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Home / Equine Research Bank / Animals (Basel) / Accelerometric Changes before and after Capacitive Resistive...
Animals : an open access journal from MDPI2020; 10(12); doi: 10.3390/ani10122305

Accelerometric Changes before and after Capacitive Resistive Electric Transfer Therapy in Horses with Thoracolumbar Pain Compared to a SHAM Procedure.

Abstract: Capacitive resistive electric transfer (CRET), a radiofrequency at 448 kHz, increases flexibility in quadricep muscles of human athletes. To assess whether CRET would result in clinical and biomechanical improvements in horses with thoracolumbar pain, 18 sport horses were divided into two groups: CRET (n = 9), subjected to four CRET sessions, during two consecutive weeks, and SHAM (n = 9), subjected to the same procedure with the device off. Clinical examination and accelerometry were performed before and after the four sessions. During the study, horses were in training and in active competition, and did not receive any other treatment. Mann-Whitney and a Wilcoxon matched pair tests were used to compare between the SHAM and CRET groups and before and after the intervention, respectively. CRET horses showed increased dorsoventral (p < 0.002), mediolateral and total power (p < 0.01) after the intervention, suggesting increased back flexibility. SHAM horses did not show any of these modifications after the intervention. No changes were found in the dorsoventral displacement of the gravity center in either group. Thoracolumbar pain decreased one degree after CRET (p = 0.002), and it did not change after SHAM. Epaxial muscle pain decreased two degrees after CRET (p = 0.03) and one degree after SHAM (p = 0.01). These results reflected that CRET therapy would increase back flexibility and decrease thoracolumbar and epaxial pain.
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Publication Date: 2020-12-05 PubMed ID: 33291357PubMed Central: PMC7762083DOI: 10.3390/ani10122305Google Scholar: Lookup
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Summary

This research summary has been generated with artificial intelligence and may contain errors and omissions. Refer to the original study to confirm details provided. Submit correction.

The research studied the effects of a specific treatment, Capacitive Resistive Electric Transfer (CRET), on horses experiencing back pain, concluding that this treatment increased back flexibility and reduced back and muscle pain.

Introduction

In the field of equine sports medicine, the treatment of thoracolumbar pain, which affects the horse’s middle and lower back, is a pertinent issue. This research was driven by a desire to mitigate this issue using Capacitive Resistive Electric Transfer (CRET). This type of therapy leverages radio frequency at 448 kHz, and it has been shown to increase the flexibility in the quadriceps muscles of human athletes.

Methodology

  • Sample size: 18 sport horses were utilized during this study, they were split into two groups. The CRET group consisted of nine horses that underwent four therapy sessions over a two-week span. The SHAM group was also composed of nine horses and given a sham treatment, where the CRET device was switched off during their respective sessions.
  • Data Collection: The study administered clinical examinations and used accelerometry, a method of biomechanical assessment, before and after the four sessions. It should be noted that the horses were still undergoing their regular training and competing actively throughout the duration of this study. No other therapeutic procedures were employed during this time.
  • Statistical Testing: Mann-Whitney tests were used to compare data between the SHAM and CRET groups. Meanwhile, the Wilcoxon Matched Pair tests were used to evaluate data before and after the CRET sessions.

Findings

Following the intervention, the CRET group experienced an increase in dorsoventral, mediolateral, and total power, indicative of enhanced back flexibility. However, the SHAM group did not show any such improvements. In either group, no changes were detected in the dorsoventral displacement of the gravity centre.

The study discovered a significant decrease in thoracolumbar pain and muscle pain following the treatment. Specifically, thoracolumbar pain reduced by one degree after CRET treatment and showed no change after the sham treatment. Meanwhile, the muscle pain decreased two degrees after CRET, and only one degree after SHAM.

Conclusion

The results suggested that CRET could indeed benefit horses suffering from thoracolumbar pain, enhancing their back flexibility and alleviating associated pain. The SHAM group was useful as a control that lacked the CRET treatment, showing no such advantages. Thus, this therapy could be seen as an effective tool in equine sports medicine.

Cite This Article

APA
Argüelles D, Becero M, Muñoz A, Saitua A, Ramón T, Gascón E, Sánchez de Medina A, Prades M. (2020). Accelerometric Changes before and after Capacitive Resistive Electric Transfer Therapy in Horses with Thoracolumbar Pain Compared to a SHAM Procedure. Animals (Basel), 10(12). https://doi.org/10.3390/ani10122305

Publication

Animals : an open access journal from MDPI
ISSN: 2076-2615
NlmUniqueID: 101635614
Country: Switzerland
Language: English
Volume: 10
Issue: 12

Researcher Affiliations

Argüelles, David
  • Department of Animal Medicine and Surgery, School of Veterinary Medicine, University of Córdoba, 14004 Córdoba, Spain.
  • Veterinary Teaching Hospital, School of Veterinary Medicine, University of Córdoba, 14004 Córdoba, Spain.
Becero, Mireya
  • Veterinary Teaching Hospital, School of Veterinary Medicine, University of Córdoba, 14004 Córdoba, Spain.
  • Equine Sport Medicine Center CEMEDE, School of Veterinary Medicine, University of Córdoba, 14004 Córdoba, Spain.
Muñoz, Ana
  • Department of Animal Medicine and Surgery, School of Veterinary Medicine, University of Córdoba, 14004 Córdoba, Spain.
  • Equine Sport Medicine Center CEMEDE, School of Veterinary Medicine, University of Córdoba, 14004 Córdoba, Spain.
Saitua, Aritz
  • Veterinary Teaching Hospital, School of Veterinary Medicine, University of Córdoba, 14004 Córdoba, Spain.
Ramón, Toni
  • Physiotherapy and Osteopathy Equine Practice, 08913 Barcelona, Spain.
Gascón, Eduard
  • Department of Animal Medicine and Surgery, School of Veterinary Medicine, Autonomous University of Barcelona, 08193 Bellaterra, Spain.
Sánchez de Medina, Antonia
  • Department of Animal Medicine and Surgery, School of Veterinary Medicine, University of Córdoba, 14004 Córdoba, Spain.
  • Veterinary Teaching Hospital, School of Veterinary Medicine, University of Córdoba, 14004 Córdoba, Spain.
Prades, Marta
  • Department of Animal Medicine and Surgery, School of Veterinary Medicine, Autonomous University of Barcelona, 08193 Bellaterra, Spain.

Conflict of Interest Statement

The authors declare no conflict of interest.

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Citations

This article has been cited 4 times.
  1. Calle-González N, Rivero JL, Olivares J, Miró F, Argüelles D, Requena F, Munoz A. Assessing thermal changes in the equine thoracolumbar region following different capacitive-resistive electrical transfer protocols. Front Vet Sci 2025;12:1570120.
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  2. Argüelles D, Saitua A, Miraz R, Calle-González N, Requena F, Nocera I, Vitale V, Sgorbini M, Muñoz A. The application of a single session of capacitive resistive electric transfer 24 h before exercise modifies the accelerometric pattern in standardbred racing trotters. BMC Vet Res 2024 May 22;20(1):217.
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