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Animals : an open access journal from MDPI2025; 15(10); doi: 10.3390/ani15101426

Thermal Effects of High-Intensity Laser Therapy on the Temporomandibular Joint Area in Clinically Healthy Racehorses-A Pilot Study.

Abstract: The aim of the present study was to assess the thermal effects of high-intensity laser therapy (HILT) on the temporomandibular joint (TMJ) area of clinically healthy Thoroughbred racehorses. The study was conducted on 21 clinically healthy Thoroughbreds in regular training. The horses were subjected to thermographic examinations before and immediately after a HILT session to measure changes in the body surface temperature in the TMJ area. The left TMJ was subjected to therapy, while the contralateral joint served as a control. Statistically significant differences in the body surface temperature in the TMJ area-before and after HILT-were found (p < 0.001). The body surface temperature of the area examined was higher by an average of 2.0 °C after HILT, compared to the temperature measured before HILT. The results prove the thermal effect of HILT in the TMJ area, which can be helpful in determining the appropriate and safe HILT parameters for the treatment of TMJ injuries and inflammation.
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Publication Date: 2025-05-15 PubMed ID: 40427303PubMed Central: PMC12108243DOI: 10.3390/ani15101426Google 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 reveals that high-intensity laser therapy (HILT) causes a significant increase in body surface temperature in the temporomandibular joint (TMJ) area of healthy Thoroughbred racehorses. This suggests that HILT could potentially be effective in treating injuries and inflammation in this area.

Objective of the Study

  • The study aimed to gauge the thermal effects of high-intensity laser therapy (HILT) on the temporomandibular joint (TMJ) area of Thoroughbred racehorses.

Methodology

  • The study was performed on 21 clinically healthy Thoroughbreds that were in regular training.
  • Each horse underwent thermographic examinations before and immediately after a HILT session to assess any changes in the body surface temperature in the TMJ area.
  • The researchers chose to conduct the therapy on the left TMJ, using the right joint as a control for comparison.

Results

  • The researchers found a significant difference (p < 0.001) in the body surface temperature of the TMJ area before and after the HILT session.
  • The body surface temperature of the treated area was, on average, 2.0 °C higher after the HILT, compared to the temperature before the therapy.

Conclusion

  • The outcomes of the study confirmed the thermal effect of HILT on the TMJ area.
  • These results may aid in determining the correct and safe parameters for using HILT in the treatment of TMJ injuries and inflammation in horses.

Cite This Article

APA
Soroko-Dubrovina M, Zielińska P, Dudek KD, Śniegucka K, Nawrot K. (2025). Thermal Effects of High-Intensity Laser Therapy on the Temporomandibular Joint Area in Clinically Healthy Racehorses-A Pilot Study. Animals (Basel), 15(10). https://doi.org/10.3390/ani15101426

Publication

Animals : an open access journal from MDPI
ISSN: 2076-2615
NlmUniqueID: 101635614
Country: Switzerland
Language: English
Volume: 15
Issue: 10

Researcher Affiliations

Soroko-Dubrovina, Maria
  • Institute of Animal Breeding, Wroclaw University of Environmental and Life Sciences, Chelmonskiego 38C, 51-160 Wroclaw, Poland.
Zielińska, Paulina
  • Department of Surgery, Wroclaw University of Environmental and Life Sciences, pl. Grunwaldzki 51, 50-366 Wroclaw, Poland.
Dudek, Krzysztof D
  • Faculty of Mechanical Engineering, Wroclaw University of Science and Technology, 50-370 Wroclaw, Poland.
Śniegucka, Karolina
  • Institute of Animal Breeding, Wroclaw University of Environmental and Life Sciences, Chelmonskiego 38C, 51-160 Wroclaw, Poland.
Nawrot, Karolina
  • Institute of Animal Breeding, Wroclaw University of Environmental and Life Sciences, Chelmonskiego 38C, 51-160 Wroclaw, Poland.

Conflict of Interest Statement

The authors declare no conflicts of interest.

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Citations

This article has been cited 1 times.
  1. Sikorska U, Maśko M, Rey B, Domino M. Utility of Infrared Thermography for Monitoring of Surface Temperature Changes During Horses' Work on Water Treadmill with an Artificial River System. Animals (Basel) 2025 Aug 1;15(15).
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