adhesions

What are adhesions ?

A muscle adhesion is scar tissue that has developed in the muscle. It can cause muscle weakness, pain, and a limited range of movement. Muscle adhesions are one of the most under diagnosed and under treated issues that can affect the muscles and can cause all sorts of bother for your dog, and unless treated they can have a long lasting affect on the muscles and the mobility of the dog.

how do they occur?

The adhesions form as a result of injury, repetitive motion or from small tears in the muscle fibres, called micro-traumas. Other reasons are ageing, nutritional imbalances or infection.

As a result of the damage to the muscle the body will will begin to heal the muscle. The body will produce collagen lumps on the damaged portion of tissue that “stick” the damaged fibres to the non damaged fibres. Once this repair is completed this creates a small clump of collagen which is very strong and supportive, however isn’t as flexible as muscle fibres, so will lead to reduced movement and flexibility in that particular muscle. The collagen does not follow the natural direction of the fibres so a small amount of tension is placed on the surrounding fibres which when applied in all directions around the damage can create localised pain in the muscle

Image from Apollo Soft Tissue & Spine. Please note that BelMar Canine Massage Therapy is not affiliated with Apollo Soft Tissue & Spine.

what CAUSES adhesions?

  • Injury to a muscle

  • Tearing of muscle fibres

  • Repetitive motion of the muscle

  • Natural ageing of the dog

  • Nutritional inblanaces in the dogs diet

  • Infections to the body

what are the symptoms?

  • Reduced mobility in the affected muscle

  • Altered gait of the dog as they move

  • Reduced range of movement in the affected area

  • Overcompensation pains due to adhesions

  • Localised pain in the affected muscle

  • Reduction in the mood of the dog due to the discomfort

how can massage help?

  • It helps to break down the scar tissue to return the muscle to a more normal working level

  • It increases flexibility of the muscle

  • It increases range of movement of the affected limb

  • It reduces the symptoms of pain that can alter the dogs mood, making the dog happier

  • It increases the flow of nutrients to the area helping to repair the dysfunction caused by the adhesions

  • It increases circulation of essential nutrients required in rebuilding muscle strength - this will reduce the risk of adhesions coming back in the same muscle.

  • It increases the dogs comfort levels

  • Improved gait of the dog as a result of increased comfort levels

Contraindications (reasons to not massage or to alter the massage) to be aware of - if your dog is showing any signs of the following then please let me know and then we can discuss a treatment schedule to work around or outside of the particular issue.

  • Epilepsy

  • The severity of the condition

  • The level of inflammation in the area (heat therapy should be avoided if inflammation present)

  • Skin irritations such as eczema

  • Bruises

  • Open wounds

  • High blood pressure

  • Diabetes

  • Cardio-vascular conditions

  • Broken bones

  • Pregnancy