Pressuring of Acupoints as a Complement to the Diagnosis of Stifle Diseases in Horses.

This research investigates the use of acupuncture as a diagnostic tool for horses with stifle joint diseases. The study shows a high correlation between reaction to specific acupoint pressure and the presence of these joint diseases.

Background

• Horses are integral to many physical activities, such as racing and riding. However, stifle joint diseases can cause significant harm to their performance and wellbeing.
• Identifying reliable diagnostics for these diseases is critical for early detection and treatment. In humans and many animals, acupuncture has been used for both treatment and diagnosis of various conditions.
• This study tests the effectiveness of acupuncture in diagnosing stifle joint diseases in horses, in addition to the use of traditional imaging techniques like radiography and ultrasonography.

Methodology

• The researchers performed acupuncture on 39 non-lame horses, examining the response of acupoints Bladder-20, Bladder-21 and a Point Suggestive of Stifle Disease (PSSD).
• The horses’ reactions were measured, and those that showed a reaction were grouped as the Stifle Group (SG), while those without a reaction formed the control group.
• The horses then underwent routine radiographic and ultrasonographic assessments, while the assessors were kept unaware of the group assignments to minimize bias.
• The horses were also subjected to thermal examinations of the PSSD and stifles after they had acclimated, to measure any increased temperature as a possible indication of disease.

Findings

• Findings from the radiographic and ultrasonic scans showed higher scores for the Stifle Group than the control group, indicating a correlation with the acupuncture test results.
• Thermography showed increased temperature in the PSSD and stifles of the SG.
• The minimum acupuncture diagnostic criteria for stifle joint disease showed a sensitivity of 87.5% and a specificity of 57.0%, indicating it to be a highly sensitive but moderately specific test.
• By including additional acupoints (Gallbladder-dorsal tuber coxae, Gallbladder-27, and Spleen-13) in the diagnostic criteria, both sensitivity and specificity improved, indicating an enhancement of diagnostic accuracy.

Conclusion

• The research concludes that assessing the reaction to pressure at specific acupoints can aid in diagnosing potential stifle lesions in horses, complementing conventional diagnostic methods like radiography and ultrasonography.
• However, additional research would be beneficial to further verify these findings and refine this approach.