Efficacy of a single-formula acupuncture treatment for horses with palmar heel pain.
Abstract: Acupuncture is used without strong scientific evidence to treat many diseases of the horse, including palmar heel pain. Research is needed to provide evidence for the application of these treatments. Within the confines of our study, acupuncture did not reliably modulate palmar heel pain in horses. Efficacité d’un traitement d’acupuncture à formule simple pour les chevaux souffrant de douleur du talon palmaire. L’acupuncture est utilisée, en l’absence de solides preuves scientifiques, pour traiter plusieurs affections des chevaux, y compris la douleur du talon palmaire. De la recherche est requise pour fournir des preuves pour l’application de ces traitements. Dans les limites de notre étude, l’acupuncture n’a pas modulé de manière fiable la douleur du talon palmaire chez les chevaux.(Traduit par Isabelle Vallières).
Publication Date: 2015-12-15 PubMed ID: 26663921PubMed Central: PMC4668809
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- Journal Article
- Research Support
- Non-U.S. Gov't
Summary
This research summary has been generated with artificial intelligence and may contain errors and omissions. Refer to the original study to confirm details provided. Submit correction.
The research study investigates the effectiveness of acupuncture in treating horses suffering from palmar heel pain, coming to the conclusion that it didn’t show any noticeable reduction in pain levels.
Scope of the study
- The research examined the use of acupuncture on horses with palmar heel pain. This is a common condition in horses that affects their physical performance and quality of life. It can be caused by issues such as high heels or deep digital flexor tendon strain.
- The researchers mention that, despite a lack of solid scientific proof, acupuncture is commonly used to treat palmar heel pain in horses.
- The purpose of this study was to provide scientific evidence on the efficacy of acupuncture for this condition.
Research methodology
- Due to the abstract not providing detailed specifics on the methodology used, we can only infer that several horses suffering from palmar heel pain must have been subjected to acupuncture treatment.
- Several trials were likely to be carried out, where the conditions and the exact acupuncture protocols were controlled and recorded. Pain levels probably measured using such methods as visual observation, veterinarian examination, and maybe horse performance records.
Study findings
- This study concluded that acupuncture did not have a reliable impact on mitigating palmar heel pain in horses.
- This means there was no significant decrease in pain levels observed across the study’s subjects.
- The results of this study suggest that, within its limits, acupuncture may not be an effective standalone treatment for palmar heel pain in horses.
Implications and next steps
- The study’s findings aid in informing the veterinary field and horse owners about the possible benefits and limitations of acupuncture treatment for palmar heel pain in horses.
- More research may be required to explore other treatment modalities or therapies, or combinations thereof, to effectively manage palmar heel pain in horses.
- An extension of this research could consider varying acupuncture protocols, focusing on a wider range of outcomes and incorporating long-term follow-up.
Cite This Article
APA
Robinson KA, Manning ST.
(2015).
Efficacy of a single-formula acupuncture treatment for horses with palmar heel pain.
Can Vet J, 56(12), 1257-1260.
Publication
Researcher Affiliations
- Department of Large Animal Clinical Sciences, Western College of Veterinary Medicine, University of Saskatchewan, 52 Campus Drive, Saskatoon, Saskatchewan S7N 5B4.
- Department of Large Animal Clinical Sciences, Western College of Veterinary Medicine, University of Saskatchewan, 52 Campus Drive, Saskatoon, Saskatchewan S7N 5B4.
MeSH Terms
- Acupuncture Therapy / veterinary
- Animals
- Foot Diseases / therapy
- Foot Diseases / veterinary
- Horse Diseases / therapy
- Horses
- Lameness, Animal / therapy
- Pain / veterinary
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This article includes 15 references
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Citations
This article has been cited 4 times.- Fikri F, Purnomo A, Maslamama ST, Purnama MTE. Effectiveness of acupuncture for equine laminitis: Systematic review and meta-analysis. Vet World 2025 Jan;18(1):60-66.
- Zaha C, Schuszler L, Dascalu R, Nistor P, Florea T, Imre K, Rujescu C, Sicoe B, Igna C. Evaluation of Thermal Changes of the Sole Surface in Horses with Palmar Foot Pain: A Pilot Study. Biology (Basel) 2023 Mar 10;12(3).
- Lee D, May K, Faramarzi B. Comparison of first and second acupuncture treatments in horses with chronic laminitis. Iran J Vet Res 2019 Winter;20(1):9-12.
- Faramarzi B, Lee D, May K, Dong F. Response to acupuncture treatment in horses with chronic laminitis. Can Vet J 2017 Aug;58(8):823-827.
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