02/03/2026
Some great information
https://www.facebook.com/share/p/1CmKenhKac/
๐ฆ๐ ๐๐ผ๐ถ๐ป๐ ๐๐๐๐ณ๐๐ป๐ฐ๐๐ถ๐ผ๐ป - ๐ง๐ต๐ฒ ๐ก๐ฒ๐๐ฟ๐ฎ๐น ๐๐ผ๐ป๐๐ฒ๐พ๐๐ฒ๐ป๐ฐ๐ฒ
In my last post we discussed mechanical restriction:
โข Ilium inflare
โข Ilium outflare
โข Sacral axis alteration
๐๐ฐ๐ธ ๐ธ๐ฆ ๐ข๐ฅ๐ฅ๐ณ๐ฆ๐ด๐ด ๐ธ๐ฉ๐ข๐ต ๐ต๐ฉ๐ข๐ต ๐ฅ๐ฐ๐ฆ๐ด ๐ต๐ฐ ๐ต๐ฉ๐ฆ ๐ฏ๐ฆ๐ณ๐ท๐ฐ๐ถ๐ด ๐ด๐บ๐ด๐ต๐ฆ๐ฎ.
The sacrum sits between the two ilia, forming the central keystone of the pelvic ring. When the ilium rotates, the sacrum cannot remain neutral - it adapts within the joint interfaces and ligamentous sling.
๐๐๐๐ ๐น๐ถ๐ธ๐ฒ ๐ถ๐ป ๐ต๐๐บ๐ฎ๐ป๐, ๐๐ต๐ฒ ๐ฒ๐พ๐๐ถ๐ป๐ฒ ๐๐ฎ๐ฐ๐ฟ๐๐บ ๐๐ป๐ฑ๐ฒ๐ฟ๐ด๐ผ๐ฒ๐ ๐๐๐ฏ๐๐น๐ฒ "๐ป๐ผ๐ฑ๐ฑ๐ถ๐ป๐ด" ๐บ๐ผ๐๐ฒ๐บ๐ฒ๐ป๐๐:
๐๐ถ๐ต๐ข๐ต๐ช๐ฐ๐ฏ:
The base of the sacrum moves ventro-cranially (tips forward/down). This happens during the loading phase of the stride.
๐๐ฐ๐ถ๐ฏ๐ต๐ฆ๐ณ๐ฏ๐ถ๐ต๐ข๐ต๐ช๐ฐ๐ฏ:
The base moves dorso-caudally (tips back/up).
This represents one functional axis; multiple planes of sacral motion can be assessed clinically.
๐ฆ๐ ๐ฑ๐๐๐ณ๐๐ป๐ฐ๐๐ถ๐ผ๐ป ๐ถ๐ ๐ป๐ผ๐ ๐ท๐๐๐ ๐๐๐ฟ๐๐ฐ๐๐๐ฟ๐ฎ๐น.
๐๐ ๐ถ๐ ๐ป๐ฒ๐๐ฟ๐ผ๐น๐ผ๐ด๐ถ๐ฐ๐ฎ๐น.
In an inflareโoutflare torsional pattern, the ilium moves medially at the dorsal aspect and laterally at the ventral aspect.
Not dramatic displacement.
But enough to alter tension, proprioception, and neural signalling.
๐ช๐ต๐ ๐ง๐ต๐ถ๐ ๐ ๐ฎ๐๐๐ฒ๐ฟ๐ ๐ก๐ฒ๐๐ฟ๐ผ๐น๐ผ๐ด๐ถ๐ฐ๐ฎ๐น๐น๐:
The sacroiliac region is richly innervated.
๐๐ต ๐ค๐ฐ๐ฏ๐ต๐ข๐ช๐ฏ๐ด:
โข Dorsal rami of sacral nerves
โข Ventral rami contributing to the sacral plexus
โข Mechanoreceptors within ligaments
โข Nociceptors within joint capsule and fascia
๐๐๐๐ฃ ๐ข๐๐๐๐๐ฃ๐๐๐จ ๐๐ก๐ฉ๐๐ง, ๐จ๐๐๐ฃ๐๐ก๐ก๐๐ฃ๐ ๐๐ก๐ฉ๐๐ง๐จ.
1๏ธโฃ ๐๐ถ๐ด๐ฎ๐บ๐ฒ๐ป๐๐ผ๐๐ ๐ ๐ฒ๐ฐ๐ต๐ฎ๐ป๐ผ๐ฟ๐ฒ๐ฐ๐ฒ๐ฝ๐๐ผ๐ฟ๐ & ๐๐ณ๐ณ๐ฒ๐ฟ๐ฒ๐ป๐ ๐ฆ๐ถ๐ด๐ป๐ฎ๐น๐น๐ถ๐ป๐ด
The dorsal sacroiliac ligaments are dense with mechanoreceptors.
