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Equine athletes are competing in a diverse range of activities, each requiring a combination of strength and conditioning resulting in appropriate physical fitness for the specified task. For optimal performance, equine athletes need proper nutrition, balanced training, careful monitoring and rigorous supportive care. A balanced exercise program to strengthen bone, muscle, tendons and ligaments is essential. Too little stress does not result in adequate conditioning. Too much stress causes overloading which results in breakdown of tissues.
Even with proper training, tissues are stressed and minor damage occurs resulting in inflammation. Daily palpation of limbs prior to and post exercise helps evaluating any area which might be over stressed. However, not all minor tissue damage is easily detected. Tissue injury results in the release of inflammatory mediators which cause "leakiness" in vessels and resulting in edema.
Applying a concept of decreasing inflammation through cold and complression helps to prevent injuries in equine athletes. Due to the cyclical compression, edema is effectively decreased. The cold therapy helps to limit the inflammatory response through vasoconstriction.
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