Treatment of a horse kiss
As usual with bruises, the so-called PECH rule should be followed when kissing a horse. The athletic activity should be interrupted immediately (pause) and the limb should be immobilized. Local ice can be used for cooling.
This reduces the blood circulation and less blood seeps into the tissue, the spread of swelling and bruising is reduced. A tight compression bandage supports this process. A cooling, anti-inflammatory ointment can be applied beforehand.
Then the leg must be elevated, this also reduces blood circulation and the resulting swelling. The sports break should be observed until the bruise has healed. If necessary, painkillers can be taken to additionally reduce the inflammation.
These include ibuprofen or diclofenac, which can also be used as an ointment. Painkillers that have a strong blood-thinning effect should not be taken. Tape bandages are recommended for a variety of sports injuries, including bruises and horse kisses.
Kinesiological tapes are self-adhesive, elastic tapes that are applied to the skin using special taping techniques. They are supposed to accelerate the healing of the injury, but there are no studies about their effectiveness so far. Many doctors, sports therapists and physiotherapists use them in their daily practice, especially for the prophylaxis and therapy of sports injuries or movement pain.
The application of tapes requires a special technique. A self application is also possible according to instructions. A tape bandage for horse kisses looks like this: A cross is stuck over the pain center, the ends are carefully spread out.
With two more tapes the star-shaped pattern is completed. All tapes cross over the pain center. In the acute phase, massage of the affected area is not recommended.Massage and pressure during a fresh horse kiss increases the blood circulation in the tissue and swelling and bruising take on much greater proportions.
Therefore a massage should be avoided at first. The area is also very sensitive to pain in the further course of the kiss; however, bruises often lead to tension and hardening of the muscle. These can be loosened by gentle stroking and massaging. The treating physician or physiotherapist can judge when a massage is advisable in the healing phase.
