Fast recovery - three tips to get your horse back to racing with Structural Integration | Trainer Magazine | European Trainer Article Index

Nov 30

Nov 30 Fast recovery - three tips to get your horse back to racing with Structural Integration

RACING, VETERINARY

Three ways to improve recovery time Specialised equine bodywork called Structural Integration addresses these issues by reducing the cumulative physical and mental stress of intense training. The method brings about improved and efficient use of energy and drastically reduces the incidence of costly training and racing injuries. Even experienced trainers may not be aware of the important role gravity has in balancing the horse’s body and how training stress and physical injuries can pull the horse’s body out of gravitational alignment. When a horse starts becoming even a little unbalanced, slower, or weaker, it may be wise to look at that horse’s body from a structural perspective. Fascia, the body’s connective tissue, is the medium that surrounds each muscle, bone, and organ, holding everything in its correct position in the body. When a horse strains a muscle, the fascia tightens around the injured area like a splint to aid in healing. Over time the fascia may gradually shorten, tightening and adjusting to protect and accommodate the misalignments. A body out of alignment creates inefficiency and imbalances resulting in stiffness, discomfort and loss of energy. These translate to slower race times. When the horse’s body is in less than optimal condition, fatigue and small injury imbalances compromise recovery time. Slower race times may often be traced to these physical inefficiencies that, over time, become locked in place. Structural integration Structural Integration is scientifically validated bodywork that reorganises the horse’s integral structure. Unlike massage which focuses on muscles, or chiropractic which works with nerves and bones, Structural Integration works on the protective layers of fascia to align and balance the body by lengthening and repositioning the fascia, which allows muscles to move more efficiently. A Structural Integration practitioner applies pressure and strokes to the body in a defined and specific manner, working the entire fascial system systematically from superficial tissue layers to deeper, intrinsic tissue. Fascia’s role A curious part of anatomy, fascia is the fabric that holds the body together, gives shape and structure, and supports the body working within the bounds of gravity (as opposed to the popular belief that bones provide the body with structure). Fascia is so important that without it we would all collapse on the ground into a big pile of bones and tissue. Fascia weaves together the various parts and pieces of the anatomy and connects them into a continuous whole that surrounds and protects the muscles and literally every cell in the body. When connective tissue is healthy, it: l is pliable and elastic l allows muscles, tendons, and ligaments to shorten and lengthen with flexibility l lets muscles, tendons, and ligaments glide unimpeded by adhesions. When imbalances exist within the body, the health of the connective tissue is affected. Unhealthy connective tissue is thicker, harder, and much less resilient. It becomes dehydrated and shortens, significantly affecting how the muscles and joints function. When restricted fascia is released and lengthened, the horse’s body returns to optimal performance. Equine athletes benefit Now that you have a basic understanding of fascia’s role, function, and behaviour, here’s how Structural Integration delivers results in three primary areas. Reducing stress To fully understand how Structural Integration changes stress responses, we need to delve a little into the horse psyche. In the wild, physically compromised horses are at risk of losing their lives to predators. Their bodies will compensate any way they can to avoid appearing vulnerable. This instinct is hard-wired into their brains to keep mountain lions from singling them out as weak and eating them. When fascial restrictions and sore muscles produce pain and limitations in movement, everything in the horse’s environment becomes threatening. As any experienced trainer knows, horses work hard to hide physical issues, making it hard to know how to help them get better. When they are brought back to balance and optimal functioning, horses experience a sense of ease in their physical body that translates to a renewed confidence in the ability to deal with adverse situations. Such horses become more focused in their work, less distractible, and less likely to overreact to external stimuli; In other words, energy is not wasted. Bob, a Belgian/thoroughbred gelding, was worried and defensive about being touched. His owner reported him as unsure of himself in his work. After the second session I noticed his behaviour shifting. Instead of stepping away, he practically danced into my hands, especially when I worked his hind end. He nuzzled and groomed me, then stood relatively still for the work except when he exuberantly showed me where he wanted me to work next. “He was a different horse! Bob felt more relaxed and sure of himself than he’s ever been. No more evasive, get-out-of-work tactics and he no longer reacts to every distraction,” said owner Amy Ruge. Efficient use of energy Reducing stress automatically affects energy in a positive way. When restrictions in the fascia are resolved, muscles glide more easily and are able to work in sync for optimal locomotion. Less energy is used up in the exhausting effort to compensate for inefficiencies of movement. The burden of restriction is lifted and the body is supported by gravity rather than fighting against it. With freedom of movement and efficient use of energy, horses are less stressed from training and racing and recover faster from their physical exertion. Mucho Grande, a thoroughbred, struggled to get his hind end underneath him and had a roached back. His hind legs tracked outside his front feet (a great feature in a racehorse) but didn’t reach very far forward. After two sessions, the roached back was gone and he had gained four inches in his stride. After rebalancing his rib cage and barrel, he gained a couple more inches in his stride and movement became effortless. Before, minimal effort made him sweat. Now, harder work doesn’t. Another way Structural Integration contributes to increased energy and faster recovery is by resolving restrictions in the rib cage. With this issue addressed, vital capacity is increased, more oxygen is made available to the tissues, and less lactic acid builds up in the muscles. Heart and respiratory rates return to normal quicker and the soreness and stiffness that comes from extreme exertion is significantly decreased. “Structural Integration can help resolve old injuries that could otherwise contribute to further compensations, injuries, and prolonged healing time” Preventing injuries Although the contributing factors to injuries are vast and complicated, many can be prevented. Recovery time is limited to the normal course of athletic endeavour and not to the extended time required to heal from avoidable injury. A healthy fascial system is durable and elastic. Its prime function, supporting the body’s internal structures, cannot be compromised if future injury is to be avoided. A horse working in balance with his innate potential is at much less risk. Structural Integration can help resolve old injuries that could otherwise contribute to further compensations, injuries, and prolonged healing time. Individual potential aside, improved performance and greater success in the racing industry is the result of influencing structure in an enduring way. Structural Integration can have a profound and long-lasting effect that precludes time lost to training and racing related injuries. What is every racehorse trainer’s goal? To win races. More power, more speed and an effortless gallop are all things that Structural Integration works to achieve. With balance, flexibility, focus, and healthy fascia, horses can reach their innate potential, use available energy constructively, suffer less from stiffness, aches and pains, prevent avoidable injury, and recover quickly from the exertions of training and racing. All this adds up to healthy horses and a financially rewarding career.

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THIS ARTICLE FIRST APPEARED IN - EUROPEAN TRAINER - ISSUE 40

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