MUSCULAR/SOFT TISSUE INJURIES

Muscle and soft tissue injuries can happen at any time.

They are the most common injury seen in a dog. They can happen for many reasons
such as:

  • Ball chasing

  • Play fighting with another dog

  • Repetitive motions when taking part in events such as
    agility

  • Sudden turning, excessive stretching and sudden braking

There are different types of muscle and soft tissue injuries. They can be classified as strains, trigger points, myofascial pain, muscle splinting, and adhesions. All of these can be really painful and debilitating to the dog if left untreated. They can therefore have a negative impact on
their quality of life.

What you may see as an owner:

  • Lameness / limping

  • Yelping and pulling up during exercise

  • Loss of appetite

  • Stiffness after rest

  • Abnormal weight bearing

  • Walking differently

  • Not wanting to be petted or groomed

  • Slowing down on their walk

  • Excessive licking

Strains

A strain to a muscle is caused by the muscle tearing due to it being overstretched. There are two types of strain; acute (which happens suddenly through direct contact or overstretching) and chronic (which are small tears to the muscle over time).

They can be graded from 1-3 depending on their severity:

Grade 1 - is classed as mild as only 5% of the muscle fibres are effected. This can be helped with massage.

Grade 2 - here up to 50% of the muscle fibres in the affected muscle are damaged. This can be helped with massage.

Grade 3 - the muscle has totally ruptured. It is classed as the most severe strain. Veterinary treatment is required. Massage can help after surgery to help realign scar tissue and relieve splinting.

Myofascial Pain

This is caused by the connective tissue known as fascia. Fascia envelopes around the entire body’s structures including bones, organs and muscles. It's function is to allow the structures it covers to slide and glide easily over each other and to aid in support.

If damaged the fascia can constrict tightly around the muscle causing pain. It can also cause the muscle to become weak, fatigued, poor function, restricted range of movement, stiffness, tenderness, yelping when touched and tight twitchy skin.

Trigger Points

These are hyper irritable taut bands of focal point tension. They are also known as muscle knots. They can cause reduced flexibility, chronic pain and poor range of movement. They are formed when a muscle is damaged through trauma, play fighting, overwork, repetitive motion and injury.

There are many signs that your dog may have a trigger point these include ischemia, worsening of an orthopaedic issue, unwillingness to be touched, tickly spots, stiffness and reduced performance.

Muscle Splinting

This is one of the most common chronic muscular disorders that accompanies a muscular injury. It effects the muscles that cross an injured muscle or joint. The uninjured muscles crossing the affected area work harder to protect the injured area from further injury. This means that pressure builds up in these muscles, which causes them to stiffen up, shorten and tighten. This can cause pain, trigger points to form and may even cause further damage to the area they are trying to protect. Overall it will affect the muscles normal function.

Benefits of Massage on the Muscular System

Increases the blood supply to the muscles helping to nourish the muscle tissues

Helps to relieve muscle stiffness

Decreases tension and soft tissue pain

Relaxes and lengthens the muscles

Helps to stretch the connective tissues therefore increasing the range of movement

Allows muscles to recover more quickly after exercise

Helps to heal injured / damaged muscles

Breaks down triggers points and reduces scar tissue

Reduces the chances of muscle strain

Helps with muscle tone

Helps to decrease muscle atrophy

Helps to decrease muscle hypotonicity

Speeds up the removal of metabolic waste

Improves posture