What is fascial restriction?
When pain is caused by myofascial tightness within the fascial system (the web of connective tissue that spreads throughout the body and surrounds every muscle, bone, nerve blood vessel, and organ to the cellular level) the diagnosis is more difficult, as fascia restrictions do not show up on MRI scans or X-rays.
Under supervision of Dr Daleen Erasmus from Outeniqua Mobile Vet Clinic I worked on a horse today. The horse could not load its front left limb due to various reasons. It became apparent that there were fascial restrictions (bilaterally) in the proximal (top) extensor muscles of the leg. The thin lines that resembles very thin "veins" is what needs to be looked at. I did a couple of cross fiber friction releases starting on the left which was not loading. Within less than a minute the horse started loading its front left limb. During bilateral work the horse became more balanced and could load both limbs evenly. Regrettably we did not take pictures of both legs with the dysfunction only after work done on the left limb first. This would not have been possible with the shared knowledge from Liza Kimble, Equine Fasica and Trauma Release
Pic 1) the horses left fore has been worked on, myofascial restrictions still visible on the horses right (left leg in the pic).
Pic 2) Both limbs have been worked on.
Pic 3) Both limbs after a couple of cross fiber MFR work.
Pic 2) Both limbs have been worked on.
Pic 3) Both limbs after a couple of cross fiber MFR work.