Equine Massage: A Practical Guide (42 page)

Feel free to make changes in this sequence, which is only intended to give you an idea on where to start.Write down your observations before proceeding to the second phase of the stress point routine.

Second Sequence

Start the second pass of the routine at the poll.This time use heavier massage movements such as wringings or firmer effleurages to stir up the circulation, especially in the areas that need work.Then proceed to lightly massage every stress point, spending more time on the areas that need it the most. Be careful not to overwork any particular point. Mostly use the stress point technique interspersed with lots of drainage moves (effleurages, compressions, wringings).

If some stress points are not active, spend only enough time on them to trigger a reflex in the Golgi nerve cells; 30 seconds to a minute is plenty when the stress point is not inflamed.When dealing with active stress points, take the time to release them totally, using lighter pressure for a longer period of time; some chronic stress points might take from 2 to 3 minutes. Be careful not to overwork the muscle tissues, and remember to drain thoroughly with effleurages every 20 to 30 seconds.

You will feel the progressive release of the stress point through your fingers. Depending on the origin of the stress point, it may take 1 to 5 massage sessions to release it completely. Emphasize drainage in between points.

During this second pass, depending on the level of stress in the animal worked on, you might spend from 30 minutes to over an hour all together working the various stress points on both sides of the horse.

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Third Sequence

Go through the whole routine again, this time mostly emphasizing thorough drainage. Use lots of effleurage, wringing, and compression moves. Pay special attention to the areas that have shown particular stress. As you go over the active stress points you should feel them relieved, showing less tightness or inflammation. Finish with lots of stroking to induce relaxation. Keep this third pass under 15 minutes.

Stress points will show tremendous improvement after only one massage session, unless the problem was caused by a direct trauma or an old injury.

Do not try to overachieve on the first treatment. Several sessions will produce a better effect and give the horse time to become accustomed to this form of deep work.

Take notes from the start to track the progress of your treatment. As you develop a schedule of treatments for the horse and become familiar with his common areas of stress, you might reduce the check-up routine to half-hour sessions, working only stress points that particularly need it.

Always drain thoroughly after using the stress point technique.

If inflammation is present, use cold hydrotherapy to soothe the nerve endings and assist circulation. It is good for the animal to have a little exercise (for 5 minutes) after such treatment (longeing, walk/trot) unless contraindicated. Stretching exercises performed regularly will allow for a more complete treatment.

The “Trouble Spots” Routine

The routine for trouble spots is designed to deal with problems that commonly occur and to prevent their corresponding stress points from developing and the eventual trigger points from forming.This routine is a nice complement to a maintenance routine, especially if your animal exercises regularly.

As you check these areas and detect a strong level of inflammation, apply the ice cup massage technique (chapter 4) for a few minutes to decrease the sensitivity of the nerve endings and reduce the inflammation. If, however, you decide not to perform this routine in combination with the maintenance routine, begin your work with the short version of the relaxation routine to calm and prepare the horse, then start the trouble spot routine at the neck with the first trouble-spot area.

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10.11 The “Trouble Spots” Routine Outline

Step 1: The Upper Neck

Work the entire upper neck where the splenius cervicis and the upper rhomboid muscles attach, as well as the ligamentum nuchae attachment at the occiput, between the ears and behind the skull.

This is an area of constant stress for a horse that engages in strenuous activities.

Use several light effleurage moves, followed by some gentle muscle wringings to warm up the whole upper neck. Take the time to relax the muscle fibers in that area with lots of thumb kneadings. This work will prevent the formation of SP 1 and SP

2.Then apply some muscle squeezing along the crest of the neck, starting with a 10-pound pressure and progressing to 15 or 20

pounds, depending on the degree of tension that you find. Use your judgment. If the area is tender, the horse will react by moving away from the pressure or by arching the neck against it. If you move too quickly into heavier pressure you might make the existing tension worse. Use several effleurages or strokings to flow to the next trouble spot.

Step 2: The Point of Shoulder

The next trouble spot is found in the brachiocephalic muscle of the lower neck. This muscle is involved in the protraction of the foreleg, the head carriage, and side movements of the neck and
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head. If the brachiocephalic muscle becomes tight, the horse will not be able to carry his head correctly and he will be uncomfortable when circling. Severe tightening of this muscle results in the horse’s being off in most of his movements.

When the muscle is tender, the animal will react to light pressure by flinching and pulling away. As you work this area, the horse will most likely relax into the treatment, dropping his shoulder on the same side you are treating.

To massage this area, start with light strokings of the whole muscle. Follow with gentle, smooth effleurages to drain the neck from top to bottom. Stir up circulation with 2 or 3 sets of wringings across the width of the neck.Then apply kneadings to loosen the muscle fibers and prevent the formation of SP 3. Follow with some gentle cross-fiber frictions over the whole length of the muscle. Intersperse with thorough effleurages to drain the area.

Then apply gentle compressions to the entire length of the muscle. Follow with effleurages to drain the neck thoroughly, and finish with some light strokings to flow to the next trouble spot.

Step 3: The Withers

The withers area is a skeletal attachment site for the rhomboid and the trapezius muscles, which are directly involved in the movement of the scapula.The repetitive movement of any gait, and the stress of a potentially difficult maneuver (for example, the impact of landing after a jump) in combination with less-than-perfectly-fitting tack or poor footing, can cause irritation of the withers.

