About Myofascial Release
The body's fascia lies under the skin, surrounding and integrating with all other body parts such as muscles, bones, nerves, organs, all the way down to a cellular level. This incredibly strong network of tissues looks like a three dimensional spider web that spans continuously from head to hoof. Fascia is a key factor of how the body functions or dysfunctions since everything beneath it is influenced by its pliability.
Fascia tightens and can become restricted from the simple daily activities of life, but especially from:
- Minor accidents
- Trauma
- Stress
- Injury
- Exercise
- Repetitive movements
- Scar tissue
- Improper tack fit
Eventually it can evolve into dysfunction and pain, compensation patterns, and horses become more vulnerable to injury or inexplicable lameness. However, you do not need to be seeing symptoms in order for Myofascial Release to be effective.
Consistent bodywork is how we can help relieve discomfort, create postural alignment, balance movement patterns, and improve quality of life for your horse.
Has your horse ever had a minor fall? Even if they aren't showing any outward signs of discomfort (or maybe they are) minor incidences can impact how the body is coping on the inside. The body will lay down additional tissue fibers in areas that need support or have been damaged. Fascial restrictions can produce 2,000 pounds of force per square inch. Once it becomes tight and restricting, it can range from feeling like dragging weight to feeling painful. It also affects how the body holds postural alignment, recruits muscles, hydrates tissues and drains the lymphatics.
In my personal experience, tight fascia can feel compressing, like plastic shrink-wrap inside the body. This is because it physically encapsulates the muscles, bones, nerves and organs. When fascia is tight it restricts freedom of movement and can be energy draining since the body is working harder just to do every day life. It can also cause pain if the fascial tissues not gliding between structures like they should or are restricting range of motion.
This requires manual releasing to help the fascia "reset" and rehydrate. Experiencing a Myofascial Release session is typically a pleasant experience for many horses and they learn to release more quickly with consistent sessions.