What is Massage?
Massage is a form of therapy involving the manipulation of the skin, superficial soft tissue and muscles by applying pressure to the body either manually using one's hands, knuckles, fingertips, elbows and forearms, or mechanically using a handheld tool. A typical massage session is applied over the entire body, but specific focus is given to areas of muscle tension or joint stiffness.
INdications for Massage
Muscle Health
Joint Problems (such as Osteoarthritis)
Tendonitis
Post-Injury or Post-Surgery*
Low Activity Level
High Activity Level
Emotional Stress
Observe Structural Imbalances and Monitor Overall Physical Health
*Veterinarian approval required to prevent adverse effects
- Improve muscle tone, reduce pain and release trigger points and adhesions to increase flexibility
- Reduce atrophy of muscles due to limited exercise, older age or injury
- Release hypertonic muscles to improve elasticity and function
Joint Problems (such as Osteoarthritis)
- Promote proper joint function, reduce pain and increase joint range of motion
- Improve muscle elasticity of surrounding muscles that directly affect joint motion
Tendonitis
- Increase circulation to speed in healing and move through natural inflammatory phases of healing quicker
- Reduce adhesions or promote linear and elastic adhesions to increase tendon elasticity and reduce re-injury
Post-Injury or Post-Surgery*
- Increase circulation to speed in healing by supplying more oxygen and nutrients to muscles and by moving through natural inflammatory phases of healing quicker
- Reduce lymphedema and increase lymph circulation
- Reduce the risk of compensatory injuries by preventing other muscles from becoming overworked and injured
Low Activity Level
- Reduce lymphedema and increase lymph circulation
- Reduce atrophy of muscles due to limited exercise
High Activity Level
- Release tension, reduce pain and release trigger points and adhesions to increase flexibility
- Release hypertonic muscles to improve elasticity and function
- Increase circulation to speed in healing by supplying more oxygen and nutrients to muscles and by moving through natural inflammatory phases of healing quicker
Emotional Stress
- Improve emotional health and promote relaxation in times of changing environments or routines
Observe Structural Imbalances and Monitor Overall Physical Health
*Veterinarian approval required to prevent adverse effects
Techniques used in massage
Seven basic strokes can be applied during an equine massage, with the first four being most common.
Effleurage
Long, soothing strokes applied with flat hands to prepare the body for massage
Petrissage
Kneading, rolling and squeezing applied with a deeper pressure
Percussion or Tapotement
Faster rhythmic tapping used to warm up muscles or stimulate atrophied muscles
Friction
Static pressure or motion applied with deeper pressure to break up adhesions and release tension
Passive Touch
The initial contact with the horse before starting the massage, as well as the closing stroke used to gain focus and allowing the horse to become accustomed to the presence of the therapist
Compression
Pressing the skin and superficial soft tissue against underlying muscles and bones, similar to Petrissage
Thumb Walking
A stoke using the thumbs to evaluate the condition of the tissue in a more localized area applying deeper pressure
Effleurage
Long, soothing strokes applied with flat hands to prepare the body for massage
Petrissage
Kneading, rolling and squeezing applied with a deeper pressure
Percussion or Tapotement
Faster rhythmic tapping used to warm up muscles or stimulate atrophied muscles
Friction
Static pressure or motion applied with deeper pressure to break up adhesions and release tension
Passive Touch
The initial contact with the horse before starting the massage, as well as the closing stroke used to gain focus and allowing the horse to become accustomed to the presence of the therapist
Compression
Pressing the skin and superficial soft tissue against underlying muscles and bones, similar to Petrissage
Thumb Walking
A stoke using the thumbs to evaluate the condition of the tissue in a more localized area applying deeper pressure
Clinical applications
Massage increases the circulation of the circulatory and lymphatic systems. It restores a normal circulation of blood in the case of poor venous return or ischemic blood flow. Lymph drainage is improved, helping to reduce lymphedema or "stocking up" in the distal limbs.
It can also promote relaxation and decrease anxiety by increasing the activity of the parasympathetic nervous system to decreased heart rate, then leading to a decrease in cardiac output and reduction in blood pressure.
Muscle pain is decreased by reducing neurological muscle spasms and reducing the mechanical pressure created by collagen cross-links or adhesions in the muscle fibers. These fibrous adhesions can also interfere with the elasticity of healing tendons and muscles, so applying massage to the area of a healing injury can prevent the formation of nonlinear collagen (scar tissue) and promote more linear and elastic collagen adhesions.
Massage can increase joint range of motion by increasing circulation to muscles to increase flexibility and tissue extensibility. Some passive and active stretches can also be used in conjunction with massage to further improve joint range of motion.
Tense muscle fascia can be relaxed, with both superficial and deep fascia being affected due to a cascading effect of applying pressure to the surface with the pressure "cascading" deeper into the body.
Massage reduces muscle tension and can also release trigger points, which are small bands of hypertonic muscle. Entire muscle bellies can also be stimulated to reduce the chronic contraction of these muscles (hypertonicity) and decrease pain.
