Let’s stop blindly massaging tight muscles.
Yes, you read that correctly. For too long, the equine community has embraced massage as a cure-all for every kind of muscular issue a horse might face. But for horses with back pain—especially those with conditions like a weak thoracic sling, kissing spine, pelvic injuries, or simply the wear and tear of aging—massage alone isn’t the solution. In fact, it can often make things worse.
If you're surprised to hear this from someone who is a licensed human massage therapist, you're not alone. But the truth is, these horses require a comprehensive rehabilitation therapy program that extends beyond non-clinical massage. A combination of specific manual techniques alongside targeted exercises, and removal of causative factors to address the root of the problem, not just the symptoms.
Understanding Muscle Tightness
Before we dive into why massage isn’t always the answer, let’s start with a fundamental question: Why are the muscles tight in the first place?
Muscle tightness can be a complex and highly subjective issue.
What one person or therapist identifies as "tight" might not be perceived the same way by another. Moreover, the concept of tightness varies from horse to horse, and it’s crucial to remember that the brain sets a resting tone in every muscle in the body. This means that a certain degree of tightness is normal and necessary for protecting the body from injury.
When a muscle feels tight, it’s important to first determine whether this tightness is due to a postural issue, a locomotive function, or a combination of both. Each of these has different physiological bases and understanding the source of the tightness is essential before any treatment is applied.
The Importance of a Whole-Horse Assessment
The danger of immediately reaching for massage as a remedy is that it treats the symptom (tight muscles) without addressing the underlying cause. For a horse with chronic back pain, this can be particularly problematic.
Before any treatment plan is developed, a comprehensive assessment of the entire horse is necessary. This involves more than just feeling for tight spots; it requires an understanding of the horse's overall biomechanics, posture, movement patterns, and any potential structural imbalances.
Tight muscles are often the body’s way of compensating for deeper issues, such as joint dysfunctions, neurological adaptations, and even psychological stress. Without addressing these underlying causes, massage can actually compound the problem by reinforcing the body's dysfunctional compensation patterns.
Why Massaging Tight Muscles Can Be Harmful
Let’s consider some specific conditions where massage alone can do more harm than good.
1. Weak Thoracic Sling
Horses with a weak thoracic sling often exhibit postural issues such as a dropped sternum, excess mid-thoracic extension, and hypertoned paraspinals. These horses are already dealing with muscles that are overworked and overstretched - this means they are already overlengthened! Massaging their back and glutes—areas that are already stretched and strained—can further weaken these muscles, exacerbating the problem.
This not only fails to address the underlying problem but can also make it worse.
Instead, these horses need targeted therapy that includes releasing tight, overactive muscles like the pectoral and hip flexors, mobilizing dsyfunctional joints, and activating weak muscles to restore proper function and biomechanics.
2. Kissing Spine
In cases of kissing spine, where the dorsal spinous processes of the vertebrae are too close together, the muscles surrounding the spine are often in a state of chronic tension as they attempt to protect the area. Massaging these muscles might temporarily relieve tension, but it doesn’t address the underlying spinal misalignment.
Rehabilitation exercises aimed at improving core strength, spinal flexibility, and overall posture are far more effective in managing this condition long-term.
3. Pelvic Injuries
Horses with pelvic injuries often develop compensatory muscle tightness in the back and hindquarters. While it might seem logical to massage these areas, doing so can disrupt the body’s compensatory mechanisms without addressing the root cause of the pain.
Instead, a combination of manual therapy techniques to release tension in specific areas, along with targeted rehabilitation exercises to restore proper pelvic alignment and function, is needed.
4. Aging Horses
Older horses naturally experience muscle atrophy and joint stiffness as part of the aging process. While massage can help with circulation and provide temporary relief, it won’t reverse the underlying muscular and structural changes associated with aging.
Instead, a well-rounded rehabilitation program that includes exercises to maintain muscle tone, joint mobility, and overall fitness is essential to keep aging horses healthy and comfortable.
The Role of Rehabilitation Therapy
For horses with chronic conditions or injuries, the key to long-term improvement lies in rehabilitation therapy that goes beyond simple muscle release and massage. This includes a combination of exercises designed to correct dysfunctional imbalances, improve joint mobility, and enhance overall stability.
For example, in the case of a weak thoracic sling, the focus should be on strengthening the core, mobilizing the joints, and re-educating the body to move in a more balanced and efficient way. Similarly, horses with kissing spine or pelvic injuries require exercises that target the specific muscles and structures involved in their condition.
This approach not only addresses the symptoms but also helps to correct the underlying issues, leading to more sustainable results.
Are There Benefits to Massage?
Yes, massage can be beneficial, particularly in supporting circulation and providing temporary relief from muscle tension. However, the benefits of massage are often overstated, particularly by unlicensed professionals who may not have the training to understand the full scope of equine musculoskeletal health.
Massage should be viewed as one tool in a broader toolkit, not a standalone solution.
When used appropriately, as part of a comprehensive rehabilitation plan, massage can support the overall treatment process. But without a thorough assessment and a clear understanding of the underlying issues, massage alone is unlikely to provide lasting benefits.
What’s the Solution?
If your horse is experiencing back pain or any other musculoskeletal issue, the first step is to consult with a veterinarian to rule out any underlying pathology. Once you have a clear diagnosis, work with a manual therapist who is trained in comprehensive orthopaedic assessment and rehabilitation therapy.
This approach should include both active evaluations (such as gait analysis) and passive evaluations (examining muscles, joints, tendons, and ligaments).
It’s important to remember that muscles are only one part of the body’s overall architecture.
A thorough understanding of the entire musculoskeletal system is essential for developing an effective treatment plan.
In human therapy, licensed massage therapists are trained to use massage as just one tool among many. The same level of care and diligence should be applied to equine therapy.
By focusing on rehabilitation and targeted manual techniques, rather than just muscle release, we can help horses achieve and maintain better health and function.
Conclusion
Massage can be a valuable tool in the right context, but it’s not a panacea.
For horses with chronic conditions, injuries, or age-related issues, a more comprehensive approach is needed—one that includes targeted rehabilitation exercises, manual therapy techniques, and a deep understanding of the underlying issues at play.
By moving beyond the "massage as a cure-all" mentality and embracing a more holistic approach to equine health, we can ensure that our horses receive the care they need to thrive, both in the short term and long term.
Comments