Let's talk about ligaments.....
Most horse owners have heard of dreaded ligament injuries and how they can be detrimental to the future of your horse’s working career 😢
But many of us may not really know what a ligament is, and may be afraid to ask for not wanting to appear ‘stupid’ 🙈
So I thought today I would talk about ligaments so you don’t need to ask 😊
What is a ligament ❓
▪️A ligament is a band of connective tissue that links one bone to another 🦴
▪️Ligaments are made up of collagen fibre, a fibrous protein found in the connective tissue
▪️Ligaments have a limited blood supply, this is why when a ligament is injured, it tends to heal slowly and sometimes incorrectly 😕
▪️Ligaments have little contracting power and therefore must work in conjunction with muscle action 💪🏻
Where are ligaments found in the body ❓
Most ligaments are located around joints
Several ligamentous structures help support and protect the following areas:
🔻the vertebral column
🔻pelvis
🔻neck
🔻limbs
What do ligaments do❓
🔺give extra support to the joint
🔺protect the joints from suddenly imposed strain
🔺prevent an excessive or abnormal range of motion
🔺help resist the pressure of lateral torque / twisting of the joint
(horses experience lateral torque when turning sharply)
What happens when a ligament becomes damaged ❓
If overstretched or repeatedly stretched, a ligament might lose up to 25 percent of its strength 😮
Such a ligament may need surgical stitching to recover its full tensile strength 👩⚕️ 👨⚕️
Severe ligament sprain will lead to joint instability 👎🏻
Due to their lack of blood supply a ligament can take between 12-18 months to heal 😕
The most commonly injured ligaments are those below the knee 🐎
How can Equine Massage Therapy help ligaments ❓
✅ Equine Massage Therapy increases blood and lymphatic circulation, thus reducing inflammation (swelling), easing tired and stretched muscles, tendons and ligaments and aiding mobility of affected joints.
✅ Massage also helps in toning and strengthening the fibres which can then assist in preventing injuries occurring.
✅Stretching techniques that are part of your horse’s Equine Massage Therapy treatment will also increase flexibility and ensure joints are in the correct alignment
✅Joint mobilisations also applied during treatment will help to increase the range of motion in joints, and assist in keeping the ligaments supple
🐴 If you think Equine Massage Therapy could benefit your horse please do get in touch to find out more or to book an appointment 📲