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Home / Equine Research Bank / Braz J Vet Med / Multimodal therapy for treatment of equine back pain: a repo...
Brazilian journal of veterinary medicine2021; 43; e003321; doi: 10.29374/2527-2179.bjvm003321

Multimodal therapy for treatment of equine back pain: a report of 15 cases.

Abstract: Back pain and diseases of the spine are considered significant problems in equine sports and veterinary medicine. This article reports a multimodal approach to the treatment of equine back pain using ozonized platelet rich plasma (PRP), dynamic mobilization exercises, and therapeutic shoeing in 15 horses involved in the vaquejada discipline. Fifteen American Quarter Horses of both sexes engaged in vaquejada in the state of Rio Grande do Norte, Brazil, with a mean age of 8.61 ? 1.73 years were examined at a training center for lower performance diagnostics or back pain. A complete clinical examination was performed on all horses at rest to determine the general conformation and alterations in posture, symmetry, and curvature of the spine. The horses were examined while walking and trotting in straight lines and circles to determine the presence of lameness and/or gait asymmetry. Spinal abnormalities on clinical examination were classified on a scale of 0 to 5 based on the following parameters: degree of response to pain from back palpation, hypertonicity of the back muscles, stiffness of the thoracolumbar joint, and physical dysfunction. After physical examination, ultrasound was performed to identify the cause of the thoracolumbar pain. The therapeutic protocol consisted of the intralesional application of ozonized PRP combined with therapeutic ultrasound, dynamic mobilization exercises, and therapeutic shoeing. All treated animals returned to sports activities at a higher level of performance than at the beginning of the treatment. Six months after treatment, telephone contact was made with the owner or trainer to determine if the back pain had relapsed. None of the animals relapsed during this period, and they participated in vaquejada normally. Lombalgia e doenças da coluna vertebral são considerados problemas significativos nos esportes equestres e na medicina veterinária. Este artigo tem como objetivo relatar uma abordagem multimodal no tratamento da lombalgia em equinos utilizando plasma rico em plaquetas ozonizado, exercícios de mobilização dinâmica e ferrageamento terapêutico em quinze equinos da disciplina vaquejada. Quinze equinos da raça Quarto de Milha, praticantes da modalidade vaquejada no estado do Rio Grande do Norte, Brasil, ambos os sexos, com idade média de 8,61 ? 1,73 anos, foram examinados em centro de treinamento para diagnóstico de baixo desempenho ou lombalgia. Exame clínico completo foi realizado em todos os equinos em repouso para determinar a conformação geral, alterações na postura, bem como simetria e curvatura da coluna vertebral. Os equinos foram examinados enquanto caminhavam e trotavam em linhas retas e círculos para determinar a presença de claudicação e/ou assimetrias de marcha. As anormalidades da coluna vertebral no exame clínico foram classificadas em uma escala de 0 a 5 com base nos parâmetros: grau de resposta da dor à palpação, hipertonia muscular, rigidez da articulação toracolombar e disfunção física. Após exame físico, foi realizada ultrassonografia para identificação da causa da dor toracolombar. O protocolo terapêutico consistiu na aplicação intralesional de PRP ozonizado associado ao uso de ultrassom terapêutico, exercícios de mobilização dinâmica e ferrageamento terapêutico. Todos os animais tratados voltaram às atividades esportivas com nível de desempenho superior ao demonstrado no início do tratamento. Seis meses após o tratamento, foi realizado contato telefônico com o proprietário ou treinador para saber se a lombalgia havia recidivado. Nenhum dos animais teve recidiva durante este período e estavam disputando provas de vaquejadas normalmente.
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Publication Date: 2021-11-22 PubMed ID: 35749060PubMed Central: PMC9179183DOI: 10.29374/2527-2179.bjvm003321Google 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.

This study presents a combined treatment approach for equine back pain involving ozonized platelet rich plasma (PRP), dynamic mobilization exercises, and therapeutic shoeing. Observed on 15 horses, this multidisciplinary approach resulted in an improved performance level and no recorded relapses, six months post-treatment.

Introduction

  • The research article discusses a multimodal treatment for back pain in horses involved in the sports discipline of vaquejada, a type of rodeo sport popular in Brazil.
  • Back pain and spinal conditions are significant issues in equine sports and veterinary medicine, affecting performance and wellbeing of the animals.

Methodology

  • The study involved 15 American Quarter Horses of both genders, with a mean age of 8.61 ? 1.73 years, engaged in vaquejada in the state of Rio Grande do Norte, Brazil.
  • A complete clinical examination was conducted on all the horses to ascertain general conformation, alterations in posture, and symmetry and curvature of the spine. In addition, horses were evaluated for gait asymmetry or lameness while walking and trotting in straight lines and circles.
  • Spinal abnormalities detected during clinical examination were ranked from 0 to 5 based on parameters including the degree of pain response to back palpation, back muscle hypertonicity, thoracolumbar joint stiffness, and physical dysfunction.

Treatment and Results

  • Post physical examination, ultrasound was employed to identify the cause of thoracolumbar pain. The therapeutic protocol included the intralesional application of ozonized PRP along with therapeutic ultrasound, dynamic mobilization exercises, and therapeutic shoeing.
  • All treated horses resumed sports activities with a higher performance level than before the treatment. No back pain relapse was reported in any of the animals during the six-month post-treatment period, as per the follow-up telephonic interaction with the owners/trainers.

Conclusion

  • The study’s results indicated that the combined treatment approach could significantly improve back pain in horses and enhance their performance in sports. However, as with any study, more research would be useful to confirm these findings and explore possible biomechanical or physiological mechanisms involved.

Cite This Article

APA
de Melo UP, Ferreira C. (2021). Multimodal therapy for treatment of equine back pain: a report of 15 cases. Braz J Vet Med, 43, e003321. https://doi.org/10.29374/2527-2179.bjvm003321

Publication

Brazilian journal of veterinary medicine
ISSN: 2527-2179
NlmUniqueID: 9918435088106676
Country: Brazil
Language: English
Volume: 43
Pages: e003321

Researcher Affiliations

de Melo, Ubiratan Pereira
  • Veterinarian, DSc. Faculdade Maurício de Nassau (Uninassau). Campus Natal, RN, Brazil.
Ferreira, Cintia
  • Veterinarian, DSc. Faculdade Maurício de Nassau (Uninassau). Campus Natal, RN, Brazil.

Conflict of Interest Statement

Conflict of interests: UPM and CF - No conflict of interest.

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Citations

This article has been cited 2 times.
  1. Shokry M, Ali LB, El-Sharkawy M. Relationship between back pain and poor performance in show jumping athletic horses. Open Vet J 2025 Mar;15(3):1480-1487.
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  2. de Melo UP, Ferreira C. Urinary incontinence and sabulous cystitis in mares: report of five cases. Braz J Vet Med 2024;46:e005024.
    doi: 10.29374/2527-2179.bjvm005024pubmed: 39450000google scholar: lookup
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