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 📲