hand massager arthritis
massage for a horse with arthritis?
I do not know anyone with arthritis, so I'm not sure how long Amy massage horse who has arthritis in the Nice back legs would feel that pain? If it is a good thing I use a handheld massager as you would use on yourself? I want to make it more comfortable, hes in recovery, but I want to do more. thanks for your time
I have arthritis, and I had a dog and a horse rheumatoid arthritis. What works best for me, and my experience also for animals with arthritis, is the application of heat, along with mild exercise within the limitations imposed by arthritis. I can say first hand, the heat applied to arthritic joints feel fine. I have severe arthritis in the knees and half an hour with a heating pad or tape heat can really loosen things. Half an hour in a Jacuzzi whirlpool makes miracles. Applying a heating liniment topical, like Ben-Gay is also useful. I've never tried one of those hand held massagers on my animals, but I've tried them yourself and not useful for the simple reason that the knees do not lend this type of massage. Too bony. OTOH, massage hands can be helpful. The best you can do to a horse with arthritis is to keep moving, keep active, because once they get arthritic joints to "liberate" and overcome the initial pain after a period of inactivity, the movement feels good. Moreover to help the general health of the animal. Horses must be capable of moving under its circulation and general wellbeing. A horse that can not / do not move will begin to have problems beyond physical arthritis. Massage your horse with a liniment, such as Absorbine or Bigel oil will help you feel better, and the application of heat also can help. After that, we must keep it moving. In the case of severe arthritis, soft hands, walking is good, trot and canter with saddle, if you can handle that. Many arthritic horses will sound once it warms up, although it should not be made to do work that exceeds the capabilities of their arthritic joints, ie extreme flexion or high impact. Another factor that is very important to maintain weight. This applies to any animal or person with arthritis: Overweight is the enemy, every pound of carrying extra weight makes it much more difficult for them. If you are unsure of the best weight for your horse, consult your veterinarian.
