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Home / Equine Research Bank / Can Vet J / Response to acupuncture treatment in horses with chronic lam...
The Canadian veterinary journal = La revue veterinaire canadienne2017; 58(8); 823-827;

Response to acupuncture treatment in horses with chronic laminitis.

Abstract: There is a need for evidence-based scientific research to address the question of the effectiveness of acupuncture in improving clinical signs of laminitis in horses. The objective of this study was to compare lameness levels before and after 2 acupuncture treatments in horses with chronic laminitis. Twelve adult horses with chronic laminitis received 2 acupuncture treatments 1 week apart. The points were treated using dry needling, hemo-acupuncture, and aqua-acupuncture. Lameness level was objectively evaluated using an inertial sensor-based lameness evaluation system (Lameness Locator), as well as routine examinations following American Association of Equine Practitioners scoring before the first and 1 week after the second acupuncture treatment. Data were analyzed using Wilcoxon signed-rank test and P-values < 0.05 were considered statistically significant. Both the Lameness Locator (P = 0.0269) and routine lameness examination (P = 0.0039) showed a significant reduction in lameness severity. Our results support using acupuncture, along with other treatment options, in treating chronic equine laminitis. Réponse à un traitement à l’acupuncture chez des chevaux atteints de laminite chronique. Il existe un besoin de recherche scientifique factuelle afin d’aborder la question de l’efficacité de l’acupuncture pour améliorer les signes cliniques de la laminite chez les chevaux. L’objectif de cette étude consistait à comparer les niveaux de boiterie avant et après deux traitements d’acupuncture chez des chevaux atteints de laminite chronique. Douze chevaux adultes souffrant de laminite chronique ont reçu deux traitements d’acupuncture à 1 semaine d’intervalle. Les points ont été traités en utilisant des aiguilles, l’hémo-acupuncture et l’aqua-acupuncture. Le niveau de boiterie a été évalué objectivement en utilisant un système inertiel d’évaluation de la boiterie à base de sonde (repérage de la boiterie) ainsi qu’à l’aide d’examens de routine en se basant sur la notation de l’American Association of Equine Practitioners avant le premier traitement et 1 semaine après le deuxième traitement d’acupuncture. Les données ont été analysées en utilisant les tests de rang signés de Wilcoxon et des valeurs P < 0,05 étaient considérées comme étant significatives sur le plan statistique. Le repérage de la boiterie (P = 0,0269) et l’examen de routine de la boiterie (P = 0,0039) ont montré une réduction significative de la gravité de la boiterie. Nos résultats appuient l’utilisation de l’acupuncture, conjointement à d’autres options de traitement, pour traiter la laminite équine chronique.(Traduit par Isabelle Vallières).
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Publication Date: 2017-08-02 PubMed ID: 28761187PubMed Central: PMC5508962
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  • Journal Article

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 investigated the effectiveness of acupuncture as a treatment for chronic laminitis in horses, finding that two rounds of treatment significantly reduced lameness severity.

Objective and Methodology

  • The main goal of the research was to examine if acupuncture can help improve the clinical symptoms of chronic laminitis in horses. Laminitis is a severe and chronic foot condition that can cause lameness in horses.
  • Twelve adult horses suffering from this condition were involved in the study. They all received two acupuncture treatments, spaced one week apart.
  • The acupuncture points were treated using various methods such as dry needling, hemo-acupuncture, and aqua-acupuncture.

Evaluation and Results

  • The lameness level of the horses was objectively evaluated before the first treatment, and, again, one week after the second treatment through both an inertial sensor-based lameness evaluation system (Lameness Locator) and the American Association of Equine Practitioners’ (AAEP) routine examination procedure.
  • The Lameness Locator showed a significant reduction in lameness after treatment (p=0.0269) as did the AAEP routine examinations (p=0.0039).
  • Data was analyzed using the statistical method – Wilcoxon signed-rank test, and p-values less than 0.05 were considered statistically significant.

