Page 93 - BSR 2022

EQUINE HEALTH
KINESIOLOGY TAPE CAN BE USED IN CONJUNCTION WITH OTHER TREATMENTS SUCH AS:
Acupuncture Chiropractic care Cold therapy
skin movement, providing a positional stimulus to the mechanoreceptors. Their feedback to the brain triggers impulses to adjust the structure’s position to minimize mechanoreceptor stimulation by the tape’s tension. Like its use
in ligament and tendon correction, the tape
is used to maintain the structure in a desired position or range of motion. Likewise, the tape may be applied to produce increased tension and mechanoreceptor stimulation when the structure is nearing the end of its healing range of motion. In this case, the impulses released by the brain stop the structure from moving further in that direction, creating a blocking action of joint or tissue motion to prevent pathological motion.
For scar tissue correction - to reorganize and minimize scars and scar tissue - the tape is applied in two phases. The first phase is applied in repetitive strips that stimulate mechanoreceptors to send stimuli that facilitate both relaxation and
contraction (opposing forces) in adjacent lines.
It works like cross friction massage to disrupt
and disorganize the scar. This phase may be continued for one to several months depending on the scar size and how old it is. Once the scar has softened, the second phase begins. The tape is applied to create forces in the same plane to facilitate reorganization and realignment of the scar tissue. When scar fibers are in alignment, the scar size is smaller, and the surrounding tissue is less compromised by tension at the scar interface.
CONTROVERSIAL
The actual benefit of kinesiology tapes for horses is somewhat controversial. Used inappropriately, the taping might be more harmful than helpful. As stated by April Battles, a professional equine massage specialist, “I used to use the tape on both shoulders when I was doing horse bodywork.
But I found that it masks the problem and does not treat the problem, so it eventually gets worse.” She now teaches people to look for the cause of the problem and to try to address the problem itself rather than just the symptoms.
“I now tell my clients that it is better to do my horse yoga program and the whole-body massage and body work to find out the why. Why is that muscle overworked and tight and needing support for the horse to compete? People need to figure out the “why” and address it before the horse breaks down. The Healy micro-current therapy would be better for the horse than the tape,” she says.
Note: some of the information in this article is from the Equi-tape website; the Henderson Equine Clinic (Avon, NY) website; “Let’s Talk Kinesiology Tape” by Horse
& Rider editor Nichole Chiroco; and the Holistic Bodyworks website.
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