Equine Appointment

Equine Sports Massage and Physiotherapy

Massage and stretching can improve circulation, enhance muscle tone, relieve muscle spasms, prevent the occurrence of sticking points within muscles and increase the range of movement. It can also aid flushing out of toxins which will help with recovery following injury, and release tension to aid relaxation. It can also help prevent muscle atrophy during any period of box rest. Massage is excellent pre-race / competition to ensure all is toned, healthy and there is full extent of movement; and post-race / competition to reduce stiffness and speed repair to damage caused by physical stress. This speeds up the return to full and effective training.

Myo Fascial Release

Fascia is a three dimensional and innervated connective tissue which surrounds all structures within the body. It helps neighbouring structures to change shape and move easily against one another. It is known as the information highway of the body. It is both superficial and deep, and comprises elastin, collagen, reticular fibres and ground substance (which is 70% water). With physical and emotional stress water is pushed out and the fascia becomes hard and gel like. This makes the collagen fibres shorter, thicker and sticky and means capillaries and nerves are squeezed causing pain and imbalance. With release, the ground substance becomes more liquid which helps the collagen fibres to reorganise, rehydrate and ease the adhesions. The pressure to cause this change has to be held for at least 3 minutes. A release from this can be incredibly powerful and gives the therapist greater ability to influence the structures and muscles effectively.

Trigger Point and Positional Release

Trigger points are restricted and tender points which form within soft tissue. The tissue becomes more acidic from the calcium released in response to stress. This causes tightening, a build-up of metabolic waste, pain and dysfunction and contraction nodules.

Positional Release Techniques are subtle with animals as without verbal feedback it is harder to find the position of strain-counter strain that is used in human therapy. Instead of finding a barrier and adding pressure (as per trigger point release), the affected tissues are adjusted to a place of ease.

Muscle Energy Technique

This approach stimulates the body’s own mechanisms to make changes. By taking the part of the body to a point of bind and holding against a small amount of resistance, then gently easing and repeating there will often be an improvement in the range of movement. This has been proven to last longer by allowing muscle elongation.

Kinesiology Taping

Kinesiology tape lifts the skin and underlying fascia to take the pressure off, improve blood and lymph flow. This helps boosts oxygenated blood to the area with ATP which will help areas in spasm, and flush out toxins reducing inflammation. It also kick-starts the area where the tape is applied which can help stimulate release, or improve proprioception and improve performance without over stretch or strain. It can take pressure off pain receptors and facilitate mobilisation of that area.

Infra-red Photo Therapy

Mitochondria within a cell make ATP (Adenosine triphosphate) which is the carrier of energy. ATP allows cells to receive nutrients, dispose of waste products and drives chemical reactions. Light therapy energises the production of ATP. This aids cell repair and can help to prevent cell death following injury. Without the energy function of the cell there will be insufficient amounts of nutrients and oxygen. Application of infra-red photo therapy will regenerate the cells, clear inflammation, increase lymphatic activity, increase immune system activity, increase blood supply and therefore provide some pain relief through endorphins and serotonin and regulates collagen production to repair damaged tissues.