Sports massage is a specialized form of massage used not only to relieve muscle tension and fatigue but to help prevent future muscle injury. Its main purpose is to break up adhesions* in the soft tissue. Adhesions are common occurrences brought on by overexertion or overuse.

    The specific strokes of sports massage are effective in breaking up these adhesions: reducing muscle tension, restoring circulation, relieving pain, promoting flexibility, and possibly preventing future muscle injuries. Equine athletes are no different than human athletes that subject themselves to rigorous training for their particular sport (except they don’t have a voice).

    Different muscle groups are used in different sports among humans as well as equines, and sports massage specifically addresses the particular needs of that sport, aiming to give the body the ability to self-heal strained muscles, while allowing healthy ones to reach their optimal performance.

*adhesions are “clumps” of tissue that restrict the proper function, i.e., shortening and lengthening of the muscle tissue.

For more on Equine Sports Massage or Equissage visit www.equissage.com