Equine Massage: A Practical Guide (8 page)

al collater

al collater

anc

ligament)

(24) sacrosciatic ligament

(25) capsular ligament

(26) medial patellar ligament

(27) mid

(28) later

(29) later

(30) later

(31) ligament connecting talus and calcaneus
(32) br

(33) medial collater

(34) later

(35) calcaneometa tarsal ligament (plantar

k joint

n joint

ior

ed fromiv

pal joints

le)

usc

ior sesamoidean ligaments

al ligament of fetloc

al sesamoidean ligament

al ligament of paster

al ligament of coffin joint

y ligament (super

y ligament of navicular bone

k joint)

al collater

al collater

al collater

al sacroiliac ligament

sesamoidean ligament der

interosseous m

(fetloc

(14) dorsal ligaments of car

(15) suspensor

(16) distal or infer

(17) medial collater

(18) later

(19) later

(20) later

(21) suspensor

(22) dorsal sacroiliac ligament

(23) later

pal joint

pal joint

pal bone

y car

hal ligament

hal ligament

adioulnar ligament

adioulnar ligament

al ligament of car

al ligament of car

ior) ligament of jaw joint

al ligament of elbow joint

erse r

t of nuc

erse r

al ligament of elbow joint

t of nuc

ansv

ansv

aments of the Horse

al tr

al collater

al ligament of jaw joint

aspinous ligament

al collater

Lig

1.10

(1) later

(2) caudal (poster

(3) supr

(4) funicular par

(5) lamellar par

(6) capsular ligament of shoulder joint

(7) medial collater

(8) medial tr

(9) later

(10) later

(11) medial collater

(12) later

(13) distal ligament of accessor

26

Equine Massage

itself. This arrangement allows for greater support, strength, and flexibility in the movement between each of the muscle groups.

Tendons

The tendon is the portion of the muscle that attaches to the bone.

It is made up of
connective tissue
—a dense, white, fibrous tissue much like that of a ligament. The
origin tendon
is the tendon that attaches the muscle to the least movable bone; the
insertion tendon
attaches the muscle to the movable bone, so that on contraction the insertion is brought closer to the origin.Tendons attach to the periosteum of the bone; the fibers of the tendon blend with the periosteum fibers because of their similar collagen make-up.

Tendons can be fairly short, or quite long as is seen with the flexor and extensor muscles of the lower legs. Usually, tendons are rounded but they can be flattened like the tendons that attach along the spine.

Because of their high-tensile strength, tendons can endure an enormous amount of tension, usually more than the muscle itself can produce; consequently, tendons do not rupture easily.They are not as elastic as muscle fibers, but they are more elastic than ligament fibers.

Tendons can “stress up” after heavy exercise, meaning that they can stay contracted. Gentle massage and stretching exercises will loosen residual tension. (See the neuromuscular technique in chapter 5.)Inflamed tendons are at great risk of being strained or overstretched.The horse has no muscles below the knee or hock; consequently, many leg muscles have long tendons that run down the legs over the joints.These tendons are protected by sheaths, or tendon bursae. Chronic irritation of the sheath can result in excess fluid production and soft swellings. Cold hydrotherapy (chapter 4) and massage will help increase circulation and keep inflammation down. If the inflammation persists, check with your veterinarian.

Muscles

Muscles come in all shapes and sizes. Some are small, some are large; some are thin, some are bulky. Look at the muscle charts to note the variety of shapes in the horse’s muscle structure.

Muscles act together to give the horse his grace and power.

Muscles work in three different ways: isometric contraction, concentric contraction, and eccentric contraction.

Isometric contraction
occurs when a muscle contracts without causing any movement. During standing, for example, isometric contraction ensures stability.

Anatomy and Physiology of the Horse

27

1.11 Cross-Section of a Skeletal Muscle

(1) tendon

(2) muscle belly

(3) muscle fiber (containing thick and thin filaments)
(4) bundles (made up of fibers)

(5) fascia

Concentric contraction
occurs when a muscle shortens as it contracts, causing articular movements. Concentric contraction is mostly seen in regular movements such as
protraction
(forward movement) or
retraction
(backward movement) of the limbs, and in any movement of the neck or back.

Eccentric contraction
occurs when a muscle gradually releases as it elongates. Eccentric contraction assists regular movements to avoid jerky, unstable actions; it also plays a role in shock absorption during the landing phase of jumping.

1.12 A Muscle

(A) Relaxed

(B) Contracted

[1] origin tendon

[2] muscle belly

[3] insertion tendon

28

Equine Massage

Anatomy and Physiology of the Horse

29

ing

ing

le

ascia)

le

le

le

TFL)

usc

usc

usc

le

usc

or ,

(continued)

usc

ae m

ior

y ligament,

t of hamstr

t of hamstr

rate m

acolumbar f

le

ascia of thigh

lique m

le

le

usc

le in fold of flank

al f

usc

le (par

le (par

iceps sur

usc

usc

asciae latae

usc

usc

ascia

h of suspensor

ascia (thor

ascia

le of later

is m

al f

y ligament (super

anc

t of dorsal ser

al f

us dorsi m

hment)

usc

ascia

hing to common digital extensor tendon

nal intercostal m

nal abdominal ob

al femor

al crur

al head of gastrocnemius m

usculus tensor f

hilles tendon of tr

sesamoidean section)

attac

of attac

(m

group)

group)

57a) long digital extensor m

Ac

(41) suspensor

(42) extensor br

(43) latissim

(44) caudal par

(45) lumbodorsal f

(46) exter

(47) exter

(48) aponeurosis (broad and flattened tendon
(49) remains of skin m

(50) tensor m

(51) gluteal f

(52) superficial gluteal m

(53) biceps femor

(54) semitendinosus m

(55) later

(56) later

(57,

(58)

(58a) later

t

t

ior

le

le and

ior par

ior par

usc

le and

usc

le and

le (anter

k

usc

usc

le and its

usc

usc

le and tendon

le

rate m

le (anter

t

le (poster

usc

usc

le

le

usc

al m

al)

usc

usc

usc

al ser

le of nec

al m

usc

al m

entr

le

iceps

le

pal flexor m

al)

al)

iceps

pal extensor m

long and shor

t of v

usc

usc

,

al digital extensor m

al car

pal extensor m

pal flexor m

pal flexor m

adial car

acic par

t of superficial pector

al head of tr

hialis m

dle car

anial deep pector

anial superficial pector

ac

lique car

of deep pector

par

of deep pector

32a) r

tendon

33a) common digital extensor m

tendon

34a) later

tendon

35a) later

two tendons

36a) deep digital flexor m

(23) thor

(24) cr

(25) cr

(26) remains of skin m

(27) caudal deep pector

(28) deltoideus m

(29) long head of tr

(30) later

(31) br

(32,

(33,