PASSIVE MOTION EXERCISE

PASSIVE MOTION EXERCISE

FLEXION/ EXTENSION

• It moves joint fluid around the joint space
• It improves blood flow to the soft tissues of the joint
• It prevents or breakdown fibrin bands within an infected joint
• It prevents fibrosis in the joint capsule-this helps to maintain joint mobility
• It helps remove pus from the joint in horse with septic arthritis
• It helps prevent or resolve flexor contracture

Flexion / Extension involves lifting the horse leg and slowly flexing, then extending the joint.
The procedure can be repeated 20-30 times,at least twice per day.

STRETCHING

Muscle problems are very common in athletic horses.
General stretching and relaxing a muscle can:

• Relieve muscle spasm
• Improve muscle blood flow
• Prevent or minimize adhesions between muscles

When stretching a muscle ,it is important that the muscle is lengthened gradually,and not to its greatest extreme.
Muscles should never be jerked suddenly or forced to stretch.
After the muscle is stretched to the point of resistance and held in that position for about 5 seconds,it should be slowly released and allowed to relax.

This procedure can be repeated 10-20 times ,once  or twice per day.

Reference

lameness-Equine Research

Christine King and Richard Mansmann