Adjunct Therapies for Tendon/Ligament Healing: Therapeutic Laser and Extracorporeal Shockwave Therapy.

This research investigates how high-power laser therapy and extracorporeal shock wave therapy (ESWT) can be used to safely treat tendon and ligament injuries in horses, despite limited scientific evidence for ESWT. Further investigation is needed to establish dosage and treatment protocols for both therapies.

Therapeutic Laser and <Extracorporeal Shockwave Therapy

• This research specifically focuses on two adjunct treatments for tendon and ligament injuries in horses: high-power laser therapy and a href=”/shockwave-therapy-in-horses/” title=”Shockwave Therapy in Horses: Uses, Benefits & Side Effects”>extracorporeal shock wave therapy (ESWT).
• High-power laser therapy, as the name suggests, involves using a high-power laser to provide a therapeutic effect. The idea here is that the laser’s energy can penetrate deep into tissues, stimulating a series of biological responses that can accelerate healing and alleviate pain.
• Both these therapies act as adjuncts meaning they are used in conjunction with other therapies to enhance the healing process. They are not intended to replace traditional treatments but to compliment them, potentially speeding up recovery times or increasing treatment effectiveness.

Limitations and Future Directions

• The research acknowledges that low-level lasers are not potent enough to treat such injuries in horses. In terms of ESWT, the therapy is actually used more often than any other for treating tendon and ligament injuries in horses. However, there seems to be limited scientific evidence vouching for its effectiveness.
• The paper therefore clearly indicates the need for further research. The authors advocate for more studies to help establish a scientific basis for dosage and treatment protocols for both laser therapy and ESWT when it comes to treating these specific injuries in horses.

Clinically Relevant Long-Term Follow-up

• The research also emphasises on the requirement for more clinically relevant long-term follow-up. This essentially means there is a need for longitudinal studies to assess the effects of these therapies over a more extended period.
• Such studies could provide more nuanced understandings of long-term implications, any associated risks, benefits and the overall effect over the lifetime and performance of the horse.