Abstract:
A somatologist receives skilled training in different alternative therapies, as
well as the well-being of the entire body. Massages on equine athletes, may
not only broaden the horse-loving somatologist's specialising field, but might
improve the horses' performance and well-being by using massages, as a
warm up/cool down routine. The objective of the research was to investigate
the effects of Swedish massage on the performance ability of competitive
horses. Swedish massages were applied on thirty horses, from various
breeds, representing three disciplines namely Dressage (n=10), Endurance
(n=10) and Saddlebred (n=10). Each horse received ten massage treatments
over a period of five weeks. The horses' performance improvement was
measured to analyse their flexibility, muscle injury and relaxation before and
after the massages. Although the blood parameters for muscle injury,
aspartate aminotransferase (AST) and creatine kinase (CK) did not respond
to the Swedish massage, the results indicated that the treatments resulted in
significant (P<0.05) lower heart rates, as well as improved flexibility of the
horses' necks, backs and shoulders. Human athletes benefit from Swedish
massage to enhance their performance ability. Equine athletes have similar
ailments as humans and then the possibility exists that equine athletes may
benefit as human athletes. This then can be aligned with the somatologists
scope of practice and broaden their working field.
