Connective Tissues
Connective tissue is the white tough fiber you find while cutting up a chicken
breast. These tissues are whitish, glossy sacs which surround each individual muscle, the smooth slick coverings over bones, and the membranes that encase the internal organs. They line body cavities, tough tendons, ligaments, and bursae. Muscles, tendons, ligaments, nerve and blood cell sheaths, and sheets of fascia are all connective tissues. Connective tissues are a vital organ that monitors the inflammatory process for antibodies to fight infections. Its fluid meduim has intracellular circulation of white blood cells, anitbodies, hormones, and other immune system elements. Connective tissue forms a fibrous bed for all lymph vessles, blood vessels, and nerves. In addition, it synchronizes motion between muslces, vessles, nerves, viscera, and bones. Collagen, the most abundant protien, makes up the sheets and cords of connective tissue. This structure makes up 40% of the body. Also, collagen is a key element in wound healing, since scar tissue is new collagen that has migrated to an injury.
breast. These tissues are whitish, glossy sacs which surround each individual muscle, the smooth slick coverings over bones, and the membranes that encase the internal organs. They line body cavities, tough tendons, ligaments, and bursae. Muscles, tendons, ligaments, nerve and blood cell sheaths, and sheets of fascia are all connective tissues. Connective tissues are a vital organ that monitors the inflammatory process for antibodies to fight infections. Its fluid meduim has intracellular circulation of white blood cells, anitbodies, hormones, and other immune system elements. Connective tissue forms a fibrous bed for all lymph vessles, blood vessels, and nerves. In addition, it synchronizes motion between muslces, vessles, nerves, viscera, and bones. Collagen, the most abundant protien, makes up the sheets and cords of connective tissue. This structure makes up 40% of the body. Also, collagen is a key element in wound healing, since scar tissue is new collagen that has migrated to an injury.
Fascia
Fascia is a dense connective tissue, made of a tight bundle of collagen fibers
filled with cerebral spinal fliud. Sheets of fascia wrap around each cell, and
around all muscles, tendons, ligaments, bones, organs, and all other items found
in the body. Fascia is responsible for connecting muscles to other muscles,
muscles to bones, bones to bones, etc. Fibers of fascia are added to the body
when there is an injury or stress to an area. The immune system tells the
fibroblasts when to add fascia and when to stop. If the fibroblast is not told
to stop laying down fascia, it will continue and create a hard knot. If this
still continues, chronic pain results in this area because the muscle cannot
move due to too much fascia. In addition, fascia holds memory, even though it
may not be the correct shape it is holding. The new fascia is layed down in a
disorderly way with the fibers going in every direction. Until these new
collagen fibers are broken up and aligned correctly, the muscles or tendons
around it will not be able to function correctly. Massage can break up these
fibers and correctly align them, so muscles and tendons can function. Similarly,
massage can help soften up the hard knots created by too much fascia, and in
turn help signal the fibroblasts to stop laying fascia down in this area.
filled with cerebral spinal fliud. Sheets of fascia wrap around each cell, and
around all muscles, tendons, ligaments, bones, organs, and all other items found
in the body. Fascia is responsible for connecting muscles to other muscles,
muscles to bones, bones to bones, etc. Fibers of fascia are added to the body
when there is an injury or stress to an area. The immune system tells the
fibroblasts when to add fascia and when to stop. If the fibroblast is not told
to stop laying down fascia, it will continue and create a hard knot. If this
still continues, chronic pain results in this area because the muscle cannot
move due to too much fascia. In addition, fascia holds memory, even though it
may not be the correct shape it is holding. The new fascia is layed down in a
disorderly way with the fibers going in every direction. Until these new
collagen fibers are broken up and aligned correctly, the muscles or tendons
around it will not be able to function correctly. Massage can break up these
fibers and correctly align them, so muscles and tendons can function. Similarly,
massage can help soften up the hard knots created by too much fascia, and in
turn help signal the fibroblasts to stop laying fascia down in this area.
Muscles
Muscles are soft tissues that have the most blood supply, oxygen, and elasticity. They contain living cells, and change chemical energy to mechanical energy. Muscles work by contracting and releasing to control movement. In addition, muscles determine a horse's range of motion. They stabilize the body and are a posture support for the horse.
