Alternative Therapies For Horses
At first considered unconventional and dismissed for lack of scientific support, alternative equine therapies are now recognized as valuable supplements to traditional veterinary medicine. At Palm Beach Equine Clinic, alternative therapies like acupuncture, herbal therapy and chiropractic care are integrated into its holistic approach to horse health care.
Owners should avoid untrained individuals offering treatments they aren’t trained in and only allow licensed professionals to use these modalities on their horses.
Cryotherapy
Cryotherapy utilizes chilled air to freeze painful areas similar to an ice pack. Before beginning treatment, your physician will use antiseptic solution and local anesthetic injection for safety, before using an X-ray machine to direct a small needle (cannula) directly to the area requiring treatment. You might experience some stinging sensation as the needle enters tissue; however, no pain or discomfort should result from it.
Though there is no scientific proof for its effectiveness on horses, this technique is widely employed in some stables. It may help reduce joint stiffness, muscle soreness and inflammation as well as reduce oxidative stress while increasing neurotransmitters and hormones that promote recovery.
Note that no alternative therapy is a magic bullet; horses with musculoskeletal issues often require traditional veterinary care such as surgery and rehabilitation, while some complementary and alternative medicine (CAM) treatments can be risky or have not undergone rigorous testing by clinical trials (the gold standard of evidence-based medicine). Some herbal remedies have shown promise, such as Echinacea for improving immunity or flaxseed for treating itchy skin caused by gnat bites; other herbal blends like Vitex agnus castus (chasteberry) for treating heaves. Cold therapy has been used extensively throughout history in various forms including cold water immersion, ice baths and showers – other forms include cold-water immersion, ice baths or cold showers.
Low-level laser therapy
Low-level laser therapy is an invaluable way to accelerate recovery in horses. Studies have demonstrated its efficacy at reducing inflammation and stimulating tissue regeneration, as well as improving blood flow and stimulating natural pain-relief mechanisms produced by their bodies – making it an effective complement to other treatments such as stem cells or platelet-rich plasma injections.
LLLT therapy is especially useful for horses suffering from muscle injuries or chronic conditions that limit mobility and range of motion, and for horses traveling frequently for competition or training. Being portable, it can be used anywhere without needing sedation or veterinarian approval – another advantage.
LLLT works by sending low-powered light waves through the skin into damaged tissue, where they penetrate muscle and connective tissue deep within muscle and connective tissues, where they absorb light energy which then gets converted to energy by cells within these tissues, stimulating their activity for increased blood flow, reduced inflammation, and improved range of motion.
One recent study evaluated LLLT for treating back pain in western performance horses competing in national western competitions. Researchers assigned 61 quarter horses participating in either chiropractic care alone or laser therapy groups and discovered that laser therapy-treated horses experienced significantly less discomfort and stiffness compared to control horses, as well as having better spinal flexibility and range of motion than their chiropractic counterparts.
Extracorporeal shockwave therapy
Shock wave therapy (ESWT) is a non-invasive therapeutic technique employed by veterinarians to treat musculoskeletal conditions in horses. Utilizing focused high-energy shock waves, ESWT stimulates healing processes and alleviates pain quickly and safely compared with some CAVM therapies.
Review studies included randomized controlled trials, clinical cohort studies, and laboratory experimental research studies. Their findings demonstrated that ECSWT therapy is associated with improvement of several musculoskeletal conditions including ligament ailments, osteoarthritis and other indications; however more high-quality studies should be performed to demonstrate its beneficial effects.
ECSWT may stimulate glycosaminoglycan and protein syntheses in tendons and ligaments, leading to improved flexibility, strength, and movement. Furthermore, it may increase blood flow to an injured area for speedier healing time; studies have also demonstrated its analgesic qualities with horses. Furthermore, it reduces inflammation as well as granulation tissue formation from wound induced treatments.
Though ECSWT can be beneficial in treating various conditions, such as back problems and navicular disease, certain restrictions apply; most importantly, the device used during treatment often needs to be quieted down as it can be loud and uncomfortable for the horse; however, newer devices have become less intrusive, meaning sedation may no longer be required during sessions.