Conclusions and Implications

  • The study concluded that repeated acupuncture treatments can significantly reduce lameness severity in horses suffering from chronic laminitis.
  • The results provide empirical support for integrating acupuncture along with other treatment modalities in managing chronic equine laminitis.
  • This research contributes towards the evidence-based understanding of acupuncture as a potential alternative or complementary therapeutic approach in veterinary medicine, particularly for treating chronic laminitis in horses.

Cite This Article

APA
Faramarzi B, Lee D, May K, Dong F. (2017). Response to acupuncture treatment in horses with chronic laminitis. Can Vet J, 58(8), 823-827.

Publication

The Canadian veterinary journal = La revue veterinaire canadienne
ISSN: 0008-5286
NlmUniqueID: 0004653
Country: Canada
Language: English
Volume: 58
Issue: 8
Pages: 823-827

Researcher Affiliations

Faramarzi, Babak
  • College of Veterinary Medicine (Faramarzi, Lee), Graduate College of Biomedical Sciences (Dong), Western University of Health Sciences, 309 E Second Street, Pomona, California 91766, USA; El Cajon Valley Veterinary Hospital, 560 N Johnson Avenue, El Cajon, California 92020, USA (May).
Lee, Dongbin
  • College of Veterinary Medicine (Faramarzi, Lee), Graduate College of Biomedical Sciences (Dong), Western University of Health Sciences, 309 E Second Street, Pomona, California 91766, USA; El Cajon Valley Veterinary Hospital, 560 N Johnson Avenue, El Cajon, California 92020, USA (May).
May, Kevin
  • College of Veterinary Medicine (Faramarzi, Lee), Graduate College of Biomedical Sciences (Dong), Western University of Health Sciences, 309 E Second Street, Pomona, California 91766, USA; El Cajon Valley Veterinary Hospital, 560 N Johnson Avenue, El Cajon, California 92020, USA (May).
Dong, Fanglong
  • College of Veterinary Medicine (Faramarzi, Lee), Graduate College of Biomedical Sciences (Dong), Western University of Health Sciences, 309 E Second Street, Pomona, California 91766, USA; El Cajon Valley Veterinary Hospital, 560 N Johnson Avenue, El Cajon, California 92020, USA (May).

MeSH Terms

  • Acupuncture Therapy / methods
  • Acupuncture Therapy / veterinary
  • Animals
  • Female
  • Foot Diseases / therapy
  • Foot Diseases / veterinary
  • Gait
  • Hoof and Claw / pathology
  • Horse Diseases / therapy
  • Horses
  • Lameness, Animal / therapy
  • Male
  • Treatment Outcome

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Citations

This article has been cited 4 times.
  1. Fikri F, Purnomo A, Maslamama ST, Purnama MTE. Effectiveness of acupuncture for equine laminitis: Systematic review and meta-analysis. Vet World 2025 Jan;18(1):60-66.
    doi: 10.14202/vetworld.2025.60-66pubmed: 40041523google scholar: lookup
  2. Panos KE, Morgan K, Gately R, Wilkinson J, Uden A, Reed SA. Short Communication: changes in gait after 12 wk of shoeing in previously barefoot horses. J Anim Sci 2023 Jan 3;101.
    doi: 10.1093/jas/skac374pubmed: 36383438google scholar: lookup
  3. Harrison TM, Churgin SM. Acupuncture and Traditional Chinese Veterinary Medicine in Zoological and Exotic Animal Medicine: A Review and Introduction of Methods. Vet Sci 2022 Feb 9;9(2).
    doi: 10.3390/vetsci9020074pubmed: 35202327google scholar: lookup
  4. Zhang X, Val-Laillet D. Obesity Animal Models for Acupuncture and Related Therapy Research Studies. Evid Based Complement Alternat Med 2021;2021:6663397.
    doi: 10.1155/2021/6663397pubmed: 34630614google scholar: lookup
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