(Hill et al., Equine Veterinary Journal, 2010)
Design & Method:
A crossover trial with horses divided into two groups.
Group A received a 30-minute massage on the caudal hindlimb muscles (superficial gluteal, semitendinosus, biceps femoris, semimembranosus).
Group B received a sham treatment of the same duration.
After a 7-day washout period, treatments were swapped between groups.
Outcomes measured: Passive hindlimb protraction using a modified “Sit and Reach” test.
Active hindlimb protraction via 2D kinematic stride-length analysis. Results were statistically analyzed using the Wilcoxon signed-rank test (P < 0.05) .
Findings:
Massage significantly increased both passive and active hindlimb protraction (P = 0.01 .
This suggests that massage can effectively improve range of motion and stride reach in the hind end.
Context & Expert Insight
Equine & Science echoes these findings, stating that massage improves hindlimb protraction and flexibility—beneficial for stride length and performance movements like those in dressag .
A broader review of equine rehabilitation literature also confirms that effleurage combined with circular kneading of caudal muscles (as applied in this study) significantly enhances both passive and active hindlimb protraction .
Clinical Value:
Rehabilitation: Improved protraction can aid in recovery from injury and could help restore more symmetrical, functional movement.
Performance Optimization: Enhancing range of motion may support better stride mechanics, particularly for disciplines requiring expressive hindleg engagement.
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