Equine myofascial release
Equine myofascial release is the hands on modality I apply to work on the thin white, translucent connective tissue, found between the skin and the muscles; the myofascia.
Myofascia wraps around muscle tissue, connecting and supporting the body’s musculature. Myofascia is also the tissue of intracellular communication which allows proper cellular metabolism. Each time muscle fibres are subject to trauma; from impact or repetitive motion injury; the myofascia shortens and tightens up. And because the myofascia connects the body’s musculature together, trauma in one location can cause tension, restrictions, and maladjustments in other parts of the body. These restrictions of the myofascia reduce circulation and impact the nerves, causing stiffness and pain.
Equine myofascial release relaxes and reduces the myofascial restrictions with the application of low pressure release holds, over long time intervals. During the release holds, the tissues often feel as though they are quivering or melting in multiple directions. Often, the quivering can also be seen taking place at a distance from the point of release hold. Because the tissues are not forced, my hands move in the directions where the myofascia is released. It is also common for the horse to clearly communicate where it mainly wants me to work as it starts feeling the positive effects of the release on particular areas of the body.