How can massage help muscles with adhesions?
Sports massage compresses muscle against bone to spread out fibers so blood can flow more easily into the muscle. This helps break apart adhesions. Adhesions form when a muscle develops an area of tension. It feels like a speed bump in the otherwise smooth muscle tissue. If left untreated it can grow, cause pressure and restrict the movement of your horse. As the spot increases in size it draws in fluid from inflammation and it acts like glue—which causes the adhesion. It’s important to note that massage is not a substitute for veterinary care. The massage therapist generally sees an injured horse after the veterinarian. But should the horse owner call the massage therapist first, the veterinarian must be called if there is no improvement. Some massage therapist wait to see if there is improvement after three massages. However, Equine Muscle Menders believes that if no improvement is seen after the first massage, the veterinarian should be called.