As you reach this area with strokings, move on to warm up the muscles with effleurages and wringings. Then use gentle muscle squeezings (5 to 10 pounds of pressure) to assess the degree of inflammation or irritation.Thoroughly drain the area with lots of effleurages and use kneadings to loosen the muscle fibers.This will prevent the formation of SP 6, 7, and 8. Follow with effleurages to thoroughly drain the withers area. Then apply gentle friction across the length of the fibers, starting gently with moderate pressure and rhythm, working progressively deeper for a period of 2

minutes. Intersperse with effleurages every 20 seconds to drain the area as you work. Keep track of time to avoid overworking the fibers. Follow with generous drainage (effleurages). Finish with light strokings and move over to check the fourth trouble spot.

Step 4: The Upper Shoulder

The forward attachment of the longissimus dorsi is located behind and a few inches down from the top of the withers. Irritation and inflammation of this area can result from ill-fitting tack or from an
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extensive workload.When the area is irritated, tension can be felt in one or both sides of this muscle, and will eventually lead to the formation of SP 5 and SP 20.

Take time to warm up the area with lots of gentle effleurages and wringings over the whole muscle. Then use kneadings to relax the muscle fibers and prevent the formation of SP 5. If sore, the horse will probably flinch while arching his back or move away from your pressure; the degree of reaction shown will be indicative of the amount of inflammation present. If you detect a strong level of inflammation, apply the ice massage technique (chapter 4) for a few minutes to decrease the sensitivity of the nerve endings while reducing the inflammation. Follow with light frictions across the muscle to loosen its fibers. Intersperse with effleurages every 20 seconds.When finished, thoroughly drain the whole muscle and then use light strokings to move to the next trouble spot.

Step 5: The Lower Shoulder

The infraspinatus muscle is one of the most important muscles of the shoulder; it works in conjunction with the supraspinatus, the rhomboid, and the teres minor muscles. These muscles serve to prevent lateral dislocation of the shoulder. Besides being a primary mover of the shoulder joint (protraction and retraction), the infraspinatus is directly involved in lateral movements, such as half-passes.

Abrupt shifts from side to side, such as in cutting, polo, and horseball, render the infraspinatus very susceptible to strain.When the muscle is sore, the horse will exhibit signs of lameness and restricted movement in the foreleg of the injured side. Start massaging this area with light effleurages. The horse might flinch or, if feeling very tender, move away from your pressure. So start working lightly with lots of effleurages; alternate with wringings to warm up the area.Then apply light kneadings to relax the muscle fibers and prevent the formation of SP 9 and SP 10. Follow with effleurages. Then friction the entire muscle back and forth for 2 minutes to loosen its fibers. Intersperse with effleurages every 20 seconds. Follow with compressions along the entire length of the muscle. Finish with lots of effleurages. Use strokings to move to the next trouble spot.

Step 6: The Croup

The longissimus dorsi (back attachment) and the gluteus maximus muscle join in the croup area, a very sensitive or even tender area most of the time.When massaging, approach the loin delicately with light strokings and gentle effleurages (5 to 8 pounds of pressure).

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When the loin is inflamed or knotted, the horse will sink or sag in response to your pressure. Apply ice massage first to numb the nerve endings of the area you are treating.Then stimulate circulation thoroughly with wringings and compressions. Intersperse with effleurages every 30 seconds. Use kneadings to relax the muscle fibers and prevent the formation of SP 21. Follow with light frictions along the entire muscle. Thoroughly drain the area with effleurages. Apply palmar compressions along the length of the whole muscle to complete the treatment. Finish with a thorough effleurage and light strokings to move to the next trouble spot.

Step 7: The Point of Hip

The hip attachment of the tensor fasciae latae (TFL) area just below the point of the hip is a very critical spot. This is where both the TFL muscle and the iliacus muscle attach. These two muscles are strong hip flexors. Furthermore, the TFL muscle plays a role in extending the stifle during retraction of the hind leg.

When this area is stressed, the horse will show discomfort on the same side during lateral movement and will tend to throw his leg outward during protraction. Be careful and very gentle when starting to work this area. If the area appears very tender at first touch, use the ice massage technique prior to the treatment.

Stimulate circulation with gentle effleurages and wringings.

Apply compressions with a moderate to heavy pressure (10 or 15 to 20 pounds) along the TFL muscle.Then use kneadings to relax the muscle fibers of these two muscles and prevent the formation of SP

36 and SP 37. Intersperse with effleurages. Then apply cross-fiber frictions over the entire muscle. Alternate with effleurages every 30

seconds.After the massage, apply cold to ease the nerve endings and flush circulation. Finish with a thorough effleurage drainage.

A general stretching of the horse (chapter 8) is particularly good to complete this routine. Active exercise (unsaddled) for the horse after the massage is a good follow-up, but keep any lateral work to a minimum at first, especially if the shoulder and TFL muscles were tight. To finish the routine, apply lots of light strokings over the horse’s entire body to give him a sense of relaxation.

Treatments

The word
treatment
refers to a massage application over a localized body part without delivering a full-body routine. Treatments are designed to deal with specific problems such as cold back, neck stiffness, leg soreness, and so on. Apply the relaxation routine (short version) for a few minutes to calm and prepare your horse before starting your treatment.

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The duration of a treatment varies with the situation at hand and the goals you want to achieve. In most acute situations (the first 24 hours) and when no contraindications prevail, a treatment should last 15 to 20 minutes, or maybe 30 minutes if the tissues treated are not too inflamed.