Soothing winter muscle aches and pains!
Winter often leads to additional stresses on our bodies, particularly our muscles and particularly for athletes. Whether you are a horse or a human, if you participate in any form of exercise or physical activity (such as riding!) then you are bound to encounter strained, fatigued or tight muscles at some point. The colder weather often results in increased muscle tension when we brace our bodies against the cold, which can then lead to injury when we attempt to exercise. Taking the time to warm up both horse and human bodies slowly and carefully, will reduce the likelihood of damage whilst riding or exercising, however if you or your horse do strain a muscle or experience stiffness and tightness, there are some simple pain relieving remedies you can use.
Hot or cold?
Applying heat or a cold pack to injuries and sore muscles can be highly effective. But which one do you use and when? The simple answer is cold first, heat later. But this can depend on the type of injury, so if in doubt, seek the appropriate medical/veterinary advice. However the following information provides a useful guide for minor aches and pains.
Cold
Immediately after straining a muscle or sustaining some form of muscle injury, it is best to apply cold to help reduce any swelling. This can be in the form of a cold pack or simply a bag of peas from the freezer. You can also utilise the assistance from a 'cooling lotion' such as Savvy Touch Ligament & Tendon Cooling Gel. This helps reduce inflammation and bruising, and relieves pain. And yes - this product can be used on horses AND humans! It can be a handy item to have on hand in your grooming box or tack room, and great to use on your horses legs as a precaution after an intense weekend out competing etc.
Heat
Once the initial swelling subsides, residual muscle soreness and stiffness can respond well to the application of heat. Heat helps to relax and soothe muscles and reduce pain. It is also useful in managing more on-going or chronic muscle issues, or simply a slight ache or pain. Heat packs or hot water bottles (and even a hot shower for humans) can help dramatically in relaxing tight, sore muscles. If you don't have the time or ability to hold a heat pack on you or your horses muscles for any length of time, then products such as Rapigel or Equinade Liniment can be very beneficial. And whilst these products are designed for horses and not for human use, just quietly, they can be useful for human injuries too (and are hugely popular for this reason!). But we didn't tell you that!
Of course applying cold and/or heat is no replacement for seeking advice and treatment from the appropriate medical practictioners, such as horse or human osteopaths, physiotherapists, vets, chiropractors etc. But it can be very beneficial for managing minor muscle strain and soreness and make you and your horses much more comfortable!