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Geoff Culverwell
equinePHYSIOcare DIAGNOSTICS CLINICS UPCOMING EVENTS ARTICLES TESTIMONIALS PHOTO GALLERY MUSIC CONTACT |
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Articles HEALING INJURY - PART IThe First Stage of HealingRegeneration Remodeling Other Articles by Geoff Culverwell Some articles are for sale online, therefore we have provided a abstract only. To purchase an article or use any information on this site, please contact me and quote the article title. HEALING INJURY - PART IThe First Stage of HealingThe most common injuries attended are those that are due to the straining of muscles, ligaments and tendons. As a group, these are known as connective tissue. When an injury occurs, the first stage of healing is called the reaction phase. This stage can last for up to seven days. The length of time depends on the extent of the injury and what you do to speed up the healing process.Article Cost: $8.50 purchase full article RegenerationAfter the reaction stage, there are two other stages that traumatic injuries go through. These are called regeneration and remodelling. In the regeneration stage the horse's body builds new capillaries to replace the damaged ones. This process is known as angiogenesis and starts the rebuilding of the damaged connective tissue. It does this by making collagen strands. Collagen is made up of amino acids - amino acids are the small subunits of protein. Consequently the diet must contain enough protein to help make these collagen strands. If you look at a forest, all of the trees are parallel with each other. Once in a while you will see a tree that has fallen down and has been caught in another tree. Collagen fibers are similar to this. Collagen is supposed to be in parallel lines. After an injury the horse's body (around the injury site) makes a mesh with the collagen fibres going in all directions. Another example might be the kid's game "pick up sticks". All of the collagen fibres should be parallel. But after an injury they look like the sticks when they are dropped. The fibres are running in all directions. In order to make a strong bond at the sight of the injury, these crossing of fibres – or cross-links – are necessary. One problem is that these crossed links limit the range of motion of the structures that have been injured and the horse may not be able to move its shoulder or leg (injured part) as it once did. In the last stage of healing, re-modeling the cross links (and scarring) are slowly reduced and range of motion is increased. In this regeneration stage, we want to continue to minimise any swelling and inflammation and stimulate protein production of the collagen bonds. Controlled motion and Bioptron Light therapy helps to ensure that most of the collagen will be laid down in the lines of the normal joint action. In humans and horses dietary modification to ensure adequate protein intake is very important, as is limiting foods and substances that encourage the inflammatory process. This would include in humans an excess of animal fats, alcohol and partially hydrogenated fats. Increasing dose for horses of omega three oils, EPA and treating externally with Bioptron will help to limit any inflammation. To ensure adequate protein intake, small servings of protein should be consumed throughout the day. Our goal is to make sure that the muscles that have been damaged are treated and made functional. Ligaments that have been damaged may need support both structurally and nutritionally, keeping the joints aligned properly will allow the damaged structures to heal back at their normal lengths. This stage of the healing goes from 48 hours after the injury in a mild case, to over 8 weeks in a more severe injury, this may be greatly shortened by Bioptron light therapy. Dietary modification to ensure adequate protein intake is very important, so is limiting food and substances that encourage the inflammatory process (heating and over-vasculation to be avoided). Article Cost: $8.50 purchase full article RemodellingRemodelling In the remodeling stage, the cross-links and scarring that were formed in the regeneration stage are slowly reduced and range of motion is increased. In this phase, care is taken to re-establish the motion of the joint. This may require massage type work, Bioptron or stretching. Much of this may be done in normal daily work but the problem is that they tend to protect the injured part by not using it and thereby limit the return to full function. The other major goal in this phase of the healing is to re-establish normal proprioception. This involves muscle co-ordination. Muscles react to each other. The contraction of one muscle causes another muscle to relax. When a muscle contracts, it should not cause another muscle to weaken when it should be helping the contacting muscle. When this ballet of muscle co-ordination is not functioning properly, aches and pains may result, or you will see a decreased range of motion. At equine physio care we test the muscles doing various tasks to determine that the co-ordination is working properly. In simple injuries, this remodeling stage will begin as early as the fourteenth day after the injury. In severe injuries, the stage may last well over a year. This time may be at least halved by using Bioptron Therapy. Only when full range of motion and co-ordinated muscle function has been attained, have you recovered from an injury. If these goals are not attained, permanent decreased function and compensations by the horse's body will lead to other problems. An example is a horse that has injured its leg or shoulder and doesn't fully recover and may have a slight impediment in its gaits. This may cause the horse knee, shoulder, hip and back problems so that it becomes difficult to ride, and years later can cause arthritis in its joints, legs, hips etc - a result due to changes that have occurred in its way of going because of its injury. Restoration of normal function depends on successfully completing the three stages of healing. Each one has its own goals and requirements. Applied Kinesiology: A diagnostic tool using the muscle structure of the horse's body to aid in the examination of the horse. Its use allows immediate feedback, aiding the equine physio and/or vet in making decisions on what type of ERMT (Equine Remedial Muscle Therapies) are required to treat the injury back to soundness and full function. Some horses may require a therapeutic riding/schooling schedule to rehabilitate the injury and get the correct Kinesiology re-established. Article Cost: $6.30 purchase full article OTHER ARTICLES BY GEOFF CULVERWELLLower leg position Rider's Leg Position Diagnostics when ridden Easy ways to check your horse's soundness, straightness and balance each time you ride, plus exercises to improve athletic ability. Re-schooling the ex-race horse This article describes ways of gradually and safely schooling out problems with temperament, balance, outline, biting and resolving common physical problems that occur with ex-race horses. 
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