Back2Balance Equine Therapy

Equine Cranio Sacral Therapy is one of the most powerful & effective methods that exist in equine therapy today.
It is a complementary and alternative hands-on approach, focusing on the nervous system & musculoskeletal disorders, all the while aiding the drainage of toxins through the lymphatic System.
This gentle holistic connection of releasing compressions within the cranial sutures, restores dural matter movement & feeds the central nervous system.
The cranium (skull) is enveloped in a blood supplied web of fascia. Nerve branches become impinged, compressed and tight. Myofascial tissue can also become adheised to the cranium plates restricting cranial breathing, and create a distorted asymmetry, disrupting neurological communications between the brain, cells, and organs of the whole body, compromising wellbeing.
These issues can arise from a single injury, head trauma, badly fitting bridles (tight nosebands), pull back trauma, dental imbalances and incorrect rider contact causing tissues to become inflamed, adheised and painful.
Equine Cranio Sacral Therapy focuses on relieving compression within the cranium, Temporal Mandibular Joint (TMJ) and the poll area, releasing the pull on the dural tube (spinal column) which will have an immense detrimental effect on the whole central nervous system, compromising and disrupting equine proprioception.

WHAT CAN CAUSE CRANIO SACRAL PROBLEMS

 Emotional and or postural tension
 Bad conformation
 Injuries/scar tissue
 Stress and strain from equine recognised levels of ability
 Injury or trauma (to the head, spine or hind end)
 Stress or negative emotions
 Normal aging process
 Cribbing and weaving
 Head shaking/tossing
 TMJ (result from poor or
incorrect bit & dental health
 Skeletal misalignment
 Thoracic cavity restrictions

COMMON ISSUES TREATED WITH CRANIO SACRAL THERAPY

 Lowered lumbar vertebrae
 Thoracic vertebrae rotation/tilt
 Restricted jaw
 Cranial tension
 Clamped tail
 Aid proprioception

Fascia is a protein rich web of tissue made from collagen that envelopes, binds and protects bone, tendons, ligaments, cartilage, muscles, teeth, nerves and organs.
THE DEEP & DEEPEST MYOFASCIAL LAYER protects, supports and feeds the internal organs, skeletal structures, brain, spinal cord & muscle groupings.
THE SUPERFICIAL MYOFASCIAL LAYER lays beneath the skin but is also attached to subcutaneous layers of fat. This layer consists of nerve endings, lymphatic capillaries, blood capillaries, veins, arteries. hair follicles, sweat glands and sebaceous glands.

MYOFACIAL RELEASE is a hands-on, holistic whole-body technique that is applied with gentle pressure on the myofascial connective tissues to release restrictions. Allowing the tissues to elongate and unwind from a state of adhesion. It can take 90 to 120 seconds to release restrictions, and only then will the tissue begin to let go and unwind.
Fascia is a three-dimensional web that surrounds every bone, muscle, nerve, organ, and vessel right down to the cellular level. It is comprised of elastin, collagen and a fluid called ground substance. If fascia loses its elasticity; the collagen becomes dense and fibrous and the ground substance solidifies. Fascial restrictions can then cause pain, neuropathy, decreased circulation, muscular atrophy, decreased flexibility, postural changes, decreased stamina, changes in gait and movement.
Restrictions can develop in fascia from trauma, poor posture and repetitive training, and for many other reasons. These restrictions can create pain, swelling, misalignments, poor muscular biomechanics, decreased range of motion, decreased strength and lameness.
Let’s use a tablecloth as an example:
You lay your table cloth over a flat surface and then take a corner between your fingers and gently pull., What happens? You create a ripple effect from one corner of the table cloth to the other. So, you may possibly be thinking your seeing hindlimb lameness where in fact you have issues withing the cranium and vice versa.

WHAT CAN CAUSE MYOFASCIA RESTRICTIONS
 Trauma (physical or emotional)
 Inflammation
 Overuse/too heavy workload
 Repetitive training
 Poor saddle/rug fit
 Mirrored dysfunction of the horse and rider
 Surgery
 Direct injury
 Stress and strain from equine recognised levels of ability
 Poor nutrition
 Unbalanced feet
 Scar tissue/gelding scar
 One sided horse
 Misaligned cranial structures