Effects of a Bio-Electromagnetic Energy Regulation Blanket on Thoracolumbar Epaxial Muscle Pain in Horses.

The research investigates how a bio-electromagnetic energy regulation (BEMER) blanket impacts back muscle pain in horses.

Understanding the Problem and Objective

• Thoracolumbar epaxial muscle pain, or back muscle pain, is a significant concern in equine athletes. Treating this health problem often involves a multi-faceted approach.
• In humans, BEMER therapy has been used to effectively modulate pain. Its increasing use in veterinary medicine needs further scientific evidence, particularly in the case of horses.
• The study aimed to assess analgesic (pain relief) responses and biomechanical changes using a BEMER blanket. Further, the researchers also aimed to assess serum biomarkers to monitor the effects of the treatment in horses with this specific muscle pain.

Study Methodology

• The study involved eight horses treated for three consecutive days with the BEMER blanket. The chosen horses naturally suffered from thoracolumbar epaxial muscle pain.
• Different outcomes were recorded daily for five days. These include spinal evaluation, mechanical nociceptive thresholds (pain response to potential harmful stimuli), electromyography (study of muscle function), kinematics (study of movement), kinetics (forces causing movement), and serum biomarkers.

Results of The Research

• The use of the BEMER blanket significantly improved the horses’ pain response thresholds in their back muscles, indicating a reduction in perceived pain.
• Postural stability, measured through the displacement of the center of pressure, also saw substantial improvement. Spinal flexibility gains were significant at the end of the study, demonstrating enhanced agility.
• However, the BEMER blanket did not significantly affect muscle tone, ground reaction forces, or serum biomarkers. Thus, certain expected effects of the therapy were not noticeable in some aspects of the horses’ physical biochemistry and mechanics.

Limitations of the Study

• One of the limitations of the study was the absence of a control group. This omission could make it harder to differentiate the effects of the BEMER blanket from other potential influencing variables.
• Another limitation was the lack of a definitive structural diagnosis of thoracolumbar epaxial muscle pain. Without a precise diagnosis, the effectiveness of the treatment for this specific type of muscle pain remains somewhat potentially uncertain.

Conclusion

• Despite the limitations, the study found that the BEMER blanket produced significant clinical and biomechanical effects in alleviating back pain in horses. This finding supports the use of bio-electromagnetic energy regulation therapy in veterinary medicine.