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Equine Sports Massage

Benefits of EQUINE sports massage

Used during training and pre and post competition, massage keeps muscles healthy, builds up those that may have wasted, maintains strength and suppleness and prevents atrophy even during a period of box rest or restricted work. After exertion massage minimizes stiffness and speeds repair to tissue damaged as an inevitable result of physical stress and fatigue. Passive stretches help to keep or restore joints and muscles to full working capacity.

In the horse, the various massage and stretching techniques enable the horse to perform to its full potential by:

• Increasing and improving circulation
• Enhance muscle tone
• Relax muscle spasm
• Prevent and relieve adhesions
• Increase the range of movement

Massage can benefit the well being of the animal, release tension and aid mental relaxation. In the event of an Injury, massage is of great benefit to aid recovery and prevent atrophy (wasting) of muscles.

Does your horse do or show signs of any of the following: 

• Dislikes being groomed
• Prefer one rein
• Show lateral stiffness
• Reluctant to canter on one lead
• Hollow backed
• High headed
• Head shaking
• Bucking
• Cold backed when tacked up
• Lack of poll flexion and bend
• Head tilting
• Have an uneven stride length
• Holding the tail to one side
• Excessive rolling

All of the above can be signs of pain and discomfort and should be investigated.

MASSAGE ALSO HELPS TO PREVENT INJURY

To understand why we need to know more about muscles, is that more than 60% of the horses body weight is muscle. Small muscle injuries can take up to 90 days to become apparent (by a change in attitude, decreased performance and lameness) by which time they may have caused more serious injury. Prompt attention to these 'minor' muscle injuries not only enhances a horse's performance but also may prevent future problems. Muscle tightening is transmitted from one muscle group to another, so for example, shoulder tension may be transmitted to the muscles of the forearm, resulting in extra stress being placed on the tendons. Muscle may also enlarge with tension.
 



Equine Thermal Imaging

Where there is asymmetry or irregularity there is reason to investigate further
Equine thermography is extremely helpful if you're working in animal/athletic training situations. Equine infrared imaging can detect musculo-skeletal injuries several weeks before they are visually detectable. Later, equine infrared imaging can help the veterinarian follow the horse's response to treatment.

THERMOGRAPHY

• Acts as an early warning sign.
• Can identify stress, trauma and injury up to three weeks before a horse becomes clinically lame or before lesions can be found by ultrasound.
• It takes the guess work out of a mysterious lameness
• It can be used for pre purchase examinations and saddle fitting purposes.
• Helps identify secondary problems that might otherwise be missed.
• It is non-invasive, no physical contact, no doping
• A full body scan takes about 20 minutes
• A full assessment report will be available within 6 to 48 hours.

Myofascial Release Therapy

Fascia is a three dimensional web that surrounds every bone, muscle, nerve, organ, and vessel down to the cellular level from head to foot or, head to hoof. It is comprised of elastin, collagen and a fluid ground substance. Restrictions can develop in fascia from trauma and repetitive training. These restrictions can create pain, swelling, misalignments, poor muscular biomechanics, and decreased range of motion, decreased strength and lameness. Fascia looses its pliability, collagen becomes dense and fibrous and the ground substance can solidify. Standard tests will not show a fascial restriction.

Myofascial Release is a hands on, whole body manual therapy technique addressing the fascial system. MFR is used to elongate the fascial tissue with a 90-120 second gentle pressure into the restriction or tissue barrier. After releasing through several barriers the tissue will become soft and pliable. The pressure will be taken off pain sensitive areas and motion restored.

Myofascial Release differs from massage and chiropractic manipulation. Myofascial release applies sustained pressure into the fascial system and has effects on the elastin, collagen and ground substance. Soft tissue restrictions that alter bony alignment are addressed and osseous releases are performed slowly without manipulation.
 



Equimag Pulsed Magnetic Field Therapy session

Magnetic Therapy is a drug free, non-invasive and effective way of treating injuries that would normally call for the use of anti-inflammatories, pain killers or other more drastic methods. The benefits of magnetic therapy include increased elasticity to muscles and return of normal range of motion – resulting in less chance of injuries.


This proven therapeutic method can help restore your horse to its peak performance, cut down on recovery time and relieve tired, aching joints and muscles.

PEMF therapy is very effective for

- Pain Relief
- Osteoarthritis treatment
- Increased oxygen supply
- Soothing and relaxing of sore muscles
- Acceleration of blood circulation
- General relaxation



Equine Laser Therapy

Equine Laser Therapy is excellent for treating acupuncture points, wounds and scars, the types of problems that are found close to the surface of the animal’s body. Laser light enters the muscle tissue, increasing microcirculation, with the effect of speeding the healing process and providing pain relief.


Benefits of using laser therapy include:

• Increased vascular activity
• Stimulation of nerve function
• Faster healing
• Anti-inflammatory action
• Non-Invasive
• Improvements in circulation
• Stimulation of cellular level healing
• Stimulation of cells for rapid healing

Corrective Shoeing, scans and X-rays:

We have a farrier that specializes in corrective shoeing. All scans and X-rays are done on site at our rehab facility per appointment. All physio and Chiropractic services also per appointment.



Corrective Shoeing : Ultrasounds & X-Rays

Our Farrier specialises in corrective shoeing. All Scans and x-rays are done on site at our rehab facility per appointment. All Physio &Chiro services also per appointment.






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