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What happens to the tendons during exercise?

Tendons are rigid structures that constitute the connections between muscles and bones. The tendon itself cannot expand or shrink. Movement is caused by the muscle that the tendons are attached to. During acute overexertion or overstretching, the tendon is damaged. Other causes can be a kick from another horse or tapping one leg with the other. When tendons are damaged, antibodies are transported in fluids, causing a visible fluid accumulation. This process, however, will also damage healthy tissue. To prevent further tendon damage, it can be useful to slow down this natural healing process, without impeding it. The blood supply in tendons is poor compared to other bodily structures. This makes nutrient supply and toxin disposal more difficult, causing a longer recovery. It’s therefore in your best interest to tackle tendon injuries as early as possible, or to pre-emptively support the tendons.

What about the muscles?

When muscles are not sufficiently prepared for a heavy workout, or when training is more intense than usual, tears can appear in the muscle fibers. The body reacts to this by sending antibodies to the affected areas. This causes an infection reaction. When there is muscle damage, substances are released that activate muscle nerves. This causes muscle aching and stiffness. Muscle aching usually sets in about 12 hours after the workout, and is at its worst after roughly 24-48 hours. The muscle fibers recover from the acute damage after 3-4 days, but can sometimes take up to 4-6 weeks to truly fully recover and emerge stronger. By accelerating the muscle recovery process, new heavy efforts can be done earlier as well. That’s why it’s advisable to use Cavalor ® Muscle Cooler at events that last several days.

Cooling down, essential for healthy tendons & muscles

Just as it is with warming up, cooling down should be an essential part of every training. The muscle metabolism that is set in motion needs time to settle down again. Finish your training or effort with a 10-minute low-intensity trot. This ensures that the built up lactic acid can be broken down again. It’s important to cool the legs properly afterwards. Cooling with water or ice is essential because this reaches all the way into the tissues beneath the skin. Cooling reduces swelling, but it can also help with quick pain-relief as it desensitizes the nerves that conduct pain of 86% and would certainly recommend it to friends or acquaintances.

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DID YOU KNOW?

Tendons are stiff structures that connect muscle to bone. Tendons cannot shorten or lengthen on their own – this movement is caused by the muscle to which they are attached. Tendon damage is caused by severe overloading or overstretching. A tendon can also be injured by a kick from another horse or from overreach.

When tendons are damaged, antibodies are transported in fluid and edemas are evident. This process, however, also eliminates healthy tissue. In order to prevent further damage to tendons, this natural healing process should be tempered without being curbed.

The blood supply in tendons is poor compared to other structures in the body. This impairs the supply of nutrients and the elimination of waste products, slowing recovery. Tendon injuries should be treated as quickly as possible and the tendons should be supported through preventive measures.

And what about the muscles?
If the muscles are not adequately prepared for effort or if exercise is harder than usual, the walls of the muscle fibers may also rupture . The body reacts by sending antibodies to the damaged zones. An inflammatory reaction develops. Damage to the muscles leads to the release of substances which activate the nerves in the muscles. These make the horse’s muscles painful and stiff.

Muscle soreness mostly occurs about 12 hours after exercise and is most severe about 24–48 hours after exercise. The muscle fibers recover from acute damage after 3–4 days, but may take up to 4–6 weeks to completely recover and become stronger. Accelerating muscle recovery means that the body can do hard work again sooner.