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Home / Equine Research Bank / Can J Vet Res / Evaluation of cutaneous analgesia after non-focused extracor...
Canadian journal of veterinary research = Revue canadienne de recherche veterinaire2004; 68(4); 288-292;

Evaluation of cutaneous analgesia after non-focused extracorporeal shock wave application over the 3rd metacarpal bone in horses.

Abstract: Extracorporeal shock wave therapy is becoming increasingly used in equine practice to treat musculoskeletal disorders. Although the exact effects of extracorporeal shock waves on tissues still need to be elucidated, transient cutaneous analgesia has been observed within treated areas in humans and horses. The purpose of this study was to determine the onset, magnitude, and duration of cutaneous analgesia after non-focused extracorporeal shock wave (ESW) application by comparing the limb withdrawal reflex latency (LWRL) in treated and untreated areas on the metacarpus of horses, using a focused light source. A single treatment with non-focused ESW was applied to 3 areas over the dorsal aspect of one metacarpus in 12 horses. The LWRL was measured to assess cutaneous sensation in treated and untreated control areas of the treated metacarpus and in an untreated area on the opposite metacarpus, before and at various time points after ESW application. Most treated and control areas revealed a significant decrease in LWRL over time compared with baseline values. Although the results of our study do not suggest cutaneous analgesia after ESW application to the equine metacarpus, we advise cautious use of this treatment modality for horses in training or before competition until further research is done.
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Publication Date: 2004-12-08 PubMed ID: 15581224PubMed Central: PMC1111360
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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.

This research article focuses on determining the effects of non-focused extracorporeal shock wave (ESW) therapy on horses, specifically how it impacts cutaneous (skin) analgesia, by using limb withdrawal reflex latency (LWRL) measurements. This study found that while the therapy resulted in some notable changes, it did not provide clear evidence of induced cutaneous analgesia.

Study Overview

  • The primary purpose of the research was to understand whether non-focused ESW therapy, commonly used to treat musculoskeletal disorders in equine practice, leads to transient cutaneous analgesia. The study aimed to establish the onset, magnitude, and duration of such induced analgesia, if any.
  • Non-focused ESW therapy was applied to three specific areas over the dorsal aspect of one metacarpus (equivalent to the human metacarpal or hand bone) in 12 horses.
  • The horses’ responses were analyzed through limb withdrawal reflex latency (LWRL) measurements, which are essentially measures of how long it takes a horse to pull back its limb when a stimulus is applied. These measures were gathered from both, the treated areas and a control (untreated) area on the opposite metacarpus.

Study Findings

  • The study recorded a significant decrease in LWRL in most treated and control areas over time, offering evidence of the horses’ reactions to the therapy.
  • Despite these noticeable changes, the research did not conclusively prove that ESW application led to cutaneous analgesia in the treated horses.

Recommendations and Conclusions

  • The findings did not convincingly endorse the use of ESW therapy as a means to induce cutaneous analgesia in horses.
  • The research concluded by advising cautious use of ESW therapy particularly in horses in training or before competitions, suggesting that more research is required before this therapy can be reliably deployed for these purposes.

Cite This Article

APA
Bolt DM, Burba DJ, Hubert JD, Pettifer GR, Hosgood GL. (2004). Evaluation of cutaneous analgesia after non-focused extracorporeal shock wave application over the 3rd metacarpal bone in horses. Can J Vet Res, 68(4), 288-292.

Publication

Canadian journal of veterinary research = Revue canadienne de recherche veterinaire
ISSN: 0830-9000
NlmUniqueID: 8607793
Country: Canada
Language: English
Volume: 68
Issue: 4
Pages: 288-292

Researcher Affiliations

Bolt, David M
  • Equine Health Studies Program, Department of Veterinary Clinical Sciences, School of Veterinary Medicine, Louisiana State University, Baton Rouge, Louisiana 70803, USA. dbolt@vetmed.lsu.edu
Burba, Daniel J
    Hubert, Jeremy D
      Pettifer, Glenn R
        Hosgood, Giselle L

          MeSH Terms

          • Analgesia / methods
          • Analgesia / veterinary
          • Animals
          • Dose-Response Relationship, Radiation
          • Female
          • High-Energy Shock Waves
          • Horses / physiology
          • Male
          • Metacarpus / physiology
          • Metacarpus / radiation effects
          • Random Allocation
          • Ultrasonics

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          Citations

          This article has been cited 4 times.
          1. Boström A, Bergh A, Hyytiäinen H, Asplund K. Systematic Review of Complementary and Alternative Veterinary Medicine in Sport and Companion Animals: Extracorporeal Shockwave Therapy.. Animals (Basel) 2022 Nov 12;12(22).
            doi: 10.3390/ani12223124pubmed: 36428352google scholar: lookup
          2. Karjalanen T, Raatikainen S, Jaatinen K, Lusa V. Update on Efficacy of Conservative Treatments for Carpal Tunnel Syndrome.. J Clin Med 2022 Feb 11;11(4).
            doi: 10.3390/jcm11040950pubmed: 35207222google scholar: lookup
          3. Notarnicola A, Maccagnano G, Tafuri S, Forcignanò MI, Panella A, Moretti B. CHELT therapy in the treatment of chronic insertional Achilles tendinopathy.. Lasers Med Sci 2014 May;29(3):1217-25.
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          4. Raabe O, Shell K, Goessl A, Crispens C, Delhasse Y, Eva A, Scheiner-Bobis G, Wenisch S, Arnhold S. Effect of extracorporeal shock wave on proliferation and differentiation of equine adipose tissue-derived mesenchymal stem cells in vitro.. Am J Stem Cells 2013;2(1):62-73.
            pubmed: 23671817
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