HYPOTHETICAL QUESTION NO HORSES INVOLVED> How do you differentiate between soft tissue and boney issues? Stiff at the start of work, Warms out of it, some swelling at joint…
How would you tell the difference, short of getting an ultrasound?
Block and xray the joint.
I was taught if they “warmed up” out of it, it was joint and if it stayed the same or got worse during work, it was soft tissue. But I think that only works if you have a horse with no other physical issues they may be compensating for. Also, anything that blocks to the foot I would assume there’s some soft tissue involvement with any xray findings.
Better or worse on hard ground vs soft footing. Not exactly foolproof but it’s a starting point.
I don’t even guess - I just call the vet and we start flexing and blocking.
With no complicating factors/compensation:
worse on hard ground = bone
worse on soft ground = soft tissue
warms out of it = bone
heat/swelling = soft tissue
even less reliable:
worse when its on the inside of a small circle = bone
worse when its on the outside of a small circle = soft tissue
In general, soft tissue injury is worse on softer ground, and hard tissue injuries worse on harder ground. Softer ground causes more extension of soft tissues, while harder ground is more concussive to bone.
A mild muscle injury may get better with work. But a tendon or ligament rarely will, depending on what and where. Meaning, as muscles warm up and are able to lengthen more, that may take the excess strain off the injured tendon. But ligaments don’t get that (bone to bone), so will stay the same, or get worse
Which inside/outside is the worst doesn’t really tell you about soft vs hard tissue. If it’s ringbone, it may be worse when that leg is on the outside, if the ringbone is on the inside of that leg, and the inside of those outside leg bones are forced together more. But if for example its the outside collateral ligament on that outside leg, that will be stretched more and will make him more lame.
