Massage is a very old form of therapy, which has been performed on animals for about 3000 years. Domesticated animals were treated with massage as it was a common understanding that they became healthier and easier to handle.
Massage has been used on people even longer, and Hippocrates – the father of medicine in Ancient Greece – recommended regular massages for all warriors and sports men, especially before battles and competitions. Massage has been proven effective for making the restitution time easier after competitions.
The effects of massage
Being touched has a therapeutic effect in itself. Massage therapy is preventive for a number of injuries. It is a mild therapy with a number of positive effects of the body. Through massage the muscles, hormones, inner organs, blood circulation, and lymph system are stimulated. The body is stimulated to dispose of waste substances and the muscles become smoother and more relaxed. Experiments have shown that the muscles double the blood supply though massage.
Additionally, massage works as a catalysator for several other therapies like chiropractic and acupuncture/acupressure.
Massage at injuries
You can keep the muscles passively maintained with regular massage when a horse is injured and confined to stall rest, and the rehabilitation phase may be shorter. Experiments that have been undertaken on muscle ruptures have indicated that the horses which were treated with massages during the rehabilitation period developed lesser connective tissues of the muscles. The muscles also became smoother and had a larger muscle mass.
Research has also proven an increased length of the stride of the hind legs.