Assessment of Vein Diameter and Body Surface Temperature after High-Intensity Laser Therapy (HILT) on the Tarsal Joint in Healthy Horses.
Abstract: The aim of the study was to assess the influence of high-intensity laser therapy (HILT) on vein diameter and on body surface temperature changes in the tarsal joint area in a group of clinically healthy racehorses. The hypothesis of the study was that HILT increases vein diameter and body surface temperature in healthy tissue. The study involved 16 Thoroughbreds being subjected to ultrasonographic examination to assess changes of diameter of the cranial branch of the medial saphenous vein and thermographic examination to indicate temperature change of the dorsal surface of the tarsal joint, just before and immediately after HILT treatment. Vein diameter and mean surface temperature of the tarsal joint significantly increased after HILT treatment. In addition, the study was the first to describe the photothermal effect of HILT in healthy horses. More studies are necessary to specify the parameters of the procedure, that is, wavelength, energy density, or time of the procedure, depending on the patient's individual characteristics and type of tissue.
Copyright © 2020 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.
Publication Date: 2020-07-22 PubMed ID: 32972685DOI: 10.1016/j.jevs.2020.103198Google Scholar: Lookup
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Summary
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This research looks into the impact of high-intensity laser therapy (HILT) on the vein diameter and body surface temperature in the tarsal joint area of healthy racehorses. Results revealed that HILT led to a significant increase in vein diameter and mean surface temperature.
Objective of the Research
- The study aimed to examine how high-intensity laser therapy (HILT) affects the diameter of the vein and changes in the body surface temperature in the tarsal joint area in racehorses. The researchers hypothesized that HILT would contribute to the enlargement of the vein diameter and increase in body surface temperature in healthy tissues.
Methodology
- A group of 16 Thoroughbreds that were clinically healthy were selected for the study.
- These horses underwent an ultrasonographic examination to evaluate the changes in the diameter of the cranial branch of the medial saphenous vein.
- At the same time, a thermographic examination was conducted to measure the temperature change of the dorsal surface of the tarsal joint. The measurements were taken immediately before and after HILT treatment to register any differences.
Major Findings
- The researchers observed that both the vein diameter and the mean surface temperature of the tarsal joint significantly increased after the horses underwent HILT treatment.
- This study was among the first to document the photothermal effect of HILT in healthy horses. The photothermal effect is a phenomenon where light energy (from the laser treatment) converts to heat in biological tissues, causing therapeutic effects such as increased blood flow and tissue repair.
Implications and Further Research
- The results point towards the potential effects of HILT on racehorses’ tarsal joints, opening up avenues for further in-depth studies into the specific parameters of HILT procedures, such as wavelength, energy density, and treatment duration. These parameters may then be adjusted as per a patient’s individual characteristics and tissue type, optimizing the benefits of HILT.
Cite This Article
APA
Godlewska M, Soroko M, Zielińska P.
(2020).
Assessment of Vein Diameter and Body Surface Temperature after High-Intensity Laser Therapy (HILT) on the Tarsal Joint in Healthy Horses.
J Equine Vet Sci, 93, 103198.
https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jevs.2020.103198 Publication
Researcher Affiliations
- Department of Surgery, Wroclaw University of Environmental and Life Sciences, Wroclaw, Poland.
- Department of Horse Breeding and Equestrian Studies, Institute of Animal Breeding, Wroclaw University of Environmental and Life Sciences, Wroclaw, Poland. Electronic address: kontakt@eqma.pl.
- Department of Surgery, Wroclaw University of Environmental and Life Sciences, Wroclaw, Poland.
MeSH Terms
- Animals
- Body Temperature
- Horses
- Laser Therapy / veterinary
- Low-Level Light Therapy / veterinary
- Tarsal Joints
- Temperature
Citations
This article has been cited 7 times.- Soroko-Dubrovina M, Zielińska P, Dudek KD, Śniegucka K, Nawrot K. Thermal Effects of High-Intensity Laser Therapy on the Temporomandibular Joint Area in Clinically Healthy Racehorses-A Pilot Study. Animals (Basel) 2025 May 15;15(10).
- Nawrot K, Soroko-Dubrovina M, Zielińska P, Dudek K, Howell K. The Application of Infrared Thermography in the Assessment of BEMER Physical Vascular Therapy on Body Surface Temperature in Racing Thoroughbreds: A Preliminary Study. Animals (Basel) 2024 May 23;14(11).
- Śniegucka K, Soroko-Dubrovina M, Zielińska P, Dudek K, Žuffová K. The Effect of Radial Extracorporeal Shock Wave Therapy (rESWT) on the Skin Surface Temperature of the Longissimus Dorsi Muscle in Clinically Healthy Racing Thoroughbreds: A Preliminary Study. Animals (Basel) 2023 Jun 18;13(12).
- Zielińska P, Soroko-Dubrovina M, Dudek K, Ruzhanova-Gospodinova IS. A Preliminary Study of the Influence of High Intensity Laser Therapy (HILT) on Skin Surface Temperature and Longissimus Dorsi Muscle Tone Changes in Thoroughbred Racehorses with Back Pain. Animals (Basel) 2023 Feb 22;13(5).
- Zielińska P, Soroko-Dubrovina M, Śniegucka K, Dudek K, Čebulj-Kadunc N. Effects of High-Intensity Laser Therapy (HILT) on Skin Surface Temperature and Vein Diameter in Healthy Racehorses with Clipped and Non-Clipped Coat. Animals (Basel) 2023 Jan 6;13(2).
- Zielińska P, Soroko M, Godlewska M, Śniegucka K, Dudek K, Howell K. Photothermal Effects of High-Intensity Laser Therapy on the Superficial Digital Flexor Tendon Area in Clinically Healthy Racehorses. Animals (Basel) 2022 May 12;12(10).
- Zielińska P, Soroko M, Howell K, Godlewska M, Hildebrand W, Dudek K. Comparison of the Effect of High-Intensity Laser Therapy (HILT) on Skin Surface Temperature and Vein Diameter in Pigmented and Non-Pigmented Skin in Healthy Racehorses. Animals (Basel) 2021 Jun 30;11(7).
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