11/01/2022
We are in love with our osteopath and learning new ways to treat the whole body.
Fascia is a living, changing, pliable, but tough tissue.
So tough it can withstand 2000 pounds of force per square inch 🤯
The problem with that property of fascia is that fascia can “lock in” compensatory patterns.
When your horse has a problem with the left hind (from stone bruise to abscess, from hock injury to stifle injury or suspensory injury) all 3 of three other legs will compensate, especially their right hind and right front.
The body will lay down additional collagen fibers (fascia) in the compensating legs to create additional support - and additional collagen fibers (fascia) in the injured leg that will minimize range of motion and protect the inured area.
The result of that protective property is a horse with fascial restrictions holding them in an imbalanced compensatory pattern, even after the injury is resolved.
We cannot expect that horse to return to movement with the same freedom as they did previously after the single injury is resolved if we don’t address the fascia.
Their entire tensegrity has been compromised.
Bodywork to release the fascia can be a huge piece of their rehab and make a significant difference in their ultimate outcome.
Tape also plays an important role is rehabbing fascia because it’s an opportunity to leave an extension of our hands on the horse after the session.
Maintaining healthy and pliable fascia with regular massage and tape can make the rehab process smoother and faster.
The vets that have pioneered the research on fascial lines in horses, Rikke M. Schultz, DVM, Tove Due, DVM and Vibeke S. Elbrønd, DVM, PhD - have an excellent book on fascial lines.
Check it out and get yours here:
https://fascialines.com/boeger/equine-myofascial-kinetic-lines-for-professionals/?lang=en
Ciara Crawford, MOTR/L
Sozo Equine ®️