Muscle atrophy can be decreased to maintain muscle tone and function in older horses, horses with poor topline condition or horses that have sustained an injury preventing a muscle from functioning normally.
Massage can delay the onset of muscle soreness created by post-exercise inflammation, decreasing pain and preventing stiffness the day after a hard ride.
It can also promote relaxation and decrease anxiety by increasing the activity of the parasympathetic nervous system to decreased heart rate, then leading to a decrease in cardiac output and reduction in blood pressure.
Muscle pain is decreased by reducing neurological muscle spasms and reducing the mechanical pressure created by collagen cross-links or adhesions in the muscle fibers. These fibrous adhesions can also interfere with the elasticity of healing tendons and muscles, so applying massage to the area of a healing injury can prevent the formation of nonlinear collagen (scar tissue) and promote more linear and elastic collagen adhesions.
Massage can increase joint range of motion by increasing circulation to muscles to increase flexibility and tissue extensibility. Some passive and active stretches can also be used in conjunction with massage to further improve joint range of motion.
Tense muscle fascia can be relaxed, with both superficial and deep fascia being affected due to a cascading effect of applying pressure to the surface with the pressure "cascading" deeper into the body.
Massage reduces muscle tension and can also release trigger points, which are small bands of hypertonic muscle. Entire muscle bellies can also be stimulated to reduce the chronic contraction of these muscles (hypertonicity) and decrease pain.
Muscle atrophy can be decreased to maintain muscle tone and function in older horses, horses with poor topline condition or horses that have sustained an injury preventing a muscle from functioning normally.
Massage can delay the onset of muscle soreness created by post-exercise inflammation, decreasing pain and preventing stiffness the day after a hard ride.
Mechanisim of action
The manual pressure of massage improves circulation of both the lymphatic and circulatory systems to alter the fluid dynamics and increase the circulation of blood and lymph.
The autonomic nervous system, regulated by the hypothalamus, is affected by massage to decrease the activity of the sympathetic nervous system and increase the activity of the parasympathetic nervous system, which is responsible for functions like heart rate, respiration rate and digestion. Blood pressure is also reduced due to an increase in prostaglandin production which dilates peripheral blood vessels.
Massage increases the threshold of the spinal mechanical nociceptor (pain receptors) in the body, increasing the pain tolerance in the massaged area to reduce the perception pain.
Stimulation of muscle spindle fibers affect the afferent simulation of the nervous system, changing muscle tone and length to improve flexibility and prevent injury from over extension of muscles.
Massage causes the thixotropy of fascia, changing fascia from a gel-like state to a more liquid-like state with the application of heat and pressure from the massage. This reduces stiffness and decreases the number of collagen cross-links which limit flexibility and joint range of motion, allowing fascia to move more easily and reduce tension on surrounding muscles.
The manual pressure of the massage helps to physically move individual muscle fibers and reduce the above mentioned collagen cross-links to release tension and promote flexibility. Trigger points are also physically stimulated with pressure to improve the elasticity of individual muscle fibers and promote proper muscle function.
Atrophied muscles are unable to contract and by stimulating these muscles with manual pressure, the peripheral nerves are stimulated and cause an action potential to create the conformation shift of tropomyosin after binding to the calcium ions released from the sarcoplasmic reticulum. This shift allows actin filaments to bind with myosin filaments, causing the muscle to contract and maintain muscle strength and function.
Post-exercise inflammation creates microscopic tears in muscle fibers and post-exercise edema increases osmotic pressure, both of which stimulate nociceptors (pain receptors). Stimulating the nociceptors increases pain tolerance while manual compression reduces lymphedema to reduce the stimulation of the pain receptors.
The autonomic nervous system, regulated by the hypothalamus, is affected by massage to decrease the activity of the sympathetic nervous system and increase the activity of the parasympathetic nervous system, which is responsible for functions like heart rate, respiration rate and digestion. Blood pressure is also reduced due to an increase in prostaglandin production which dilates peripheral blood vessels.
Massage increases the threshold of the spinal mechanical nociceptor (pain receptors) in the body, increasing the pain tolerance in the massaged area to reduce the perception pain.
Stimulation of muscle spindle fibers affect the afferent simulation of the nervous system, changing muscle tone and length to improve flexibility and prevent injury from over extension of muscles.
Massage causes the thixotropy of fascia, changing fascia from a gel-like state to a more liquid-like state with the application of heat and pressure from the massage. This reduces stiffness and decreases the number of collagen cross-links which limit flexibility and joint range of motion, allowing fascia to move more easily and reduce tension on surrounding muscles.
The manual pressure of the massage helps to physically move individual muscle fibers and reduce the above mentioned collagen cross-links to release tension and promote flexibility. Trigger points are also physically stimulated with pressure to improve the elasticity of individual muscle fibers and promote proper muscle function.
Atrophied muscles are unable to contract and by stimulating these muscles with manual pressure, the peripheral nerves are stimulated and cause an action potential to create the conformation shift of tropomyosin after binding to the calcium ions released from the sarcoplasmic reticulum. This shift allows actin filaments to bind with myosin filaments, causing the muscle to contract and maintain muscle strength and function.
