How Massage Therapy Improves Muscular Function

The skeletal muscle of a horse makes up roughly 45 per cent of his total body weight and is responsible for powering locomotion and movement while distributing force and absorbing shock. When the weight of a rider, application of tack, and demands of training are factored in, an enormous amount of stress is placed on the biolocomotive systems, compromising the efficacy of muscular function. Massage therapy is an effective method to optimize overall muscle health for horses of all levels and careers, better enabling the horse to move and express itself freely. The manual techniques improve circulation of blood and lymph, which in turn promotes accessibility of nutrients delivered in the bloodstream and catalyzes replenishment of muscle glycogen, a necessary component of both aerobic and anaerobic energy systems, thus hastening recovery and improving muscular function for a quicker return to maximal performance. Tight, evasive, or overly-anticipatory types of horses that…