Release:
Fascia is connective tissue that surrounds every muscle, nerve, blood vessel, and organ in the body. When the fascia surrounding the muscle fibers is injured, it creates restructions, which is then treated by utilizing Myofascial Release.
Benefits Include:
- Pain relief
- Increases range of motion
- Improves stamina and overall performance
- Releases restrictions
- Efficient movement
- Reduces inflammation
- Improves disposition
- Provides comfort to muscle injuries
- Enhances performance and gait quality
- Improves circulation
- Improves joint mobility
- Increases metabolism
- Limits and reduces scar tissue
- Decreases fascial tension beneath scar tissue
- Reduces tactile defense
- Relieves muscle spasm
- Relieves fatique
- Reduces stress
- Enhances muscle tone
- Used as a preventative measure, subtle tissue changes are noticed at an earlier stage
