08/12/2021
Tack fit, rider’s posture/equitation, imbalances in the hooves…all very common things that cause spinal asymmetry and postural dysfunction; these are also all things we can work with for improvement.
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🤍 Spinal Asymmetry & Saddle Fit 🤍
This horse is stood square in both photos and the green photo is taken after approx. 1 hour of treatment. Definitely not the finished product, but a step in the right direction!
This horse had previously been ridden in a saddle that was completely asymmetrical in both flocking and how the saddle has been made. With a very intuitive owner, she felt she wasn’t sitting straight or evenly and went with her gut that something wasn’t quite right.
On observation, we had increased loading of the thoracic sling muscles particularly to the left as she was struggling to maintain correct postural core engagement due to ribcage and spinal rotation. The right scapula felt suctioned onto the side of her body, and there was a negative pain reaction to a shoulder lift mobilisation. The right scapula was positioned more cranially and dorsally. The left tuber coxae was located more cranially and ventrally than the right, with lumbar paraspinal hypertonicity that decreased the distance between the tuber coxae and last rib. This horse found it very difficult to maintain a square position and straight head carriage, which was seen through the dynamic assessment with a right hip drop and limited forelimb range of motion.
In cases like these, the treatment is multi-faceted and contains some of the following:
▪️ INDIBA Radiofrequency - deep muscle relaxation at a cellular and biochemical level, “dismantling” of fibrotic tissue, tissue repair, pain relief, decreased inflammation, improved psychological acceptance of release.
▪️Massage and Myofascial release - resetting tonicity, improving muscle extensibility, mobilising fascia and relieving restrictions to improve symmetry and function.
▪️Mobilisations (spinal, rib, scapula, pelvic) - improve symmetry, joint ROM
▪️Passive stretches - re-educating stretch receptors to increase joint and muscle ROM
▪️Postural re-education exercise prescription - conducted in-hand, involving lateral movements, rein back and pole work to reinforce suppleness and symmetry principles.
