myalgia & soft tissue injury
What is myalgia?
Myalgia describes muscle aches and pain, which can involve ligaments, tendons and fascia, the soft tissues that connect muscles, bones and organs. These aches and pains can be caused by many of the conditions that are listed on the common conditions page. Massage therapy is an ideal form of therapy to help keep your dogs as happy and healthy as possible, relieving the dysfunction and returning the soft tissue to its normal working function.
Signs and symptoms that your dog may show you when they are suffering with myalgia?
Yelping / crying out
Change in gait or posture
Fasciculations (twitching of the skin - most common across the ribcage)
Cramps
Depression
Decreased appetite
Reluctance to be touched / petted / groomed / examined
Stiff when moving / upon rising
Reluctance to do ‘normal’ daily activities
Reluctance to go up or down stairs
Seeming sluggish and unwilling to carry out normal tasks
The wide range of techniques used in massage therapy can help to return dysfunctional soft tissue back to full health and resolve your dogs pain, which will decrease the symtpoms seen above and improve your dogs mood as a result
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