Page 465 - The Veterinary Care of the Horse

• muscle biopsy.

VetBooks.ir Ultrasonography, scintigraphy, thermography and electromyography are also useful in some

cases. Electromyography is a procedure that measures the electrical activity in skeletal
muscles. Normal skeletal muscle has little electrical activity unless the horse moves or a

muscle is stimulated to contract. In some conditions, the diseased muscle has abnormal,
spontaneous bursts of electrical activity.

Muscle strains and tears

Any muscle that is subjected to unaccustomed activity is likely to have some soreness, 24–48
hours later. This usually resolves quite quickly, provided the horse is allowed to recover and

does not overexert himself again.
Muscle strains and tears may be the result of:

• a traumatic event such as a fall

• a sudden uncoordinated muscle contraction due to slipping or working on uneven ground

• continuing to work a tired horse
• failure to warm the horse up properly prior to strenuous exercise

• an inadequate cooling-down period following fast work; the horse should be walked on a

loose rein for at least 10 minutes.

CLINICAL SIGNS

These include:

• an abnormal posture

• stiffness or lameness

• muscle swelling
• heat and/or pain on palpation

• increased muscle tension or spasm

• decreased range of motion.

TREATMENT

The aim of treatment is to relieve the pain and spasm, and to restore the normal circulation
and function of the muscle with minimal scarring. This may be achieved by:

• rest