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| Muscle and Ligament Strain |  |
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| See also myopathies and myositides, Myopathies and Myositides: Introduction . |
| Damage to the soft tissues is undoubtedly the most common cause of back soreness in the horse. This mostly involves the longissimus dorsi complex of muscles, which act to extend (dorsiflex) and laterally flex the spine. All or part of the longissimus muscles usually are strained during ridden exercise, and clinical signs are associated with altered performance and back pain of acute onset. The principal sites of damage are the caudal withers and cranial lumbar regions (just in front of and behind the saddle area). Most of these injuries respond to rest and physiotherapy, although several weeks may be needed for full recovery. |
| Another fairly common site of soft-tissue damage is the supraspinous ligament, which runs down the middle of the back and is adherent to the summits of the thoracic and lumbar dorsal spinous processes. It is made up of the multiple tendinous insertions of the various parts of the longissimus dorsi complex and, therefore, is subject to the same strains as the muscles. The clinical signs usually persist longer, and the chances of complete recovery are not as good as for the uncomplicated muscle strains. |
| There is considerable controversy over the diagnosis and treatment of back problems in horses. Much credit is given to the value of physiotherapy, particularly chiropractic and osteopathic manipulation, but there are no substantiated reports of their efficacy. |
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| See Also |
| Introduction |
| The Lameness Examination |
| Overview |
| Imaging Techniques |
| Overview |
| Anatomic Imaging Techniques |
| Physiologic Imaging Techniques |
| Arthroscopy |
| Regional Analgesia |
| Disorders of the Foot |
| Bone Cyst in Pedal Bone |
| Bruised Sole and Corns |
| Canker |
| Contracted Heels |
| Fracture of Navicular Bone |
| Fracture of Pedal Bone |
| Keratoma |
| Laminitis |
| Navicular Disease |
| Pedal Osteitis |
| Puncture Wounds of the Foot |
| Pyramidal Disease |
| Quittor |
| Sandcrack |
| Scratches |
| Seedy Toe |
| Sheared Heels |
| Sidebone |
| Thrush |
| Disorders of the Fetlock and Pastern |
| Fracture of Phalanges and Proximal Sesamoids |
| Osselets |
| Ringbone |
| Sesamoiditis |
| Villonodular Synovitis |
| Windgalls |
| Disorders of the Carpus and Metacarpus |
| Overview |
| Bucked Shins |
| Degenerative Subchondral Lesions of the Carpal Bones |
| Desmitis or Sprain of the Inferior Check Ligament |
| Fracture of the Carpal Bones |
| Intra-articular Osteochondral Chip Fragments of the Carpus |
| Carpal Slab Fractures |
| Accessory Carpal Bone Fractures |
| Fractures of the Small Metacarpal and Metatarsal (Splint) Bones |
| Fracture of the Third Metacarpal (Cannon) Bone |
| Hygroma |
| Osteoarthritis (Degenerative Joint Disease) |
| Osteochondrosis |
| Osteochondroma of the Distal Radius (Supracarpal Exostosis) |
| Rupture of the Common Digital Extensor Tendon |
| Splints |
| Subchondral Cysts and Septic Arthritis |
| Suspensory Desmitis |
| Synovial Hernia and Ganglion and Synovial Fistulae |
| Tearing of the Medial Palmar Intercarpal Ligament |
| Tenosynovitis of the Tendon Sheaths Associated with the Carpus |
| Traumatic Synovitis and Capsulitis |
| Disorders of the Shoulder and Elbow |
| Arthritis of the Shoulder Joint |
| Bicipital Bursitis |
| Fractures of the Elbow |
| Fractures of the Shoulder |
| Sweeney |
| Disorders of the Tarsus |
| Overview |
| Bog Spavin |
| Bone Spavin |
| Curb |
| Displacement of Superficial Flexor Tendon from the Point of the Hock |
| Fracture of the TArsus |
| Hindlimb Tendon Ruptures |
| Rupture of the Peroneus Tertius Muscle |
| Stringhalt |
| Thoroughpin |
| Disorders of the Stifle |
| Fracture of the Stifle |
| Gonitis |
| Patellar Luxation |
| Subchondral Bone Cyst |
| Disorders of the Hip |
| Coxitis |
| Dislocation of the Hip |
| Pelvic Fracture |
| Trochanteric Bursitis |
| Disorders of the Back |
| Fractures |
| Ossifying Spondylosis |
| Overriding of the Dorsal Spinous Processes |
| Sacroiliac Injury |
| Developmental Orthopedic Disease |
| Overview |
| Osteochondrosis |
| Physitis |
| Flexion Deformities |
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