Tendons
Tendons have less blood flow than muscles, with a little elasticity. Tendons connect muscles to bone. They withstand more pressure than a muscle can contract. Ripping occurs in tendons more than muscles due to less elasiticity. Strains or sprains will occur in tendons due to fatigue or inflammation.
Ligaments
Ligaments have the least amount of blood flow, which is why they are the slowest to heal. In addition, ligaments connect bone to bone and have little to no elasticity. They hel[p stabilize the horse.
Traumas
Spasms occur in the muscles when a muscle is overstretched. The muscle will over contract and not release its tension, causing the muscle fibers to become slightly misconstrued. When trauma occurs to a muscle, such as being kicked by
another horse, the muscle fibers affected are twisted in all different
directions resulting in scar tissue. Scar tissue impedes movement because these
muscle spindles cannot move if they are not aligned correctly. The immune system
kicks in and adds fascia to help heal the tissue. In order for this muscle to
regain its range of motion and function correctly, the scar tissue must be
broken up. Massage heats up the stuck spindles and helps realign the muscle
fibers. In addition, circulation increases to help create a normal, functioning
muscle once again.
another horse, the muscle fibers affected are twisted in all different
directions resulting in scar tissue. Scar tissue impedes movement because these
muscle spindles cannot move if they are not aligned correctly. The immune system
kicks in and adds fascia to help heal the tissue. In order for this muscle to
regain its range of motion and function correctly, the scar tissue must be
broken up. Massage heats up the stuck spindles and helps realign the muscle
fibers. In addition, circulation increases to help create a normal, functioning
muscle once again.
Thixotrophy
Connective tissues become more fluid when it is stirred up and
more solid when it sits without being disturbed is a phenemenon called
thixotrophy. Fluid states of connective tissue are provided by rapid and efficient metabolism by physical work, aerobic exercise, or stretching. With disuse, tissue becomes colder, less energized, and sluggish. Instead of being fluid, it becomes a gel. These tissues lose the ability to soften, flex, and stretch, which happens if there is poor nutrition or inactive lifestyle. This in turn, weakens all connective tissues and stiffens them. This inactive lifestyle may occur if a horse has had an injury, is stall-bound, or if it lives in a small area and does not have proper exercise. Friction and heat are generated during massage. This also raises the energy level and promotes more fluid tissues. Massage can help reverse the effects of a horse's inactive lifestyle, along with proper excercise.
As horses age, connective tissue fibers pack closer together forming tighter bonds which become harder to separate. Chronic pressure and chronic immobility facilitate or speed up this bunching and gluing process. Horses under chronic stress and disuse over time result in decreased range of motion in their joints. Stiffness results from old age, repeated strains, or poorly healed injuries, as well. Massage can help aleviate some of this stiffness and soften some of the tight collagen bonds. This can help increase the range of motion to an extent.
more solid when it sits without being disturbed is a phenemenon called
thixotrophy. Fluid states of connective tissue are provided by rapid and efficient metabolism by physical work, aerobic exercise, or stretching. With disuse, tissue becomes colder, less energized, and sluggish. Instead of being fluid, it becomes a gel. These tissues lose the ability to soften, flex, and stretch, which happens if there is poor nutrition or inactive lifestyle. This in turn, weakens all connective tissues and stiffens them. This inactive lifestyle may occur if a horse has had an injury, is stall-bound, or if it lives in a small area and does not have proper exercise. Friction and heat are generated during massage. This also raises the energy level and promotes more fluid tissues. Massage can help reverse the effects of a horse's inactive lifestyle, along with proper excercise.
As horses age, connective tissue fibers pack closer together forming tighter bonds which become harder to separate. Chronic pressure and chronic immobility facilitate or speed up this bunching and gluing process. Horses under chronic stress and disuse over time result in decreased range of motion in their joints. Stiffness results from old age, repeated strains, or poorly healed injuries, as well. Massage can help aleviate some of this stiffness and soften some of the tight collagen bonds. This can help increase the range of motion to an extent.
