Filled legs
A diffusely enlarged leg below the knee or hock may
be due to a number of causes including subsolar infection,
mud fever, cellulitis, tendon/ligament sprain, lymphangitis,
direct trauma or long periods of reduced mobility (e.g.
during box rest).
Lack of muscle movement causes lymph to stagnate in the
lower leg, the lymphatic fluid spreads to the surrounding
tissue rather than being circulated back up the legs.
If such symptoms go untreated the condition may degenerate
into lymphangitis.
Can Equissage help?
Absolutely.
But firstly it is important to try and ascertain the
cause of the filling. Some horses do have a predisposition
to filling of the lower legs, particularly around the
joints of the hind legs when they are stabled and soon
after they start moving around, the filling goes. Such
filling is basically just poor circulation because lymph
fluid particularly relies on muscular action to pump it
around the body - the blood has the heart as its pump
- and unlike blood vessels which form a complete circuit
around the body the lymph vessels have closed ends so
this is why fluid tends to accumulate at the base of the
lower limbs. Equissage excels in these situations as the
deep penetrating massage with its palpating, cycloidal
action gets to work moving the lymph fluid and eases the
congestion where the vessels close off.
For other causes of Filled Legs see Strains, Tendons,
Lymphangitis.
Application:
Use the Pad on a higher speed to really "kick start"
the system and reach the extremities provided the horse
in question has no other condition which will be compromised
by the higher setting. Some horses are a little concerned
initially about the higher speed as it is a bit noisy,
so see what the horse is happy with. If the leg boot can
be used as well, then all the better with 10 minutes (medium
to high setting) on each leg alternating daily between
the fore and hind legs.
If the horse is on a period of box rest due to injury
or following surgery then use the Pad on a lower setting
(No.3-4) two or three times a day with as long as possible
between sessions so as not to over-stimulate the lymphatic
system into working too hard.
Point to note:
Do check that the horse's diet is not contributing to
leg filling.
For more information please call 0800 072 1180,
email us at info@equissage.co.uk
or request a FREE TRIAL
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