Effects of Low-Level Laser Therapy and Chiropractic Care on Back Pain in Quarter Horses.

This research paper investigates the effectiveness of low-level laser therapy and chiropractic care in treating back pain in highly active competitive horses. It finds that both treatments can decrease back pain and stiffness, and when used together they have complimentary effects.

Research objective and study design

• The researchers aimed to scrutinize the clinical effect of low-level laser therapy and chiropractic treatment in relieving thoracolumbar pain in competitive western performance horses. There were doubts about sufficient evidence supporting the use of laser therapy in this context, which led to this investigation.
• A randomized clinical trial was undertaken involving 61 Quarter Horses actively participating in national western performance competitions who were experiencing back pain. They were randomly assigned to either laser therapy, chiropractic, or a combination of both treatment groups.

Study parameters and methods

• Several outcome parameters were used to measure the effects of the treatments. These included a standard visual analog scale (VAS) of perceived back pain and dysfunction, comprehensive spinal examinations assessing pain, muscle tone, and stiffness, and mechanical nociceptive thresholds along the horse’s dorsal trunk. The nociceptive threshold measurements helped determine changes in the horse’s sensitivity to pain before and after treatment.
• Repeated measures with post-hoc analysis were employed to discern differences across treatment groups.

Findings and outcomes

• Low-level laser therapy noticeably decreased back pain, stiffness, and epaxial muscle hypertonicity which refers to excessive tension in the lower back muscles. Moreover, the combined chiropractic and laser therapy treatment also produced similar reductions in pain and stiffness with additional significant decreases in the severity of epaxial muscle hypertonicity.
• Chiropractic treatment alone didn’t result in significant changes in back pain, muscle hypertonicity, or trunk stiffness. Yet, it improved trunk and pelvic flexion reflexes. Flexion reflexes are automatic responses away from potentially harmful stimuli.
• When laser therapy and chiropractic care were employed in conjunction, they offered additional effects in treating back pain and trunk stiffness which were not found with chiropractic treatment by itself.

Summary and conclusion

• This study provides support for the notion that using a combined approach of low-level laser therapy and chiropractic care can be advantageous in addressing back pain in actively competing horses.
• The trial’s outcomes could help veterinarians and trainers in deciding suitable treatment modalities for horses with back pain, thus influencing their overall performance and welfare.