Equine Massage: A Practical Guide (9 page)

(34,

(35,

(36,

(37) superficial digital flexor tendon

(38) ob

(39) medial car

(40) mid

les

il wing

usc

le

usc

le

le

le

nocephalic

le

usc

elid

yoid m

usc

usc

usc

le

e

le

le and tendon

rate m

le

usc

usc

le

usc

t of ster

les of the Horse

al ser

usc

usc

al nasal m

entr

apezius m

apezius m

le of upper lip and its tendon

le

le

le of lower ey

le of the ey

les

le of the mouth

le of lower lip

le

ular par

le

usc

yoid and omoh

le of upper lip and nostr

il dilator m

usc

usc

usc

usc

usc

t of rhomboid m

t of v

t of tr

t of tr

usc

usc

usc

usc

hiocephalic m

apezius m

usc

t of later

yroh

ac

ator m

erse nasal m

le and tendon

al nostr

rugator supercilii m

icular m

noth

nomandib

acic par

vical par

vical par

vical par

ts of tr

Superficial Musc

ator m

ansv

usc

uccinator m

m

17a) br

par

1a) lev

1.13

(1,

(2) lev

(3) dorsal par

(4) later

(5) orbicular m

(6) b

(7) depressor m

(8) zygomatic m

(9) masseter m

(10) tr

(11) depressor m

(12) orbicular m

(13) cor

(14) aur

(15) ster

(16) ster

(17,

(18) cer

(19) splenius m

(20) cer

(21) cer

(22) thor

(22a) tendinous intersection between the two
30

Equine Massage

m

anial

tion of the cr

les

les

usc

usc

les

usc

ator m

le (cunean tendon or cuneifor

ator m

usc

tion)

t tail lev

tibial m

inser

64a) annular ligaments

(63a) medial tendon of inser

(64,

(65) shor

(66) long tail lev

(67) tail depressor m

les)

usculus

usc

t of

ior par

usculus semitendi-

ing group of m

le (anter

usc

is and m

y or tarsal tendon (from m

anial tibial m

biceps femor

nosus of the hamstr

flexor metatarsi)

(62) accessor

(63) cr

.,

(continued)

i.e

les)

usc

les of the Horse

y or tarsal tendon

hed to tuber calcanei,

superficial digital flexor

ing m

le

le

usc

usc

and accessor

hilles tendon,

Superficial Musc

of tendons attac

Ac

tendon,

from the hamstr

1.13

(59) soleus m

(60) popliteal m

(61) common calcaneal tendon (the aggregate
Anatomy and Physiology of the Horse

31

Skeletal muscles are highly elastic and have strong contractile power.They respond to motor nerve impulses; as a result, the contraction mechanism is a generated process. The release process is not a generated process, but rather is a natural relaxation of the muscle as a result of the cessation of the motor nerve impulses that originally “asked” the muscle to contract.

When a muscle develops a
contracture,
the muscle fibers stay contracted, eventually resulting in a spasm—at which point the natural relaxation process will not happen. Pain and motion problems will develop as a result.

Muscles are equipped with two types of sensory nerve endings: the Golgi apparatus and the muscle spindle. The
Golgi apparatus
nerve endings send feedback impulses to the brain as to the whereabouts of the muscles; this process is referred to as
proprioception.
The Golgi nerve endings are mostly located where the muscles and the tendons come together.

The nerve endings of the muscle spindle prevent overstretching of the muscle fibers. As its name implies, this nerve fiber coils around the length of the muscle bundle. Reaching a given length, the muscle spindle fires nerve impulses that trigger a fast reflex motor nerve reaction to induce immediate contraction of the muscle fibers. Thus the overstretching and potential tearing of fibers is prevented.This is a safety reflex mechanism.

When a muscle overstretches, a spasm often results. This is a
tetanic
(violent) contraction of a muscle in response to overstretching or trauma, whereby the muscle is unable to release its rigidity. A
microspasm,
on the other hand, is a small spasm occurring in just a few fibers of the muscle bundle. Microspasms have a cumulative effect over a period of time, resulting in a full spasm.

Sometimes a muscle is stretched past its limit and muscle fibers will tear. This causes an immediate muscle spasm and triggers an inflammation response, with swelling at the site of injury. As part of the healing process, new connective tissue is laid down in an irregular, scattered pattern within the muscle fiber arrangements.

Unfortunately this scar tissue reduces the muscle’s tensile strength, flexibility, and elasticity. Massage therapy can reduce the amount of scar tissue by applying deep kneadings and frictions after proper warm-up of the tissues. Also, stretching is a great technique for prevention and reduction of the formation of scar tissue.

A heavily exercised muscle will often develop light inflammation within its fibers. This is a normal process that promotes formation of new muscle fibers. But it is important to keep any inflammation under control to avoid the formation of scar tissue.

To keep inflammation down, use cold hydrotherapy, ultrasound,

32

Equine Massage

Anatomy and Physiology of the Horse

33

1.14 Muscles of the Horse, Front View

(1, 1a) levator muscle of upper lip and tendon
(2) levator muscle of upper lip and nostril wing
(3) lateral nostril dilator muscle

(4) corrugator supercilii muscle

(5) interscutular muscle

(6) brachiocephalic muscle

(7) sternomandibular part of sternocephalic muscle
(8) omohyoid muscle

(9) sternothyroid muscle

(10) cervical part of trapezius muscle

(11) jugular vein

(12) supraspinous muscle

(13) remains of skin muscle in the neck

(14) cranial deep pectoral muscle

(15) cranial superficial pectoral muscle

(16) caudal superficial pectoral muscle

(17) long head of triceps muscle

(18) lateral head of triceps muscle

(19) cephalic vein

(20) brachial muscle

(21, 21a) radial carpal extensor muscle and tendon
(22) common digital extensor tendon

(23, 23a) oblique carpal extensor muscle and tendon

34

Equine Massage

Anatomy and Physiology of the Horse

35

1.15 Muscles of the Horse, Rear View

(1) point of croup

(2) dock of tail

(3) point of hip or haunch (tuber coxae)

(4) levator muscles of tail

(5) depressor muscles of tail

(6) superficial gluteal muscles

(7) gluteal fascia

(8) tensor muscle of lateral femoral fascia
(9) biceps femoris muscle

(10) semitendinosus muscle

(11) semimembranosus muscle

(12) gracilis muscle

(13, 13a) gastrocnemius muscle and tendon

(14) soleus muscle

(15) lateral digital extensor muscle

(16, 16a) superficial digital flexor muscle and tendon
(17) deep digital flexor muscle

(18) inner or medial tendon of the cranial tibial muscle
(19) suspensory ligament

36

Equine Massage

Anatomy and Physiology of the Horse

37

t

le

ior par

h,

usc

vicis)

le

le

anc

usc

(continued)

le

usc

ior

ed from

usculus

usc

le

le

iv

rate m

le (poster

usculus ilio-

le

usculus spinalis

les

les

usc

usc

usc

le (m

usc

acis and cer

le (m

usc

lique m

lique m

extensor br

al ser

usc

le (m

usc

le