Core Abdominal Muscle Rehab

Colic is one of the most common medical problems in horses. Surgical intervention is sometimes needed to correct more serious gastrointestinal problems. Luckily, with advanced medical care and surgical knowledge and skill, colic surgery has much higher success rates than previously reported.

Many owners wonder about horses return to athletic function following colic surgery. Fortunately, with proper care there is a good return to function, with many horses returning to the same level or even higher levels of performance. One important factor in returning to function is proper rehabilitation.

The core abdominal muscles in a horse are involved in nearly every movement they make. The rectus abdominus is one of the main muscles responsible for rounding the back of the horse and leads to more efficient athletic movement. The oblique abdominal muscles are important for lateral movement and facilitate tight turns. All horses can benefit from a strong core, but it is especially important to regain strength in the abdominal muscles after colic surgery. By rehabbing the core abdominal muscles in the early phase of rehabilitation, horses can regain some fitness before returning to being worked under saddle. This will allow them to more properly use their body and can even help prevent injury.