Hydrotherapy
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Hydrotherapy |
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The Horse's Body
Reaction to Trauma To understand how cold water spas works we first need to understand how the body reacts to trauma such as strains, cuts, bruises etc. Enzymes and proteins are released when cells are injured through a cut or tear, or by concussive trauma, causing the blood vessel wall in that vicinity to dilate and become more porous. The lymphocytes are directed to the site of the trauma passing though the porous membranes and entering the injured tissues the secretions of hormones which are responsible for much of the pain the horse feels. Pain, heat and swelling, the three main symptoms of inflammation. occur in carying degrees, depending on the site, nature and severity of the injury. Pain helps prevent overuse of the affected area. Heat results from the increased blood flow to the injury site, and swelling (odema) helps immobilise the area. The danger is that inflammation rages out of control and hinders the healing process resulting in secondary tissue damage called hypoxic injury, which can compound the problem. In addition, blood vessels in the area are put under increasing pressure by the fluid build-up, so the flow of blood and lymph tends to stall. The safest way to break the destructive cycle of secondary cell injury and excess odema is to use the horse's circulatory system to sweep away the excess fluids that have collected in the tissues. While anti-inflammatory drugs such as bute can reduce swelling and heat, they can also mask the pain and confuse the diagnostic picture. There are two natural ways of encouraging the dispersal of excess fluids - applying heat and applying cold. Heat, however, should never be applied to an acute injury which leaves us with cold in many cases. |
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