Electroacupuncture in the treatment of chronic lameness in horses and ponies: a controlled clinical trial.
Abstract: Electroacupuncture was used to treat lameness in horses and ponies with chronic laminitis (n = 10) or navicular disease (n = 10). A clinical trial was conducted with random allocation of equal numbers of animals to control and treatment groups. Acupuncture was performed three times per week for four consecutive weeks. The degree of lameness was assessed by 1) a grading scheme, 2) measurement of stride lengths and 3) analysis of weight distribution using a force plate. Although seven out of ten animals with chronic laminitis improved clinically during the trial, there were no statistically significant differences between treatment and control groups. Six out of ten horses with navicular disease improved, but there were no significant differences between treatment and control groups.
Publication Date: 1989-04-01 PubMed ID: 2653599PubMed Central: PMC1255553
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- Clinical Trial
- Journal Article
- Research Support
- Non-U.S. Gov't
Summary
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This research article studies the effect of electroacupuncture on alleviating chronic lameness in horses and ponies, with a controlled trial finding no significant difference between treatment and control groups.
Research Methodology
The study involved the treatment of horses and ponies diagnosed with chronic laminitis or navicular disease, both conditions which cause lameness. The following points detail the research procedure:
- Horses and ponies with laminitis and navicular disease were divided into two groups (10 in each) – control and treatment.
- The animals in the treatment group received electroacupuncture sessions three times in a week over a four-week period.
- The horses and ponies in the control group did not receive any treatment.
Assessment of Lameness
After the treatment, chronic lameness in the animals was assessed through:
- A grading scheme that categorizes the severity of the lameness.
- Measurement of stride lengths, observing changes in the movement patterns of the animals.
- Force plate analysis, a technique used to quantify the weight distribution of the animals, which enables the study of their balance and gait.
Results & Conclusion
The observed results were:
- Of the ten animals with chronic laminitis who underwent electroacupuncture, seven showed clinical improvements.
- On the other hand, six out of the ten horses with navicular disease showed signs of improvement post-treatment.
- However, when compared with the control groups, no significant statistical differences were found. This suggests that the improvements may not be solely due to the effects of electroacupuncture treatment.
Despite observing improvements in a number of horses and ponies after the treatment, the researchers concluded that there is insufficient evidence to definitively state that electroacupuncture is an effective treatment for chronic lameness in horses and ponies due to laminitis or navicular disease.
Cite This Article
APA
Steiss JE, White NA, Bowen JM.
(1989).
Electroacupuncture in the treatment of chronic lameness in horses and ponies: a controlled clinical trial.
Can J Vet Res, 53(2), 239-243.
Publication
Researcher Affiliations
- Department of Physiology, College of Veterinary Medicine, University of Georgia, Athens 30602.
MeSH Terms
- Acupuncture Therapy / veterinary
- Animals
- Clinical Trials as Topic / veterinary
- Electric Stimulation Therapy / veterinary
- Female
- Horse Diseases / therapy
- Horses
- Lameness, Animal / therapy
- Male
- Random Allocation
References
This article includes 18 references
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Citations
This article has been cited 2 times.- Robinson KA, Manning ST. Efficacy of a single-formula acupuncture treatment for horses with palmar heel pain. Can Vet J 2015 Dec;56(12):1257-60.
- Ramey D, Imrie R, Bowles D. Acupuncture founded on magical and mystical musings about how the world works. Can Vet J 1999 Dec;40(12):840-1.
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