Assessing thermal changes in the equine thoracolumbar region following different capacitive-resistive electrical transfer protocols.
Abstract: Capacitive-resistive electrical transfer (CRET) is an endogenous non-invasive technique, used as deep diathermy. We pursue to analyze the temperature changes by applying different CRET protocols in the thoracolumbar spine of horses, between thoracic vertebrae 15 and lumbar 2. Unassigned: Ten clinically sound horses without thoracolumbar pain underwent various CRET protocols applied to a standardized thoracolumbar region (T15-L2). The protocols included sham (device off), low intensity (LIP, 5%), medium intensity (MIP, 30%), and high intensity (HIP, 40%). The HIP protocol was further divided into two-subprotocols based on the application of a subsequent low-intensity capacitive therapy: HIP+CAP (with capacitive therapy) and HIP-wCAP (without capacitive therapy). Skin minimum (Tmin), maximum (Tmax), and mean (Tmed) temperatures were assessed by thermography in degrees Celsius (°C) at assigned measurement times during application, and for 30 min post-therapy application. Unassigned: No significant differences in Tmed and Tmax were found between sham and LIP protocols in any of the measurement times. During application, there were no significant differences between MIP and HIP protocols, but during the first 15 min after application, Tmed and Tmax were significantly higher in the HIP+CAP protocol (median and [interquartile ranges], 29.17°C [28.20-31.5°C]; 31.70°C [29.50-33.10°C]) compared to MIP (25.36°C [23.41-26.98°C]; = 0.002; 27.58°C [26.15-28.10°C]; = 0.001) and to HIP-wCAP (25.48°C [23.12-26.21°C]; = 0.001; 28.22°C [27.10-29.21°C]; = 0.004). At 30 min after CRET, Tmed and Tmax remained significantly higher in HIP+CAP (26.68°C [24.75-28.19°C]; 29.23°C [28.18-31.21°C]) compared to sham (23.16°C [22.11-25.23°C], = 0.022; 25.15°C [23.12-27.10°C]; = 0.001), and LIP (24.25°C [22.13-25.34°C], = 0.023; 26.22°C [24.23-27.34°C]; = 0.034). Unassigned: Skin temperature was measured, rather than using invasive techniques involving the insertion of thermal probes into muscles. Skin thickness and hair density may have affected temperature measurements. Unassigned: Low-intensity CRET induced similar temperatures compared to sham. Moderate and high-intensity protocols produced similar temperature increases; despite high-intensity sessions were limited to 10 min due to horse tolerance. Shorter high-intensity treatments may be easier to apply and adding a short time of low-intensity capacity therapy after high-intensity protocols, may help maintain elevated temperatures for longer periods of time, without significantly increasing the duration of therapy.
Copyright © 2025 Calle-González, Rivero, Olivares, Miró, Argüelles, Requena and Munoz.
Publication Date: 2025-05-21 PubMed ID: 40470277PubMed Central: PMC12134902DOI: 10.3389/fvets.2025.1570120Google Scholar: Lookup
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Summary
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This research study evaluates the change in the skin temperature in the back region of horses, specifically the region between the 15th thoracic vertebra and the 2nd lumbar vertebra, following the use of various levels of capacitive-resistive electrical transfer (CRET) therapy, a type of non-invasive deep heat treatment. The study discovers that high-intensity CRET along with a short, low-intensity session afterwards sustains the raised temperatures longer, which can enhance the therapy’s effectiveness without significantly extending its duration.
Research Methodology
- The research observed ten healthy horses without back pain and applied different CRET protocols on them which included varying levels of intensity — low (5%), medium (30%), high (40%), and a sham (device off).
- Of the high-intensity protocol, two sub-protocols (with and without a following low-level capacitive therapy) were also included in the process.
- Minimum, maximum, and mean skin temperatures in the thoracolumbar region were recorded in degrees Celsius using thermographic imaging during the application of the therapy and for 30 minutes after the application.
Research Outcomes
- There were no significant differences between the sham and the low-intensity protocol at any given time during the therapy.
- Between the medium and high-intensity protocols, there was no significant difference during the treatment. However, in the first 15-minute duration post-treatment, the combined high-intensity and subsequent low-intensity capacitive therapy session yielded significantly higher mean and maximum temperatures.
- After 30 minutes post-intensified CRET, the mean and maximum temperatures remained noticeably higher on this high-intensity protocol followed by low-intensity capacitive therapy when compared to sham and low-intensity protocols.
Research Limitations
- The research made use of thermographic imaging for temperature assessment rather than invasive techniques that involve the insertion of thermal probes into muscles.
- The skin thickness and hair density of the horses might have affected the temperature measurements.
Conclusion of the Research
- The low-intensity CRET produced similar temperatures as compared to the sham protocol.
- Despite the high-intensity therapy sessions were time-limited to 10 minutes due to horse tolerance, both moderate and high-intensity protocols yielded similar temperature increments.
- Adding a short duration of low-intensity capacitive therapy following high-intensity protocols can help sustain the increased temperatures for an extended period of time, without substantially prolonging the duration of the therapy and possibly improving its effectiveness.
Cite This Article
APA
Calle-González N, Rivero JL, Olivares J, Miró F, Argüelles D, Requena F, Munoz A.
(2025).
Assessing thermal changes in the equine thoracolumbar region following different capacitive-resistive electrical transfer protocols.
Front Vet Sci, 12, 1570120.
https://doi.org/10.3389/fvets.2025.1570120 Publication
Researcher Affiliations
- Department of Animal Medicine and Surgery, School of Veterinary Medicine, University of Córdoba, Córdoba, Spain.
- Equine Sports Medicine Center CEMEDE, School of Veterinary Medicine, University of Córdoba, Córdoba, Spain.
- Department of Comparative and Pathological Anatomy and Toxicology, School of Veterinary Medicine, University of Cordoba, Cordoba, Spain.
- Department of Electronic and Computer Engineering, Superior Polytechnic School of Córdoba, University of Córdoba, Córdoba, Spain.
- Department of Comparative and Pathological Anatomy and Toxicology, School of Veterinary Medicine, University of Cordoba, Cordoba, Spain.
- Department of Animal Medicine and Surgery, School of Veterinary Medicine, University of Córdoba, Córdoba, Spain.
- Equine Sports Medicine Center CEMEDE, School of Veterinary Medicine, University of Córdoba, Córdoba, Spain.
- Department of Cellular Biology, Physiology and Immunology, School of Veterinary Medicine, University of Córdoba, Córdoba, Spain.
- Department of Animal Medicine and Surgery, School of Veterinary Medicine, University of Córdoba, Córdoba, Spain.
- Equine Sports Medicine Center CEMEDE, School of Veterinary Medicine, University of Córdoba, Córdoba, Spain.
Conflict of Interest Statement
The authors declare that the research was conducted in the absence of any commercial or financial relationships that could be construed as a potential conflict of interest.
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