๐๐ฉ๐ฆ๐ฏ ๐ต๐ฉ๐ฆ ๐ต๐ถ๐ฃ๐ฆ๐ณ ๐ด๐ข๐ค๐ณ๐ข๐ญ๐ฆ ๐ฎ๐ฐ๐ท๐ฆ๐ด ๐ฎ๐ฆ๐ฅ๐ช๐ข๐ญ๐ญ๐บ:
โข Ligaments tension asymmetrically
โข Joint capsule compression changes
โข Afferent input to the spinal cord becomes altered
This affects proprioception, the horseโs internal map of where its pelvis is in space.
The brain now receives distorted positional feedback.
๐ฅ๐ฒ๐๐๐น๐? ๐ ๐ผ๐๐ผ๐ฟ ๐ผ๐๐๐ฝ๐๐ ๐ฐ๐ต๐ฎ๐ป๐ด๐ฒ๐.
Not because the horse is weak.
But because the nervous system is protecting.........
2๏ธโฃ ๐ฆ๐ฎ๐ฐ๐ฟ๐ฎ๐น ๐๐ผ๐ฟ๐ฎ๐บ๐ถ๐ป๐ฎ & ๐ก๐ฒ๐ฟ๐๐ฒ ๐ฅ๐ผ๐ผ๐ ๐๐ฟ๐ฟ๐ถ๐๐ฎ๐๐ถ๐ผ๐ป
Subtle restriction around S1โS2 does not require visible pathology.
Even mild mechanical narrowing or inflammatory change can:
โข Increase nociceptive input
โข Reduce motor efficiency
โข Alter gluteal recruitment
Chronic low-grade irritation may lead to:
โข Delayed firing of multifidi
โข Gluteal inhibition
โข Hamstring over-recruitment
The stabilisers go quiet.
The larger muscles brace.
3๏ธโฃ ๐ฉ๐ฎ๐๐ฐ๐๐น๐ฎ๐ฟ & ๐๐ถ๐ด๐ฎ๐บ๐ฒ๐ป๐ ๐๐ผ๐ฎ๐ฑ ๐ฆ๐๐ฎ๐๐ฒ
The sacroiliac region is not only neural, it is vascular.
๐๐ฉ๐ฆ ๐ด๐ข๐ค๐ณ๐ข๐ญ ๐ง๐ฐ๐ณ๐ข๐ฎ๐ช๐ฏ๐ข ๐ต๐ณ๐ข๐ฏ๐ด๐ฎ๐ช๐ต:
โข Nerve roots
โข Segmental vessels
โข Venous drainage
When ligament tension becomes asymmetrical, load is no longer evenly distributed.
One side may sit in chronic compression.
The other in persistent tension.
๐๐ฉ๐ช๐ด ๐ฎ๐ข๐บ:
โข Alter neural glide
โข Influence local tissue perfusion
โข Disturb mechanoreceptor signalling
Importantly, this does not require a visible tear.
Micro-strain and cumulative overload are enough to disturb stability.
The ligaments act as a stabilising sling between pelvis and spine.
If their tension balance is altered, force transfer efficiency reduces.
๐๐ท๐ฆ๐ณ ๐ต๐ช๐ฎ๐ฆ ๐ต๐ฉ๐ช๐ด ๐ช๐ฏ๐ง๐ญ๐ถ๐ฆ๐ฏ๐ค๐ฆ๐ด:
โข Gluteal recruitment
โข Lumbar tone
โข Hip joint loading
โข Distal limb stress patterns
4๏ธโฃ ๐๐ถ๐๐๐ฎ๐น ๐๐ผ๐ฎ๐ฑ๐ถ๐ป๐ด & ๐ ๐๐ผ๐ณ๐ฎ๐๐ฐ๐ถ๐ฎ๐น ๐๐ผ๐ป๐๐ถ๐ป๐๐ถ๐๐
We also cannot ignore the distal driver.
The superficial dorsal line, described by Elbrรธnd & Shultz (2015) >> begins in the hind hoof and continues up the limb, through the pelvis, along the spine and into the head.
Altered hind hoof balance (for example negative plantar angles) changes tension along this entire myofascial chain.
