Working with soft tissue -
the bare bones of the matter

When it comes to common health conditions, I often hear people say that the bones need to be manipulated, moved, cracked or somehow "popped" back into place in order for their dog to gain relief. But is this the only answer?

A different way of looking at it

We all know that the skeleton is made up of bones, but how much do we think about the other structures involved in keeping the body in shape and helping with movement? Look at is this way - the skeleton would simply be a pile of bones if it were not for the soft tissues holding it all together. Soft tissue is equally as important to posture as bones are.

So, what is soft tissue?

Soft tissue is everything in the body that is not bone. With Bowen, the particular soft tissues we work over are connective tissue, muscles, tendons, fascia, ligaments, and nerves. When dogs are awake, an enormous amount of information is constantly being transferred between these tissues and the brain - their function is vitally important to health.

Joints are held together by strong ligaments. Muscles and tendons (which attach muscle to bone) also help reinforce the connections and provide stability to joints for movement.

Fascia surrounds the muscles, bones and organs of the body in a very thin, strong sheet of connective tissue. It separates the bodily structures whilst allowing them to glide easily over one another to allow the body to move freely.

What does this mean for my dog's health?

We all know how sore muscles can affect our movement and if you've ever torn a ligament you'll need no help in understanding how that can affect you. Likewise, if fascia is damaged through injury, it tends to hold the patterns of impairment in its structure. Scars or breaks in the fascia can restrict movement in that area (for example at an injury site or old operation site).

Emotional stress can affect muscle tension and the fluidity of the fascia - as dogs naturally hold tension in their bodies this can mean that some areas are tighter than others.

When the soft tissue is out of balance, it stands to reason that the whole body may be affected. For example, your dog's back may be curved to one side as in the diagram - but of course bones don't exist in isolation in a living dog. By working gently with soft tissue, Bowen helps the body to make its own adjustments - bringing everything (not just the bones) back into a naturally more healthy state.

So, when you think your dog has a problem with its body posture, is in pain, has joint problems or old injuries - think holistically and consider what the muscles, ligaments, tendons, nerves, fascia, emotions and behaviour might tell you too.

A real-life example

My own dog Charlie is an example of a "bendy" back. This is particularly noticeable if he has periods of stress or changes in his routine. Veterinary examination and X-rays have confirmed no structural problems with the spine itself. I know that Charlie has arthritis on his left elbow, and has problems with his energy levels. Bowen helps to bring his body into balance naturally and gives him a spring in his step again. When his back starts curving again, it is a good indication that he is due for another treatment.