David Frodsham-Equine Muscle Release Therapy

trained in Equine Muscle Release Therapy is the only accredited Bowen Therapy for horses and has twelve solid years of research behind it. HUMAN MASSAGE ITEC Diploma

What is Bowen Therapy?
Description
What is Bowen and how does it work?

The World Health Organization WHO declared this method as one of the best working holistic treatments in the world. Bowen Technique is a gentle form of body work in which very subtle non-invasive moves are performed over the muscles and connective tissue. This technique sends messages deep into the body, retrieving cellular memory of a preferred, relaxed, balanced way of wellbeing. Results can be remarkable, even from the first session; often only a few sessions are needed to correct the presenting problem.

There are frequent, but very essential pauses throughout the session that allows the body time to respond and begin the healing process. The Practitioner can target a specific problem or address the body as a whole.

Unlike many other hands-on therapies, the Bowen Technique does not use forceful manipulation. A unique skill of the Bowen Practitioner is ‘tissue tension’ sense, meaning that the Practitioners are able to discern stress build- up in muscles and other soft tissues enabling them to perform specific Bowen moves to assist recovery.

Bowen Technique addresses not only the muscular-skeletal framework, but also the fascia, nerves and internal organs. The body’s integrated response improves circulation and lymphatic drainage, and aids in the assimilation of nutrients and elimination of toxins.

Bowen is a very dynamic technique, which signals the brain to initiate the healing process. These signals are sent via specialised nerve cells found in the fascia or covering of the muscle. By applying the moves over the muscles in specific areas in a sequence, the body receives the message to take the spasm out of that muscle. This gives the body a chance to achieve balance that promotes well-being of the whole horse

It consists of gentle rolling, sequential moves over specific points of the muscular fascia. Energy flows are stimulated & balanced, encouraging the body to reset & heal itself, producing rapid & lasting relief from pain & discomfort.

Non-invasive & non-manipulative, Bowen helps bring about a positive response to muscular, respiratory, organic & glandular conditions. It is an ideal way to help the body function at an optimal level of health & efficiency & can be used as a preventative in the same way that sports massage is used by athletes.

Bowen can be used in conjunction with & complements other healing modalities, such as herbal medicine, as it activates the body’s powerful natural self-healing ability.




How does it work?
What sort of problems can Bowen help with?

Muscular, tendon & ligament strains
Skeletal /structural problems
Injury and illness speeds recovery and recuperation through improved circulation
Colds /flu, bladder /kidney infections, dry /cracked hooves, wound healing.
Removal of Toxins & lactic acid build-up associated with such conditions as "tying up"
Degenerative and Growth disorders
Mental /emotional problems caused by fear, tenseness
Prevention of problems or simply as a "treat" to your horse

Bowen Therapy is fast becoming one of the most popular complementary therapies available.
Why Bowen?
Bowen is different to other therapies because:

1) Bowen works with the body, so results are long term.
2) It is a technique which deals with the root cause of a disorder, as well as the symptoms.
3) Bowen is very soothing and relaxing. Endorphins are released during treatment and the horse is usually seen to be deeply relaxed yet very aware of its body. Watch his ears, and you will observe even during the breaks, your horse will focus on the area just treated and can sense change occurring.
4) It is very gentle and works with the body. It removes the need for hard and forceful manipulation. Instead it encourages the body to normalise itself. During the breaks between Bowen moves, often the horse will reposition stretch parts of his body or lean on the side of the stable wall as he adjusts himself. Clicking is sometimes heard as he releases joints.
5) Bowen is applicable to any part of the body. It helps to realign musculoskeletal problems and normalise respiratory, digestive, lymphatic and circulatory systems.
6) Bowen is excellent for helping horses with longterm and intermittent lameness.
7) For the competition horse, Bowen improves wind, flexibility, muscle tone and limb fitness. It increases energy and fine tunes the body. It helps normalise musculoskeletal problems that the owner may not have recognised but realises his horse is not performing at his best.

There are many research trials conducted with the Bowen technique and the results have been remarkable.

Journalists regularly advise readers in their health columns to try Bowen therapy for various health problems. Often bringing a result where previous therapies have failed.

Please note that Bowen is not a form of massage. It works on a far deeper level than this and affects all the systems of the body.

