Short-term whole body vibration exercise in adult healthy horses.

This research studied the immediate effects of short-term whole body vibration exercise (WBVE) on horses, showing that such exercise pays down the volumes of cortisol and creatine-kinase in their blood, while not affecting their overall wellness negatively.

Research Overview

In this research, seven adult sound horses were examined to determine how their bodies reacted to short-term WBVE. They were subjected to a 10-minute WBVE at a frequency of 15-21 Hz, and various clinical parameters and venous blood samples were taken both before and after the vibration exercise. Particular attention was paid to certain notable clinical markers, including cortisol, creatine-kinase, fibrinogen, lactate, IGF-I, GGT, creatinine, myeloperoxidase activity, and bone markers.

Main Findings

• The research found that following WBVE, the horses showed a significant decrease in serum cortisol and creatine-kinase values. Both cortisol and creatine-kinase are known to increase with physical stress, so their lower levels could indicate a reduction in physiological stress in horses due to WBVE.
• While there were changes in these particular markers, other clinical parameters and biomarkers (including fibrinogen, lactate, IGF-I, GGT, creatinine, myeloperoxidase activity, and bone markers), showed no significant changes as a result of the vibration exercise.
• The horses didn’t show any sign of discomfort during or after the WBVE, suggesting that this type of exercise was well tolerated by the horses.

Implication of the Findings

The data gathered from this research suggests that WBVE, when given for a short period, decreases physiological stress in horses. This reinforces previous studies suggesting vibration therapy as an effective method of reducing stress and aiding recovery in animals. However, it’s important to note that this study evaluated a small group of horses and the findings might not be universally applicable. Further research is required to understand the impact of WBVE on different breeds, ages, and physiological conditions of horses.