Spasm
Have you ever noticed that your dogs body shape has changed? Their posture is different? They have slowed down? The likelihood is they are holding Trigger Points; taut, fibrous bands of muscle fibre that are a great cause of pain in dogs and humans alike.
As a Canine Masseuse I see hundreds of dogs who are harboring painful Trigger Points not only at the clinic, but while I am doing Palpations round at shows and even out and about on walks with my own dogs when we meet other dogs. Myofascial Trigger Points (MTP’s) are also known as ‘Knots’. These ‘knots’ in the muscle can be felt, or palpated, quite easily with knowledge and experience and importantly they can be removed or managed with canine massage therapy.
A Trigger Point is a hyper irritable spot that will elicit a pain response when specifically tested and may twitch dramatically when palpated in a specific way. The Trigger Point model indicates that pain can be referred from the area of the Trigger Point to locations elsewhere in the body so for instance in humans a common Trigger Point is on the back near the shoulder blade (a muscle called the Rhomboids). The human will complain not just of neck stiffness and an inability to fully rotate their neck, but of pain radiating down the arm as well as pain when trying to turn the neck.
In the dog, just like in the human, the over contracted muscle will being to shorten which reduces the range of motion in the muscle and can cause pain, lameness and a change in body posture. This then has a knock on effect to the rest of the dogs body as other muscles are forced to overcompensate and so become sore and tender to the touch and are incredibly painful when gentle pressure is applied.
Trigger Points can occur due to injury, overuse of the muscle over a prolonged period of time (which is why senior dogs respond to Canine Massage Therapy so well), repetitive stress, overcompensation from arthritis, collisions with other dogs, over exercise….the list goes on. If a dog has had X Rays, MRI scans and traditional pain medication it is well worth the effort to get your dog checked over for Trigger Points which can cause lameness, pain, depression, altered gait and changes in personality.
Canine Massage Therapy is a must for any dog carrying painful Trigger Points as although the first session they receive can be painful, subsequent session become much more enjoyable as the muscles and surrounding fascia become more relaxed, supple and easier to work with. Because muscle accounts for around 45% of your dogs bodyweight, MTP’s can be widespread and should never ever be overlooked for the pain they are causing your dog.
What Can Cause Trigger Points?
Repetitive Stress eg: jumping on/off sofas, in/out cars,
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Long Term Use eg: in the senior dog
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Collisions
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Repetitive Exercise eg: Agility
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Injury
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After Surgery
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Overcompensation from orthopaedic conditions eg: Arthritis, Hip Dysplasia
How Can I Tell If My Dog May Be Holding Trigger Points?
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Reduced flexibility & Range Of Movement
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Difficulty getting up/down
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Slowing down
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Twitches down back
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Unwilling to be touched
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Unwilling to be groomed
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Grumpy
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Depressed
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Personality Changes
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Unable to do things they once did effortlessly
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Off their food (try using a raised feeding station to take the pressure off your dogs neck)
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Reluctance to play
Spasm
A muscle spasm is a sudden involuntary contraction of a muscle or group of muscles that are particularly over used and over worked. When a muscle goes into spasm it will feel incredibly tight and tender to the touch as the muscle remains in spasm to protect the site from further injury, it is usually accompanied by pain which quite often the dog will live with without showing outward signs (so as not to make themselves a weak member of your pack). Look out for your dog twitching down their back or side as they stretch or bow, this can indicate extreme tightness in specific muscles and unless removed can lead to other issues such as painful Trigger Points in the future.
Spasms occur generally because of prolonged uncomfortable activity, weakness in the muscle or as a result of aggravating an underlying existing issue. Your dog will feel extreme tightness in a certain group of muscles, they will be unable to move in their normal way as movement becomes painful.
Massage is able to loosen tight muscles before they spasm but importantly it can be used to release that have eventually turned into `Knots`, or `Trigger Points`. By simply releasing Trigger Points (see above) a dog will immediately show a response to Canine Massage Therapy which is why many notice owners notice immediate improvements. . If your dog is reluctant to turn their head or neck always check for tightness or a difference in the feel of their body`s, get them to a qualified Canine Masseuse who is able to help this sort of issue before it has a knock on effect.
It is possible for a muscle to tear when under stress if muscular guarding occurs with overcompensation of tightness by surrounding muscles to prevent further damage.
If a muscle is torn it takes over 6 weeks to repair itself as the muscle is bound back together by regenerated muscle fibre and scar tissue which continues for another 6 weeks. The formation of scar tissue and adhesion means that the area becomes tight, inflexible and painful to move which can lead to further injuries as mobility is reduced. If the initial injury is not treated the spasm forms knots of muscle which are painful and go on to become part of an ongoing problem and part of the vicious Pain-Soreness-Pain Cycle.
Types of dog prone to spasm and knots
- Senior Dogs
- Active Dogs
- Those who do alot of jumping on/off sofa or In/Out of car
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Agility
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Obedience (especially in the neck)
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Dogs that go on excessive walks at weekends but do very little the rest of the week
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Dogs who are consistently walked to maximum output
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Dogs who wear tight harnesses on a regular basis
- Arthritic Dogs
- Dogs with Hip Dysplasia
Which is why....
massage is recommended for active and sporting dogs on a regular basis. Don`t forget it`s the muscles that pull the bones in order for the body to move. Without muscle and soft tissue your dog would simply be bones, nerves, arteries and veins which lead nowhere as the heart is the bodies hardest working muscle! Get tuned in to what your dog is feeling in their body and try to understand the stresses and strains their body comes under. Regular massage is a great way of maintaining your dogs health and mobility. And that`s a fact.