Post-exercise inflammation creates microscopic tears in muscle fibers and post-exercise edema increases osmotic pressure, both of which stimulate nociceptors (pain receptors). Stimulating the nociceptors increases pain tolerance while manual compression reduces lymphedema to reduce the stimulation of the pain receptors.
Resources:
1. Baxter, G., & McDonough, S. (2007). Principles of electrotherapy in veterinary physiotherapy. In C. McGowan, L. Goff, & N. Stubbs (Eds.), Animal Physiotherapy Assessment, Treatment and Rehabilitation of Animals (pp. 177-186). Oxford: Blackwell Publishing.
2. Furlan, A., Imamura, M., Dryden, T., & Irvin, E. (2002). Massage for Low Back Pain. Spine, 27(17), 1669-1684.
3. Haussler, K. (2010). The Role of Manual Therapies in Equine Pain Management. Veterinary Clinics of North America: Equine Practice, 26(3), 579-601.
4. Hill, C., & Crook, T. (2010). The relationship between massage to the equine caudal hindlimb muscles and hindlimb protraction. Equine Veterinary Journal, 42(S38), 683-687.
5. Khan, M., Wani, P., Khatoon, N., & Ahmad, M. (2008). Massage A Holistic Therapy. Hamdard Medicus, 51(4), 129-131.
6. Loew, L., Brosseau, L., Tugwell, P., Wells, G., Welch, V., Shea, B., . . . Rahman, P. (2014). Deep transverse friction massage for treating lateral elbow or lateral knee tendinitis. Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews, (11), 1-43.
7. Nelson, N. (2015). Massage therapy: Understanding the mechanisms of action on blood pressure. A scoping review. Journal of the American Society of Hypertension, 15, 1-9.
8. Schoenfeld, B., & Contreras, B. (n.d.). Is Postexercise Muscle Soreness a Valid Indicator of Muscular Adaptations? Strength and Conditioning Journal, 16-21.
9. Scott, M., & Swenson, L. (2009). Evaluating the Benefits of Equine Massage Therapy: A Review of the Evidence and Current Practices. Journal of Equine Veterinary Science, 29(9), 687-697.
10. Sullivan, K., Hill, A., & Haussler, K. (2008). The effects of chiropractic, massage and phenylbutazone on spinal mechanical nociceptive thresholds in horses without clinical signs. Equine Veterinary Journal, 40(1), 14-20.
11. Zadkhosh, S., Ariaee, E., Atri, A., Rashidlamir, A., & Saadatyar, A. (2015). The Effect of Massage Therapy on Depression, Anxiety and Stress in Adolescent Wrestlers. International Journal of Sports Studies, 5(3), 321-327.
1. Baxter, G., & McDonough, S. (2007). Principles of electrotherapy in veterinary physiotherapy. In C. McGowan, L. Goff, & N. Stubbs (Eds.), Animal Physiotherapy Assessment, Treatment and Rehabilitation of Animals (pp. 177-186). Oxford: Blackwell Publishing.
2. Furlan, A., Imamura, M., Dryden, T., & Irvin, E. (2002). Massage for Low Back Pain. Spine, 27(17), 1669-1684.
3. Haussler, K. (2010). The Role of Manual Therapies in Equine Pain Management. Veterinary Clinics of North America: Equine Practice, 26(3), 579-601.
4. Hill, C., & Crook, T. (2010). The relationship between massage to the equine caudal hindlimb muscles and hindlimb protraction. Equine Veterinary Journal, 42(S38), 683-687.
5. Khan, M., Wani, P., Khatoon, N., & Ahmad, M. (2008). Massage A Holistic Therapy. Hamdard Medicus, 51(4), 129-131.
6. Loew, L., Brosseau, L., Tugwell, P., Wells, G., Welch, V., Shea, B., . . . Rahman, P. (2014). Deep transverse friction massage for treating lateral elbow or lateral knee tendinitis. Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews, (11), 1-43.
7. Nelson, N. (2015). Massage therapy: Understanding the mechanisms of action on blood pressure. A scoping review. Journal of the American Society of Hypertension, 15, 1-9.
8. Schoenfeld, B., & Contreras, B. (n.d.). Is Postexercise Muscle Soreness a Valid Indicator of Muscular Adaptations? Strength and Conditioning Journal, 16-21.
9. Scott, M., & Swenson, L. (2009). Evaluating the Benefits of Equine Massage Therapy: A Review of the Evidence and Current Practices. Journal of Equine Veterinary Science, 29(9), 687-697.
10. Sullivan, K., Hill, A., & Haussler, K. (2008). The effects of chiropractic, massage and phenylbutazone on spinal mechanical nociceptive thresholds in horses without clinical signs. Equine Veterinary Journal, 40(1), 14-20.
11. Zadkhosh, S., Ariaee, E., Atri, A., Rashidlamir, A., & Saadatyar, A. (2015). The Effect of Massage Therapy on Depression, Anxiety and Stress in Adolescent Wrestlers. International Journal of Sports Studies, 5(3), 321-327.