Research suggests that hind hoof imbalance may influence pathology not only within the limb, but into the pelvis, sacroiliac region and caudal thoracic spine, with potential neurological implications along the sciatic pathway.
๐ง๐ต๐ถ๐ ๐ฟ๐ฒ๐ถ๐ป๐ณ๐ผ๐ฟ๐ฐ๐ฒ๐ ๐ฎ๐ป ๐ถ๐บ๐ฝ๐ผ๐ฟ๐๐ฎ๐ป๐ ๐ฝ๐ฟ๐ถ๐ป๐ฐ๐ถ๐ฝ๐น๐ฒ:
๐ฆ๐ ๐ฑ๐๐๐ณ๐๐ป๐ฐ๐๐ถ๐ผ๐ป ๐ถ๐ ๐ป๐ผ๐ ๐ฎ๐น๐๐ฎ๐๐ ๐ฐ๐ฟ๐ฒ๐ฎ๐๐ฒ๐ฑ ๐น๐ผ๐ฐ๐ฎ๐น๐น๐.
Which is why collaboration between farriers, veterinarians and practitioners is essential when managing postural and locomotor dysfunction.
๐๐ฉ๐ฆ ๐๐ฆ๐ด๐ถ๐ญ๐ต๐ช๐ฏ๐จ โ๐๐ณ๐ฐ๐ต๐ฆ๐ค๐ต๐ช๐ท๐ฆโ ๐๐ฆ๐ฉ๐ข๐ท๐ช๐ฐ๐ถ๐ณ๐ด:
Because the brain prioritises protection over performance, movement patterns change.
Not dramatically.
But strategically.
๐ฌ๐ผ๐ ๐บ๐ฎ๐ ๐๐ฒ๐ฒ:
โข โBunny hoppingโ in canter > reducing unilateral pelvic rotation that increases shear or tension
โข Plaiting behind > narrowing the base of support to increase perceived stability
โข Toe dragging > reduced hind limb lift due to altered gluteal recruitment and delayed motor firing
โข Resistance to collection > rounding the back increases SI compression, so the horse braces instead
โข Scooting sideways in transitions > avoiding the surge of force closure required
These are not random habits.
They are motor strategies.
The nervous system is choosing the movement pattern that feels safest under altered afferent input.
๐ช๐ต๐ฎ๐ ๐ข๐๐ป๐ฒ๐ฟ๐ ๐ ๐ฎ๐ ๐ฆ๐ฒ๐ฒ:
โข Loss of engagement
โข Crooked transitions
โข One-sided difficulty in lateral work
โข Reluctance in canter strike-off
โข Disuniting behind
โข Subtle gluteal atrophy
โข โHunterโs bumpโ appearance
โข Tail slightly off midline
โข Reduced impulsion
Often labelled behavioural.
Frequently neurological inhibition secondary to pelvic restriction.
Chronic pelvic torsion can also subtly alter acetabular loading and contribute to secondary hip compensation patterns often mistaken for primary hindlimb pathology.
๐ง๐ต๐ฒ ๐๐ฒ๐ ๐๐ผ๐ป๐ฐ๐ฒ๐ฝ๐
Muscles do not switch off randomly.
The nervous system inhibits them when joint input feels unsafe.
If pelvic mechanics distort afferent signalling, motor output adapts.
You cannot strengthen your way out of neural inhibition without first restoring mobility.
Restore mobility.
Rebuild stability.
Increase capacity.
Over the past week Iโve shared a series exploring sacroiliac dysfunction/torsion and its neural consequences.
The response has been significant; thank you for the level of discussion.
Due to demand, Iโll be announcing a small-group, in-person CPD day next week, focused specifically on assessing this.
๐๐ณ ๐๐ผ๐โ๐ฑ ๐น๐ถ๐ธ๐ฒ ๐ฝ๐ฟ๐ถ๐ผ๐ฟ๐ถ๐๐ ๐ฎ๐ฐ๐ฐ๐ฒ๐๐ ๐ฏ๐ฒ๐ณ๐ผ๐ฟ๐ฒ ๐ฝ๐๐ฏ๐น๐ถ๐ฐ ๐ฟ๐ฒ๐น๐ฒ๐ฎ๐๐ฒ, ๐๐ผ๐ ๐ฐ๐ฎ๐ป ๐ท๐ผ๐ถ๐ป ๐๐ต๐ฒ ๐น๐ถ๐๐ ๐ต๐ฒ๐ฟ๐ฒ:
https://www.helenthornton.com/contact
Image;https://onlinepethealth.com/the-continuum-of-equine-sacroiliac-joint-dysfunction/
