Pulled muscles? What do u do?

charlie55

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How do you treat a muscle injury?

My friends lad had a funny fit in the field the other week, fellover and landed on the side of his bum! He was lame on that side and she called the back lady out the next day, she said he had pulled the muscles in his bum and he was very sore, tender etc, give him 2 days off, the see what hes like.

She lunged two days later, still lame! Left him 5 more days, hes now abit better but still lame. Shes got the back lady again in a couple of days, shes not sure weather to keep going and resting him (no work), get the vet out, or help the muscles by light work??

I have no idea, so said id ask for your advice. What would you do?

He isnt hopping lame, just not right on the lunge, looks fine on the straight, only notices when that leg is on the outside on the lunge (when he has to stretch that side).

confused.gif
 
Had a pony who pulled a muscle in similar place. Was off work 10 days. Danilon for 4 and then brought slowly back after the 10 day period. No box rest though and turned out every day.
 
My horse has pulled her muscle in her shoulder a couple of times and each time I have rested her for 2-3 days put her on bute so the muscle relaxs and gave her a good massage with comfrey oil. Works every time, the key is to get the muscle to relax so painkillers work by relieving the pain.
 
Oh brillient thankyou!!

Just spread the comfrey oil on then. Does it matter how much? He has a rather large bum!

Should she also put him on bute now?

And, (sorry) when you all bought yours back into work, were they still sore and you rode them through it?
 
put the comfery oil in your hands until it is warm then put it on your horse a couple of sachers of bute would not hurt but arnica is good just incase there is any brusing going on as well!
 
Frank badly pulled his shoulder back in march, as in hopping to start.

he had 5 days bute
2 days on yard rest then in a small ind paddock
2 weeks doing nothing
then long reining for a week
then I took it very slowly as he is a bit older and wanted to get it right first time.
 
I am an equine sports massage therapist and from reading your post I would have a slight concern about whether the vet had been consulted before the 'back lady' came and assessed the horse? From a traumatic field injury there are a number of other structures which could be affected as well as resulting muscle damage. May be worth consulting the vet just to be sure and then put physio in touch with the vet to discuss maybe?

If purely a tight sore muscle I would keep the horse active. Sitting in a stable will not help but I wouldn't be working the horse. I would be inclined to stick to straight lines to start with rather than lunging. Plenty of walk on a nice even surface then build from there depending on how the horse feels. It can take a while to get them back to fighting form. Next time back lady comes out see if there are some massage techniques she could show you which would help to loosen the affected area off. I have great results with my clients who I show stretches or gentle massage techniques to as they can keep it all going inbetween sessions and get quicker results without breaking the bank! I hope she makes a full recovery.
 
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