Acupuncture has potential in managing axial stiffness in steeplechase racehorses: a blinded prospective randomized preliminary study.
Abstract: Evaluate the short-term effects of acupuncture on the dynamic manifestations of axial stiffness in steeplechase racehorses. 12 steeplechase racehorses presenting signs of axial stiffness during training. Horses were randomly assigned to either an acupuncture treatment by an experienced certified acupuncturist (n = 6) or no treatment as negative controls (6). The horses' locomotion was evaluated during training before treatment (D0) and 7 (D7) and 14 (D14) days after by their rider and trainer through a questionnaire. Additionally, the improvement of their dorsal flexibility 2 days after treatment was evaluated subjectively at the trot, free jumping at the canter was evaluated by expert clinicians, and free jumping at the trot was evaluated objectively via inertial measurement units. Significantly more horses were improved on D7 and D14 in the acupuncture group (6/6) compared with the control group (1/5; P =.01) according to the scores set by the trainer and riders. Subjective evaluation of the dorsal flexibility also revealed a significant improvement (P = .04) for horses receiving the acupuncture treatment (median improvement score, 0.50 [reference range, 0.5 to 0.9]) compared with control horses (-0.25 [reference range, -0.5 to 0]). Acupuncture may be an interesting nondoping strategy to improve clinical signs of axial stiffness and performance on steeplechase racehorses.
Publication Date: 2023-09-21 PubMed ID: 37734722DOI: 10.2460/javma.23.04.0197Google Scholar: Lookup
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- Randomized Controlled Trial
- Veterinary
- Journal Article
- Research Support
- Non-U.S. Gov't
Summary
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The research evaluates the impact of acupuncture in improving axial stiffness in steeplechase racehorses. The findings suggest that acupuncture can play a significant role as a non-doping strategy to enhance the performance of racehorses.
Study Design and Methodology
- The study used a sample size of 12 steeplechase racehorses which had shown signs of axial stiffness during training.
- These horses were randomly divided into two groups. One group, consisting of 6 horses, received acupuncture treatment by a trained and certified acupuncturist. The other group, consisting of the remaining 6 horses, served as the control group for the study and did not receive any treatment.
- The impact of the treatment (or non-treatment) on the horses’ locomotion was evaluated before the treatment (D0), and 7 (D7) and 14 (D14) days after the treatment.
- Evaluation was conducted by the horses’ riders and trainers through a questionnaire. The horses were observed during training sessions.
- In addition, the horses’ dorsal flexibility was subjectively evaluated two days after treatment. Free jumping of the horses at both trot and canter were evaluated by expert clinicians and objectively measured by inertial measurement units.
Findings
- All horses in the acupuncture group showed improvement on both Day 7 and Day 14, as compared to just one horse in the control group.
- Subjective evaluation also pointed towards significant improvement in dorsal flexibility in horses that received acupuncture treatment. The median improvement score here was 0.50 as compared to a decrease of -0.25 in the control group.
Conclusions
- The findings of this study suggest that acupuncture could be effective in managing axial stiffness in steeplechase racehorses.
- The research indicates that acupuncture might be a viable non-doping strategy to improve both the clinical signs of axial stiffness and performance in steeplechase racehorses.
Cite This Article
APA
Terlinden A, Szymkowiak M, Jonville E, Hatrisse C, De Azevedo E, Coudry V, Denoix JM, Pilot-Storck F, Desquilbet L, Bertoni L.
(2023).
Acupuncture has potential in managing axial stiffness in steeplechase racehorses: a blinded prospective randomized preliminary study.
J Am Vet Med Assoc, 261(12), 1-8.
https://doi.org/10.2460/javma.23.04.0197 Publication
Researcher Affiliations
- 1CIRALE, BPLC, INRAE, Ecole nationale vétérinaire d'Alfort, Maisons-Alfort, France.
- 2FAMILYVETS Herbignac, Herbignac, France.
- 3La Trinité de Réville, France.
- 4University of Lyon, Lyon, France.
- 5Gustave Eiffel University, Lyon, France.
- 6Claude Bernard University Lyon 1, Lyon, France.
- 7CWD-VetLab, Ecole nationale vétérinaire d'Alfort, Maisons-Alfort, France.
- 8Laboratoire de recherche en imagerie et orthopédie, Centre de Recherche du Centre Hospitalier de l'Université de Montréal, Montréal, QC, Canada.
- 1CIRALE, BPLC, INRAE, Ecole nationale vétérinaire d'Alfort, Maisons-Alfort, France.
- 1CIRALE, BPLC, INRAE, Ecole nationale vétérinaire d'Alfort, Maisons-Alfort, France.
- 1CIRALE, BPLC, INRAE, Ecole nationale vétérinaire d'Alfort, Maisons-Alfort, France.
- 9Ecole nationale vétérinaire d'Alfort, Maisons-Alfort, France.
- 10Paris-East Créteil University, Créteil, France.
- 9Ecole nationale vétérinaire d'Alfort, Maisons-Alfort, France.
- 10Paris-East Créteil University, Créteil, France.
- 1CIRALE, BPLC, INRAE, Ecole nationale vétérinaire d'Alfort, Maisons-Alfort, France.
MeSH Terms
- Horses
- Animals
- Prospective Studies
- Locomotion
- Acupuncture Therapy / veterinary
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