Acupuncture
Acupuncture is a widely utilized complementary and alternative medicine (CAM) treatment, though scientific evidence of its efficacy remains limited. While evidence supports altering pain signaling and neurochemical inputs from studies using horses as subjects, studies often lack healthy controls or fail to test acupuncture on enough horses for conclusive conclusions to be reached. If considering acupuncture therapy as part of your health regime, choose an acupuncture practitioner who is licensed as either a health professional (e.g. doctor, nurse, physiotherapist etc) or belongs to one of national acupuncture organizations (NAO).
Herbal remedies are another popular CAM therapy option, though few rigorous studies exist on them. According to some small clinical trials, Echinacea can boost equine immune function; flaxseed relieves itchy skin reactions associated with gnat bites; while herbal blends provide relief for symptoms associated with heaves and osteoarthritis. A Palm Beach Equine Clinic veterinarian advises not using herbs casually and consulting your veterinarian first before beginning any herbal therapy regime.
Competitors at high levels in equestrian sports understand the value of having a well-functioning musculoskeletal apparatus. Even with expert veterinary care, athletes at their peak can still suffer injuries that impair performance; thus prompting many owners to explore complementary therapies as a way of helping their horse recover and return to peak condition faster. Entering this alternative world may seem intimidating but with guidance and care provided by veterinarians owners can try various treatments that enhance athlete health, welfare and performance.
Chiropractic adjustment
Once deemed alternative and disapproved of for lack of scientific proof, complementary therapies have gained acceptance in sport horse barns as valuable supplements to traditional Western veterinary treatments rather than replacements for them. But many have not been put through clinical trials — which serve as medicine’s gold standard — so it’s crucial that consumers make an informed decision when considering complementary therapies as part of a holistic medicine approach. It is vital that they carefully consider claims, cautions and costs associated with each therapy they may consider trying.
One of the most frequently prescribed treatments is spinal manipulation, commonly referred to as chiropractic adjustment. Practitioners use multiport injectors to deliver small doses of antiinflammatory medications and homeopathic remedies through small injections in the midsection of the back side of the spine using multiport injectors; these injections stimulate Giant Fibers which stop pain traveling from the spine up to the brain, typically needing multiple sessions before seeing results.
Nonsurgical spinal decompression, a motorized form of traction that relieves pressure from spinal discs, is another popular therapy option. Our sources have noted how it may also improve joint range-of-motion.
Rolfing, created by biochemist Ida P. Rolf and her theory that physical tension and injuries cause our bodies to compensate by misaligning physical structures, is another approach. Sessions usually last an hour-and-a-half and utilize fingers, hands, knuckles and elbows as tools for tissue work; initially focusing on helping horses engage from behind while subsequent sessions may address other parts of their bodies.
Massage
Massage involves manipulating soft tissues to relieve discomfort and stress, relax the body and promote tissue repair. Equine massage practitioners or owners trained in self-massage can perform it.
Practitioners rely on palpatory information – the feel of muscles, ligaments and tendons–and use various techniques to address specific conditions. Effleurage (a general stroking technique) may be employed to warm up muscles and increase blood flow while deeper massage techniques focus on untangling knots, increasing range of motion, or relieving pain.
Other treatments include acupressure and acupuncture. While most Westerners know acupuncture for pain relief purposes, its more significant ability lies in altering behavior by disrupting the fight-or-flight response. Acupuncture works by stimulating Giant Fibers located within the spinal cord which prevent signals of pain being transmitted directly to the brain.
Alternative therapies often rely on anecdotal evidence, yet their increasing popularity and stories of satisfied horses and riders indicate some are effective. When selecting complementary therapies for their horse(s), owners should seek professional advice from experienced practitioners before carefully observing their horse to understand which ones may provide the greatest benefit; be wary of claims that any therapy acts like silver bullet or snake oil and place priority on diagnosing it first.
