by Barbara Chasteen Many people find massage therapy mysterious, and wonder how or even if it can make a real difference. I've been able to use massage to help recover the health of injured or diseased ligaments and tendons in several equines (including a world-champion driving donkey). The slender Peruvian Paso featured here had weak, inflamed rear pasterns which sank below the horizontal when bearing weight, a condition sometimes diagnosed as "suspensory desmitis" and generally thought to be an irreversible, genetically-determined condition. "Señor Paso" was about 18 years old when we began treatment. We knew little about his past, only that he had been rescued by kindhearted people from a "ride for hire" business, and he seemed to have been trained for show. We didn't know how his story would turn out -- we only knew he deserved a chance to heal, and so began the journey. The Story of Señor Paso When my Peruvian Pasošs true nature began to appear, displaying courage, pride and flamboyance, as well as grace and gentleness, I dubbed him "Señor Paso." When he arrived one winter midnight after a 700-mile journey, he was a frightened, confused little horse who made me want to cover my eyes when I saw him walk. Señor Pasošs hind pastern joints were swollen and puffy and the pasterns themselves sagged low to the ground when he put weight on his hind legs. He moved himself forward with his front legs, the hind legs following when they had to, and he thought nothing of standing with his hind legs at a 90-degree angle to the front ones. His back sagged weakly and the muscles throughout his body were flaccid. There seemed to be only pain and tension in his neck and head. He spent his free time chewing on the barn and fences, or hiding in his stall. He was afraid of any request by humans and felt threatened by any touch. Like many "pushbutton" show horses, he had lost his ability to look forward and move toward a goal.
Healing From the Inside Out We used a low-tech, "whole horse" approach to repair Senor Pasošs injured ligaments and tendons. To achieve lasting soundness and true healing, we addressed not only the immediate symptoms, but also the underlying causes. We evaluated him from three perspectives: local (hind pasterns), regional (hindquarter system), and whole horse (body, mind and spirit). In addition to misshapen hooves, missing nutrition, dental imbalance, and other physical issues, chronic tension and anxiety can be a significant contributing factor in lameness. For this horse, light-boned conformation, extra-long pasterns and a destructive riding style also may have contributed to his breakdown. Conformation can't be altered, but we were able to restore strength and stability to his hind legs and pastern joints, as well as healthy posture and movement to his body, and joy to his life. Systems Approach to Tissue Repair Señor Pasošs "collapsing" pasterns were the end result of a body-wide process. To restore soundness, we had not only to relieve inflammation and repair specific damage in the pasterns, but also to restore and rebalance the muscles in his back and hindquarters. Sñnor Paso had a weakened topline: an extended, upside-down neck and low, "sway" back. His hindquarters were also weak. Tight adductors in the thighs narrowed his stance, while weak biceps and hamstrings tried to balance even weaker quads. The vital Deep Digital Flexor tendon, a key to soundness in the hind leg, seemed useless, leaving the lower leg ligaments overwhelmed with the task of supporting his fetlocks. In a healthy horse, integrated back and limb muscle systems provide supple strength and shock absorption for the lower legs. When these systems are compromised by unbalanced weight distribution and resulting torsion and weakness, the legs alone must "carry" all the weight and absorb all the concussion from locomotion. Exhaustion sets in. Support structures in the legs, such as the suspensory ligaments, are required to do a job they're not designed to do and may be damaged. Regular, precise massage was the key to restoring elasticity and tone to the muscles that were either too tight or too loose in Señor Paso's body and legs. Massage helped clear the chronic inflammation in Señor Pasošs lower legs. It also released chronic tension in the back extensor muscles (such as the Longissimus dorsi and Gluteus medius) and lower back and hip flexors (notably the Iliopsoas). Gentle stretching and passive joint mobilization restored full range of motion to his hips, stifles and hocks, and balanced the tone of corresponding muscles on both sides of the body. Homeopathic remedies, nutritional supplements, expert hoof trimming and therapeutic exercises were the other necessities for Senor Paso's recovery. Movement Therapy To strengthen his muscles, we helped Señor Paso exercise his hind limbs in concert with the back and neck. We distinguished between exercises that create balance and suppleness ("active" stretching), and exercises for fitness. Slow, deliberate movements -- including various lateral movements -- target specific muscle groups. Fitness (conditioning) exercises bring momentum into the equation, allowing already strong muscles to "carry" the weak ones. In the beginning, Señor Paso easily shifted into a hurried, automatic or 'pushbutton' mode of travel that was disconnected and destructive. Our in-hand and riding sessions asked for a focused, conscious response to cues, a relaxation into the movement. We didn't use timed or numbered sets of exercises, nor accept automatic (reflex) responses. We used other therapeutic techniques to re-integrate Senor Paso's nervous system, to restore his body's proprioception (sense of itself) and sensory motor function (voluntary movement). For example, Señor Paso regularly wore the "body wrap" popularized by Linda Tellington-Jones through her TTEAM techniques. Equine Hanna Somatics(R) provided gentle, guided, conscious movements to release chronic contractions and regain control. In-hand and mounted work also neutralized the anxiety reflected in Señor Paso's "braced for disaster" body. Relaxed trail rides and informal clinics restored his confidence and interest in life -- he seemed proud of learning some simple tricks, too. Gentle 'round penning' helped him to be attentive, calm and move forward with confidence. Señor Paso's shortened, sagging neck lifted into a proud arch, his back strengthened, and his pasterns lost their swollen, congested profile.
