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Veterinary sciences2026; 13(7); 695; doi: 10.3390/vetsci13070695

Limited Effects of High-Intensity Laser Therapy on Clinical and Radiographic Outcomes in Three-Year-Old Arabian Racehorses with Dorsal Metacarpal Disease.

Abstract: Dorsal metacarpal disease (DMD) is a common musculoskeletal injury in young racehorses, and effective non-invasive treatments remain of clinical interest. This study aimed to evaluate whether high-intensity laser therapy (HILT), which was applied as the sole intervention in horses retired from training, reduces the clinical signs of DMD compared with untreated controls. During the 2023-2024 racing seasons, 15 Arabian racehorses diagnosed with DMD were enrolled; 9 received HILT and 6 served as controls without laser therapy. The treatment protocol consisted of five daily HILT sessions followed by five sessions administered every other day. Thermographic, orthopedic, and radiographic examinations of the third metacarpal bones were performed before and after the treatment period in both groups, with additional thermographic and clinical assessments conducted throughout therapy. The results showed that horses treated with HILT did not exhibit a significant reduction in pain and lameness accompanied by thermographic changes consistent with decreased inflammation. These findings indicate that HILT did not alleviate clinical signs associated with DMD in the affected horses; however, further controlled studies are required to determine its effect on tissue healing processes and to optimize treatment duration.
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Publication Date: 2026-07-17 PubMed ID: 42514705PubMed Central: PMC13431564DOI: 10.3390/vetsci13070695Google Scholar: Lookup
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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.

Objective Summary

  • This study investigated whether high-intensity laser therapy (HILT) improves clinical and radiographic outcomes in young Arabian racehorses with dorsal metacarpal disease (DMD) compared to no treatment.
  • The findings suggest that HILT, when applied as the sole treatment, does not significantly reduce pain, lameness, or inflammation in these horses.

Introduction and Background

  • Dorsal metacarpal disease (DMD) is a common overuse injury affecting the third metacarpal bone (cannon bone) in young racehorses, causing pain and lameness.
  • Non-invasive treatments are preferred to avoid complications and downtime associated with more invasive therapies.
  • High-intensity laser therapy (HILT) has been proposed to promote tissue healing and reduce inflammation by delivering concentrated light energy to affected tissues.
  • The study focused on Arabian racehorses aged three years, a group particularly susceptible to DMD due to intensive training loads.

Study Design and Methods

  • During the 2023-2024 racing seasons, 15 three-year-old Arabian racehorses diagnosed with DMD were recruited for the study.
  • The horses were divided into two groups:
    • Treatment group (n=9): Received high-intensity laser therapy.
    • Control group (n=6): Did not receive any laser therapy.
  • HILT protocol involved five consecutive daily sessions followed by five additional sessions given every other day.
  • Examinations performed on both groups included:
    • Thermographic assessments monitoring heat patterns indicative of inflammation.
    • Orthopedic clinical evaluations assessing pain response and lameness severity.
    • Radiographic imaging of the third metacarpal bones to detect structural changes before and after treatment.
  • Thermography and clinical assessments were also repeated throughout the treatment to monitor progressive changes.

Results

  • The group treated with HILT did not show significant improvement compared to controls in:
    • Pain reduction as assessed by clinical orthopedic examination.
    • Lameness scores or gait improvements.
    • Thermographic changes expected to correlate with decreased inflammation.
  • Radiographic findings before and after therapy showed no marked differences in bone healing or structural improvement attributable to HILT treatment.

Interpretation and Implications

  • HILT alone, as applied in this study’s protocol, did not effectively alleviate clinical signs of DMD in young Arabian racehorses.
  • The lack of significant thermographic changes suggests the therapy did not sufficiently reduce inflammation under the applied conditions.
  • These findings cast doubt on the benefit of HILT as a standalone therapy for DMD-related pain and lameness.
  • However, authors note that further controlled research with larger sample sizes or modified treatment durations/intensities is needed.
  • Future studies might assess:
    • Potential long-term effects of HILT on bone and soft tissue healing.
    • Combination treatments including physical rehabilitation or pharmacologic agents.
    • Earlier intervention timing or different laser parameters to optimize efficacy.

Conclusion

  • High-intensity laser therapy does not significantly improve clinical or radiographic outcomes in three-year-old Arabian racehorses with dorsal metacarpal disease as a sole treatment.
  • Clinicians should be cautious when considering HILT alone for managing DMD and await additional evidence to define its therapeutic role.

Cite This Article

APA
Śniegucka K, Soroko-Dubrovina M, Zielińska P, Dudek KD. (2026). Limited Effects of High-Intensity Laser Therapy on Clinical and Radiographic Outcomes in Three-Year-Old Arabian Racehorses with Dorsal Metacarpal Disease. Vet Sci, 13(7), 695. https://doi.org/10.3390/vetsci13070695

Publication

Veterinary sciences
ISSN: 2306-7381
NlmUniqueID: 101680127
Country: Switzerland
Language: English
Volume: 13
Issue: 7
PII: 695

Researcher Affiliations

Śniegucka, Karolina
  • Institute of Animal Breeding, Wroclaw University of Environmental and Life Sciences, 50-375 Wroclaw, Poland.
Soroko-Dubrovina, Maria
  • Institute of Animal Breeding, Wroclaw University of Environmental and Life Sciences, 50-375 Wroclaw, Poland.
Zielińska, Paulina
  • Department of Surgery, Wroclaw University of Environmental and Life Sciences, 50-375 Wroclaw, Poland.
Dudek, Krzysztof D
  • Center for Statistical Analysis, Wroclaw Medical University, Ludwika Pasteura 1, 50-367 Wroclaw, Poland.

Grant Funding

  • N020/0012/23 / Wrocław University of Environmental and Life Sciences

Conflict of Interest Statement

The authors declare no conflicts of interest.

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