What Bowen helps:
Does Your Horse. . .
-Resist on one rein?
-Not Track Up?
-Not swing his back?
-Knock down poles?
-Become reluctant when asked to collect or extend?
-Not use his hocks?
-Feel stiff and hollow?
-Resist lateral flexion?
-Have unequal stride?

Or does your horse just feel that he's not giving his best and not working to his full potential?

If you can answer yes to any of the above then Bowen could help your horse.
When I visit shows, I observe about 60% of the horses have problems which can easily be rectified. These horses are not technically lame, but they show signs of crookedness, rigid backs, not working through from behind, tight shoulders, lack of extension with one or more of the limbs and other musculoskeletal symptoms.
I often see the same competitor with the same horse a year later at the same level of competition. They cannot progress because they have not sorted out the root cause of their problem. They change their tack; they change their instructor but still show little improvement.
If you had a car which kept pulling you into the kerb, you wouldn't initially change your seat or have an instructor teach you how to drive a crooked car. No, logic would tell you to first find out why the car was doing this and get the car rebalanced before anything else. However with our horses we tend not to do the obvious, but look first for something external from the horse itself.
That's not to say that correctly fitting tack is overlooked. I am trained to check this, and do so whenever I first visit a horse.

HELPING INTERNALLY AND EXTERNALLY
Bowen is incredibly versatile and can also help a wide range of conditions, some of which are listed below:

Lack of Energy
Tightness in the quarters and shoulders
Stiffness on one rein
Uneven wear of shoes
Sore withers
Respiratory Problems
Digestive Problems
Lymphangitis
Weakened Immune System
Unlevelness
Shortened Stride
Not working through with one leg
Uncharacteristic change of Character
Deterioration of Performance


Equine Bowen Therapy is also excellent for older equines, as it helps to increase energy and release endorphins.

What To Expect From a Visit
A visit consists of the following:


History of your horse
Palpation
Static conformation
Dynamic Conformation
Bowen Treatment
Aftercare and Suitable Exercises given
Vet report and / or referral if required

A visit takes approximately one hour per horse.
Changes are usually observed after the first treatment. However with chronic cases 2-3 treatments, usually at weekly intervals may be required to achieve lasting results.
Competition horses who have a demanding schedule can be treated more often. In my experience, riders who compete regularly are usually in tune with their horses to know when to arrange their next visit. If for example their horse's performance begins to deteriorate, or their stride shortens, they will book an appointment. Competition horses like all athletes have more demands placed on their body. Also, because their fitness is at such a level that prolonged periods of no work may mean reduction of performance, it is important that they have regular treatments. Many of my clients who compete, book a visit one to two weeks before an important show or qualifier.
Please note that you will need to book well in advance before your horse competes in a particular show to ensure I am free to treat on any particular day.

How Bowen works

When a Bowen move is performed on the body, it creates a specific vibration on the fascia. This relays to neighbouring muscles, tendons, ligaments, bone and organs, similar to a ripple affect when a stone is thrown into water. It also sends messages to the brain.
The brain usually shuts down any area of disorder in the body ( to help rest and repair it) and uses other parts of the body to compensate. Once the original problematic part has recovered, the brain needs to release it and allow the parts that helped compensate resume normal action. However because we, like horses, rarely rest and take pain killing drugs to mask sensation, the brain accepts the disorder to remain, often causing stresses and strain, disease and secondary problems within the supporting parts.
Bowen triggers the brain, the disordered part and the supporting parts. The moves create a new disorder to encourage the brain to reassess the problem. Once the Central Nervous System finds areas supporting an area which no longer needs supporting, then it releases it and realigns it back to normal. Every part of the body holds a blue print of normality, it wants to be in alignment because then it works efficiently. Bowen triggers this process to occur.
If someone has one hip higher than the other, the body has caused this to initially support or protect an injured area. Once that area has recovered, the hip still remains higher. Why? Because a muscle, tendon or ligament still hold this hip higher and now is much shorter than its opposing pair, and probably also in spasm.
Once a Bowen treatment takes place, the brain acknowledges the release and begins to allow the body to revert to normality. This can take a few days to a few weeks, but changes of release can be seen.
Any forced change is usually short lived. If the brain accepts that disorder is normal, it will revert back to its compensated position. Bowen however, is gentle yet powerful and acts as a reminder to the body to heal back to normality. In practice, this can be seen when horses during Bowen breaks, laterally flex their necks as if checking their new boundaries, or pressing their buttocks onto stable walls as if helping to reset themselves.