When assessing the horse, I check for symmetry - posture, musculature, etc. Anytime muscle imbalance occurs, usually as atrophy, it’s important to take note.
A healthy, strong body is a symmetrical body with all parts working harmoniously and balanced. Muscle atrophy is one way this balance can be thrown off, affecting tensegrity within the horse.
Muscle atrophy is an alarm that warns us of dysfunction within.
Muscle atrophy, when a muscle decreases in size, can be unilateral (one sided) or bilateral (both sides). Generally, when atrophy is unilateral, the muscle on the opposite side will have hypertrophy (muscle enlargement) due to compensation and ‘picking up the slack’ for the atrophied muscle that isn’t functioning at full capacity.
Atrophy can be localized to a single area or generalized and widespread over the horse’s body.
Muscle atrophy is a symptom of an underlying cause. The cause must be determined and remediated by your vet to create the proper plan to restore the muscle.
There are two types of muscle atrophy:
1.) Damage to the muscle fibers (myogenic) > malnutrition (which can cause 30-50% of muscle loss within 1-2 months) > improper use of body / biomechanics > sedentary lifestyle / lack of exercise > ill fitting saddle/tack putting uncomfortable pressure on an area, causing the horse to not engage their muscle(s) > Cushing’s > PSSM > etc.
…or…
2.) A problem in the nerve supplying the muscle (neurogenic) > EMND > EPM > cervical vertebral osteoarthritis > thoracic/lumbar/or pelvic fractures > injury > ill-fitting saddle/tack putting excess pressure on an area that pinches the muscle’s supplying nerve > etc.
It’s important to consult your veterinarian and get a proper diagnosis to create the treatment plan. If your horse has atrophy caused by EPM, no amount of saddle fittings or exercise will remediate it until your horse has been properly treated for EPM by their veterinarian.
Treatments can include medications to treat any diseases, proper diet and exercise modification, possible injections, Vitamin E, physical therapy, ultrasound, electrostimulation, resistance training in water, and hill work.
Once the culprit is found and remedied, regenerating atrophied muscles with physical therapy has great success. If nerve damage is involved, it can take up to a year. The most important things to remember when rehabbing an atrophied muscle are patience and consistency.
Massage and bodywork can play a helpful role in muscle atrophy rehab. By releasing negative tension in overworked muscles, massage reduces the chance of additional soft tissue injuries. Massage and bodywork also increase circulation to atrophied muscles (important for regeneration) and release any musculoskeletal blockages - allowing the body to move freely during exercise to rebuild the muscle.
Rebuilding atrophied muscles rebalances symmetry in the body, restoring your horse’s natural movement and preventing future soft tissue injuries.
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