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Journal of the American Veterinary Medical Association2005; 227(2); 281-286; doi: 10.2460/javma.2005.227.281

Evaluation of electroacupuncture treatment of horses with signs of chronic thoracolumbar pain.

Abstract: To evaluate use of electroacupuncture for treatment of horses with signs of chronic thoracolumbar pain. Methods: Prospective study. Methods: 15 horses with signs of chronic thoracolumbar pain. Methods: Horses were randomly allocated to 1 of 3 treatment groups. Horses in group 1 received electroacupuncture stimulation (once every 3 days for 5 treatments), those in group 2 received phenylbutazone (2.2 mg/kg [1 mg/lb], PO, q 12 h, for 5 days), and those in group 3 received saline (0.9% NaCl) solution (20 mL, PO, q 12 h, for 5 days). Thoracolumbar pain scores (TPSs) were evaluated before (baseline) and after each treatment. Results: Mean +/- SE TPSs in horses receiving phenylbutazone or saline solution did not change significantly during the study. After the third treatment, mean +/- SE TPS (2.1 +/- 0.6) in horses receiving electroacupuncture stimulation was significantly lower than baseline (6.0 +/- 0.6) TPS. Mean +/- SE TPSs in horses receiving electroacupuncture stimulation were significantly lower than baseline TPSs and TPSs in horses receiving phenylbutazone or saline solution after the third treatment to 14 days after the last treatment. Conclusions: TPSs are useful for evaluating the efficacy of various analgesic methods used for treatment of thoracolumbar pain in horses. Electroacupuncture was effective for treatment of chronic thoracolumbar pain in horses. Results provided evidence that 3 sessions of electroacupuncture treatment can successfully alleviate signs of thoracolumbar pain in horses. The analgesic effect induced by electroacupuncture can last at least 2 weeks. Phenylbutazone administered PO did not effectively alleviate signs of thoracolumbar pain in horses in this study.
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Publication Date: 2005-07-29 PubMed ID: 16047667DOI: 10.2460/javma.2005.227.281Google Scholar: Lookup
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  • Evaluation Study
  • 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 article explores the efficacy of electroacupuncture for the treatment of chronic thoracolumbar pain in horses. It suggests electroacupuncture as an effective solution, providing relief that lasts for at least two weeks, in contrast to phenylbutazone which didn’t show significant improvements.

Research Methodology

  • The study was prospective in nature and involved 15 horses showing symptoms of chronic thoracolumbar pain.
  • The horses used in the study were randomly assigned to one of three treatment groups. The first group received electroacupuncture stimulations five times, spaced every three days. The second group was treated with Phenylbutazone, dosed at 2.2 mg/kg orally twice a day for five days. The final group was given a saline solution (20 mL, orally twice a day for five days).
  • To gauge the effectiveness of the treatments, the researchers evaluated Thoracolumbar Pain Scores (TPSs) before (the baseline) and after each treatment session.

Research Findings

  • No significant change in TPSs was observed in the horses treated with phenylbutazone or saline solution
  • Contrarily, from the third treatment onwards, the horses receiving electroacupuncture had noticeably lower TPSs. These levels remained low compared to the base scores and were significantly lower than the TPSs of the horses in the other two treatment groups from the third treatment to the end of the study period (14 days post the last treatment).

Conclusions

  • TPSs are a valid tool for evaluating the effectiveness of different pain relief methods for thoracolumbar pain in horses.
  • The study supports the use of electroacupuncture as an effective treatment for chronic thoracolumbar pain in horses.
  • The results show that three sessions of electroacupuncture can successfully alleviate signs of this type of pain in horses and the analgesic effects persisted for at least two weeks post-treatment.
  • In contrast, the administration of phenylbutazone did not significantly alleviate signs of thoracolumbar pain in the horses in this study.

Cite This Article

APA
Xie H, Colahan P, Ott EA. (2005). Evaluation of electroacupuncture treatment of horses with signs of chronic thoracolumbar pain. J Am Vet Med Assoc, 227(2), 281-286. https://doi.org/10.2460/javma.2005.227.281

Publication

Journal of the American Veterinary Medical Association
ISSN: 0003-1488
NlmUniqueID: 7503067
Country: United States
Language: English
Volume: 227
Issue: 2
Pages: 281-286

Researcher Affiliations

Xie, Huisheng
  • Department of Large Animal Clinical Science, College of Veterinary Medicine, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL 32610-0136, USA.
Colahan, Patrick
    Ott, Edgar A

      MeSH Terms

      • Animals
      • Anti-Inflammatory Agents, Non-Steroidal / therapeutic use
      • Back Pain / drug therapy
      • Back Pain / therapy
      • Back Pain / veterinary
      • Chronic Disease
      • Electroacupuncture / methods
      • Electroacupuncture / veterinary
      • Female
      • Horse Diseases / drug therapy
      • Horse Diseases / therapy
      • Horses
      • Male
      • Phenylbutazone / therapeutic use
      • Prospective Studies
      • Random Allocation
      • Treatment Outcome

      Citations

      This article has been cited 7 times.
      1. Pilati N, Pressanto MC, Palumbo Piccionello A, De Angelis Corvi F, Beccati F. Impinging and Overriding Spinous Processes in Horses: A Narrative Review. Animals (Basel) 2025 Sep 13;15(18).
        doi: 10.3390/ani15182679pubmed: 41007924google scholar: lookup
      2. de Secondi C, Cantatore F, Marcatili M, Biggi M, Withers J, de Zani D, Zani D. Spondylosis in Horses: Clinical Features, Diagnostic Imaging Findings, Treatment and Outcome in 13 Horses. Vet Med Sci 2025 Mar;11(2):e70196.
        doi: 10.1002/vms3.70196pubmed: 40109022google scholar: lookup
      3. Maldonado MD, Parkinson SD, Story MR, Haussler KK. The Effect of Chiropractic Treatment on Limb Lameness and Concurrent Axial Skeleton Pain and Dysfunction in Horses. Animals (Basel) 2022 Oct 19;12(20).
        doi: 10.3390/ani12202845pubmed: 36290230google scholar: lookup
      4. Dewey CW, Xie H. The scientific basis of acupuncture for veterinary pain management: A review based on relevant literature from the last two decades. Open Vet J 2021 Apr-Jun;11(2):203-209.
        doi: 10.5455/OVJ.2021.v11.i2.3pubmed: 34307076google scholar: lookup
      5. Lancaster LS, Bowker RM. Acupuncture Points of the Horse's Distal Thoracic Limb: A Neuroanatomic Approach to the Transposition of Traditional Points. Animals (Basel) 2012 Sep 17;2(3):455-71.
        doi: 10.3390/ani2030455pubmed: 26487033google scholar: lookup
      6. Robinson NG. One Medicine, One Acupuncture. Animals (Basel) 2012 Aug 29;2(3):395-414.
        doi: 10.3390/ani2030395pubmed: 26487029google scholar: lookup
      7. Murata Hayashi A, Fonseca Pinto AC, Cortopassi SR, Marvulle V, Ruivo Maximino J, Chadi G, Matera JM. S100β Levels in CSF of Nonambulatory Dogs with Intervertebral Disk Disease Treated with Electroacupuncture. J Vet Med 2013;2013:549058.
        doi: 10.1155/2013/549058pubmed: 26464906google scholar: lookup
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