Canine
Massage Therapy
Common Muscular Problems:
Head
and Neck Discomfort
Leg Stiffness
Hip and Shoulder Lameness
Poor Disposition
Loss of Performance Ability
A muscle injury can take several months to
become apparent. In that length of time more serious injury could occur.
Prompt attention to minor injuries can prevent future problems and
enhance performance.
Muscles are bands of fiber which stretch and contract.
If a number of these fibers spasm due to overuse, the result can be an
inability of the muscle to stretch to full length.
When we work a muscle it is subject to knotting up.
This, in turn, can cause the entire muscle to tighten and spasm,
affecting the movement of the muscle. It
can be a searing pain, or just a mild discomfort. As
the spasm becomes more irritated from on going use, more fibers are added to the
spasm. The larger it becomes the
more discomfort is felt. This can
cause the horse to guard that area and use other muscle groups to compensate.
Spasms shorten the length of the muscle and thus restrict movement.
We can put up with the pain, or seek medical assistance.
Your canine is dependent on you, however, their owner.
They cannot verbally tell you that they hurt, so they relay the message
in other ways. Poor performance can
be a result of resistance. Temperament
can be affected. Disobedience can be
related to discomfort. When pain is
relieved, disposition will improve.
Benefits
of Massage:
Relieving of
*Increased Circulation
Relaxation Of Muscle Spasms
Increased Performance
Increased Endurance
Helps to Prevent Injury
Enhances Muscle Tone
Removal of Toxins and Metabolic Waste
Enhances the general state of well-being
*Increased Circulation Benefits
Removal of Toxins and metabolic waste
Reduces the discomfort of arthritis & hip dysphasia
Prevents development of post operative compensatory tension
enhances the heath and nourishment of the skin
Strengthen immune system
Fosters faster healing
Massage
techniques can accomplish increased performance and endurance as well as helping
to prevent injury. It increases
circulation reducing muscle tension & stress, the primary cause of muscle
injury. Blood is a very important
ingredient in our makeup. We could
not live without it. It contains
nutrients that help heal the body and keep the body healthy when it is flowing
properly. Unfortunately, sometimes
things happen in our bodies to disrupt the blood flow.
A muscle tightens, scar tissue that has built up from a previous injury,
toxins and waste products that haven’t been flushed out of the body properly
can all inhibit blood from flowing. This
can cause stiffness, pain, and even numbness.
Massaging the muscles can relax them enough to allow the blood to
circulate better and do what it was designed to do.
Mental relaxation and prevention of muscle atrophy is also a benefit of
massage. It can lessen the risk of
injury from strain or fatigue or be used for rehabilitation.
Regular massage can help guard against future muscle injuries, relaxed
gait, free flowing movements, and all around wellness
Some strokes can stimulate oil glands and promote hair growth for dogs with skin
problems.
A tool for after surgery rehab illation
For competing dogs it is used as a pre event warm up or post event cool down.
Pre-event massage will assist the muscles in working longer and more
efficiently. This will help prevent injury.
Post event massage will reduce muscle spasms and metabolic build-up that
occurs after vigorous exercise. This
will reduce muscle soreness. Speeds the healing process
Even if your dog is health you want to keep him that way and massage can be used
as a preventive method.
In aging dogs it is a natural way to relieve pain.
Since they have reduced activity levels they need massage to keep there
muscles relaxed. It will help
increase muscle tone, circulation, and flexibility. It will help reduce pain and
muscle tension caused by Arthritis and Rheumatism.