Beyond Bodywork When Señor Paso arrived, the first task was to improve his body's ability to heal. His team of expert consultants included mainstream veterinarians, knowledgeable farriers, an equine chiropractor (a Doctor of Chiropractic certified in animal chiropractic), a veterinary homeopath, and a vet with specialized training in dentistry. Nutritional and immune system support (including probiotics, herbs and free choice minerals), a natural lifestyle, and retraining with a 'whole horsemanship' approach supported Señor Paso's recovery. His new herd included friendly humans such as Jesi who gave him love through her gentle, meticulous grooming; and Judy who worked -- at his pace -- to present riding as fun rather than terrifying. Unbalanced hooves strain the soft tissues of the legs and make good posture difficult. Señor Paso's toes were long and the heels undershot, with flat soles and contracted heels. We trimmed his feet every four weeks to re-center the coffin bone and restore normal limb biomechanics. We've found that hindquarter weakness can often be relieved by restoring dental function. Señor Paso's jaws were narrow and unbalanced. His jaw and poll joints were tense and painful; he cribbed constantly. Equine dentistry relieved his symptoms and follow-up massage restored full range of motion to his head and neck. He stopped cribbing immediately. His extremely narrow jaw expanded significantly. Homeopathic remedies were indispensable in Señor Paso's recovery. In the beginning, remedies such as Arnica montana alleviated his chronic pain, fear, and trauma. We used Ruta graveolens (both internally, and externally as a tincture) to improve tendon and ligament health and at times when he over-exercised. Other remedies helped support his immune system until it was strong enough to withstand challenges such as evening swarms of mosquitos and gnats. (Note: Every case is different. Remedies should be prescribed for the individual horse by an experienced homeopath.)
Hours of Free Rehabilitation Herd animals (both humans and horses!) tend to mimic each other's posture, mood and movement. Senor Paso was pastured daily with socially and physically healthy horses. Free exercise and grazing also provided hours of physical therapy. He experienced a variety of random sensations throughout the day, such as changes in level and surface, shifting weather, and fluid social contexts, providing sophisticated neurological stimulation. He constantly performed subtle, non-repetitive movements as he changed gaits, did hill work on varied slopes, and relearned independent decision making, all of which help restore sensory-motor awareness. At night (or when he needed rest days) Señor Paso had a stall with a roomy outdoor paddock, allowing him to relax and integrate the changes in his body and mind.
A Winning Team Everyone who worked with this horse was respectful of him and the other team members. Señor Paso was not seen as a failure, a victim, or a patient with a terminal condition. His team believed that full recovery was possible and noticed the smallest improvement. We returned to him not only healthy legs, but also a sense of belonging. Today Señor Paso has a new life. His growth continues on another level, as his companion works with energy, "healing from the inside out." When I visit him I find a sound riding horse who has a strong, balanced body and a joyous spirit. He has regained the place in the world that he was born to, as a fully functioning being. Homeopathic remedies were indispensable in Señor Paso's recovery. In the beginning, remedies such as Arnica montana alleviated his chronic pain, fear, and trauma. We used Ruta graveolens (both internally, and externally as a tincture) to improve tendon and ligament health and at times when he over-exercised. Other remedies helped support his immune system until it was strong enough to withstand challenges such as evening swarms of mosquitos and gnats. (Note: Every case is different. Remedies should be prescribed for the individual horse by an experienced homeopath.) |
Holistic Rehabilitation of Ligaments and Tendons
