209. Why rest isn't always best!

Why box rest can sometimes be counter productive...

To understand that physical therapy can help your horse in numerous ways and on many levels takes some understanding of the basics within the horses bodily systems.

The main body structures that are influenced and affected by physical therapy include:

Muscular system

Relieving tension, spasm, pain and helping the breakdown of adhesions, scarring and torn muscles

Lymphatic system

This is the bodies defence system for fighting infection and clearing debris, it is a slow moving system and relies on movement to work, hence box rest, injuries and trauma will inhibit this system. Physical therapy will assist the lymphatic flow.

Circulatory system

Carries nutrients around the body delivering nutrients and oxygenated blood to tissues and taking waste and debris to the waste disposal systems (kidneys etc)
Decreased muscle activity results in a decreased flow of venous return. Again physical therapy will help with venous return.

Nervous system

Controls every bodily function and describes the communication between the brain, nerves and the spinal cord. Sensory nerves Nerve endings are influenced by massage and the communication is influenced by Bowen technique.

Fascia

This is a connective tissue running throughout the whole body. If you imagine the body without its bones, nerves, organs you would be left with the fascia that runs from head to feet without interruption.

As you can see the systems are all interlinked one working with and affecting another. The main thing to remember is injury, trauma, badly fitting tack and equipment wrongly used can have an effect throughout the WHOLE body, effecting fascia and the bodily systems then having a knock on effect on the body's memory movement pattern. Physical therapy will help with and assist the body's recovery from muscular fatigue, pain, soreness and incorrect way of going and as a preventative measure.