THE EFFECTS OF SWEDISH MASSAGE ON PERFORMANCE HORSES IN SOUTH AFRICA

Abstract

A somatologist receives skilled training in different alternative therapies, as well as the well-being of the entire body. Massages on equine athletes, may not only broaden the horse-loving somatologist's specialising field, but might improve the horses' performance and well-being by using massages, as a warm up/cool down routine. The objective of the research was to investigate the effects of Swedish massage on the performance ability of competitive horses. Swedish massages were applied on thirty horses, from various breeds, representing three disciplines namely Dressage (n=10), Endurance (n=10) and Saddlebred (n=10). Each horse received ten massage treatments over a period of five weeks. The horses' performance improvement was measured to analyse their flexibility, muscle injury and relaxation before and after the massages. Although the blood parameters for muscle injury, aspartate aminotransferase (AST) and creatine kinase (CK) did not respond to the Swedish massage, the results indicated that the treatments resulted in significant (P<0.05) lower heart rates, as well as improved flexibility of the horses' necks, backs and shoulders. Human athletes benefit from Swedish massage to enhance their performance ability. Equine athletes have similar ailments as humans and then the possibility exists that equine athletes may benefit as human athletes. This then can be aligned with the somatologists scope of practice and broaden their working field.