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What do we mean by release, rebalance, and realign?
Working with your horseís muscles, connective tissue, and bones to bring them
back into balance and alignment.
-Reclaims lost flexibility
-Adds grace and flow to movement
-Improves straightness
-Improves impulsion
-Improves cadence
-Increases stride length
-Protects against injury
Why is it important to release, rebalance, and realign?
What causes reduced flexibility and range of motion?
Connective tissue called fascia forms continuous sheets throughout the body,
connecting muscle, organs, and bones; most important to us, it penetrates and surrounds
every muscle, muscle fiber and muscle fiber bundle in the body like a sleeve, giving
the muscle its shape. This fascia is called myofascia. In the young, supple body,
the muscle fibers and the myofascia are at their longest and most efficient, allowing
the most power and freedom in movement. The physical nature of this type of connective
tissue makes it similar to shrinkwrap; the proteins (proteoglycans) have a tendency
to coil more tightly when they are exposed to heat, free radicals, toxins, inflammation,
immobility, or desiccation in the course of injuries, inflammations, and aging. They
do not spontaneously lengthen again. It is as if the fascia were trying to stabilize
the body by forming sticky fibrous structures (adhesions) to conform with the changed
tissue.
This locks the body into increasingly imperfect patterns leading to tightness, stiffness,
aches, restrictions, and sensitivity. These subtle deposits of contracted fascia
between and among the muscles which accumulate over time prevent the full range of
motion. Muscles remain chronically short, joints are not fully used, even more fascial
restrictions are put into place, and the cycle continues, pulling the body out of
alignment. A contraction in one part of the body tugs on the fascia in other parts
of the body, restricting movement there as well. Fascial restrictions may also pinch
blood supply, causing spasms in the muscle, or nerve, causing weakened muscle activity
or chronic pain. Bilateral symmetry suffers, and with it the gaits suffer.
In the horse, many important muscles of movement are attached to heavy fascia. A
contraction in that fascia causes the muscle to work from an altered vantage point,
losing the full power of its action.
After a layup period, when muscle mass is lost, it can be entrapped in fascia which
has shrunk to match the size of the muscle fiber. Releasing this fascia is especially
important during the time when the horse goes back into work, to allow the bulk of
the newly developing muscle to grow. The tension of increasing muscle bulk in tight
fascia leads to restricted movement and discomfort. Releasing the fascia places the
muscle fibers in the right spatial relationships, so that their movement is efficient,
smooth, and comfortable.
The body of the horse has an ability to repair muscle, tendon, and ligament, but
some intervention is needed to release the hold of the fascia on the soft tissues.
A single, passing injury in one part of the body can set up imperfect patterns in
other parts of the body which must take up the load. The fascia then tends to glue
muscle, deep skin structures, and even nerve tissue into adhesions, limiting movement
and causing low grade discomfort even after the injury is healed.
When this fascia is released, the muscle fibers can return to their proper three
dimensional relationship to one another, and function more efficiently and powerfully.
Slack is fed from less tight areas to more tight areas, freeing up tissue so that
it can move. When the horse is able to use himself evenly, freely, and with full
range of motion, he is more resistant to injury, fatigue, and burnout. His layers
of tissue move smoothly over one another, giving the gaits grace, smoothness,and
more suspension.
How is the work done?
Beginning with a complete assessment of the texture of the tissue over the body
of the horse, this work proceeds to gradually unlock the muscle and fascia restrictions
to allow the horse to begin to use himself differently. Each horse is different in
what he is comfortable with at each stage in different parts of his body. The work
proceeds gradually, often in combination with BioScan technology, which is highly
concentrated near red and infrared photon therapy in combination (as appropriate)
with pulsed electromagnetic field at various frequencies (for more on these tools,
see www.BioScanLight.com). BioScan is used by many top veterinarians to improve performance
in horses. As the horse allows, manual techniques are combined to work by hooking
first into superficial layers and later deeper layers of myofascia, softening and
releasing muscles, peeling away restrictions and freeing layers of adhered fascial
tissue. The horse feels these changes, and his proprioception (balance, and sense
of where his feet are as well as other parts of his body, how they are moving, and
their coordination) adjusts to make fuller use of his body. The tissue can be seen
to soften, and the horse gives evidence of his releases through his breath and his
posture.
In some cases, where there is a strong movement pattern that requires more attention,
and/or a clear pain issue causing problems in behavior or performance, the biomechanics
of the horseís particular movement is examined so that the appropriate muscles can
be addressed directly. Pain issues are addressed through traditional massage techniques
such as deep tissue, acupressure, and Bioscan technology. At times, the EndoTapping
method of Jean-Philippe Giacomini, learned from this master horseman (www.equus.net),
is employed to teach the horse a relaxation response that he can use in performance.
Because this process is something like peeling an onion, the work is not normally
completed in one session, though many horses will see considerable benefit from one
session. When one area is released, another frequently becomes the focus of the next
session as it takes on a new part of the work load, as guarding is released, or as
nearby parts move differently from before. Longstanding issues can resolve quite
quickly, or can require several sessions before everything is back in balance.
How to manage your horse during this work.
He may be feeling lively, so although handwalking or turnout after a session
is best,
and lunging briefly is also fine, care should be taken that he doesnít get too wild.
He will be feeling his new flexibility, and may buck, spin, roll, gallop a bit, learning
what he can do differently now. If he does overdo, he may be sore, not from the bodywork
but from the exertion afterwards.
He should not be ridden the same day after the session, and on the next day, ridden
for only half the usual workout, and flatwork only. He needs to integrate the new
information his brain is getting from his limbs in the absence of the restrictions
now released, and to retrain the timing of the muscles to coordinate his movement
properly.
About Cindy Reynolds:
Cindy has a Ph.D. in cellular/molecular biology and physiology, and a passion for
horses. She has expertise in conformation, biomechanics, anatomy and a love of the
details of the bodyís function. She has an eye for the beauty of symmetry and freedom
in movement. Cindy has raised, loved, and trained horses since 1985, and has broad
experience in dressage, combined driving, and cross-country trail riding.
Her work, through hands that are sensitive, compassionate, and skilled, releases,
realigns, softens, and rebalances horses, increasing the grace and power of their
movement. She has a wide range of techniques, obtained through years of bodywork
education around the U.S., and years of experience in using them selectively for
each horse in each circumstance. She is a Licensed Massage Practitioner (human practice)
and Large Animal Massage Practitioner in Washington State (she also has a license
for small animal massage) and Equine Sports Massage Therapist. Her particular interest
in myofascial release has led to advanced training with Jim Pascucci, Certified Advanced
Rolfer (www.equinesi.com) and with Joseph Freeman, Certified Hellerworker (www.josephfreeman.com), bodyworkers who have adapted myofascial
work for horses, in addition to other mentors listed on her website.
Her combined background in horses, bodywork, and science and an inquisitive nature
give her a large knowledge base and unique insight into the conditions that allow
top performance. She has studied healing and treatment modalities from the point
of view of a research scientist. - Further, she is interested in empowering owners
to take responsibility for some of their horsesí bodywork, and enjoys teaching owner-friendly
techniques.
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