Treatment of chronic back pain in horses. Stimulation of acupuncture points with a low powered infrared laser.
Abstract: Fourteen horses that could not perform at their expected standards due to chronic back pain of 4 to 48 months duration, and had not obtained lasting improvement from other forms of therapy, were treated by stimulating nine acupuncture points using a low powered infrared laser (300 microW, 904 nm). The treatments were performed weekly, and consisted of stimulating each point for 2 minutes with a pulse frequency of 360 pulses per second. After completion of a mean of 11 treatments, clinical signs of back pain were alleviated in 10 of the 14 horses, there was no change in three, and one was lost to follow-up. Of the 10 horses who were training and competing, four won. One year after treatment was discontinued, 9 of these 10 horses continued to perform at a standard acceptable to the owner.
Publication Date: 1987-01-01 PubMed ID: 2976547DOI: 10.1111/j.1532-950x.1987.tb00919.xGoogle Scholar: Lookup
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- Journal Article
Summary
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The research discusses the effects of a low powered infrared laser in alleviating chronic back pain in horses. The study showed promising results, with ten out of fourteen horses showing relieved clinical signs of back pain after an average of 11 treatments.
Research Context and Objective
- The research is centered around the treatment of chronic back pain in horses.
- The primary objective is to test the effectiveness of stimulating nineacupuncture points using a low powered infrared laser to treat this condition.
- The targeted subjects of this study are horses that were under-performing due to persistent pain, and had not seen conclusive improvement from other treatments.
Methodology
- The procedure of the treatment involved stimulating each of the nine identified acupuncture points for 2 minutes with the infrared laser.
- The laser used in the treatment was 300 microwatts with 904 nano-meters wavelength and the pulse frequency was 360 pulses per second.
- The treatments were conducted weekly and the horses were under this treatment for a mean duration of 11 sessions.
Results
- Following the completion of the treatments, clinical signs of back pain were resolved in about 71% of the horses.
- Around 21% of the horses showed no change in their condition and one was not available for follow-up.
- Among the ten horses who returned to training and competition post treatment, 40% had won.
Follow-Up and Effectiveness
- The study also followed up with the subjects a year after the treatment was discontinued.
- The findings were very promising, with 90% of the successful cases continuing to perform at a level that was acceptable to their owners.
Conclusion
- Therefore, this research demonstrates a positive correlation between the use of low powered infrared laser acupuncture therapy and alleviation of chronic back pain symptoms in horses.
- This approach potentially provides an alternative treatment for horses struggling with long-lasting back pain.
Cite This Article
APA
Martin BB, Klide AM.
(1987).
Treatment of chronic back pain in horses. Stimulation of acupuncture points with a low powered infrared laser.
Vet Surg, 16(1), 106-110.
https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1532-950x.1987.tb00919.x Publication
Researcher Affiliations
- University of Pennsylvania, School of Veterinary Medicine, Department of Clinical Studies-New Bolton Center, Philadelphia 19348.
MeSH Terms
- Acupuncture Therapy / veterinary
- Animals
- Back Pain / therapy
- Back Pain / veterinary
- Female
- Horse Diseases / therapy
- Horses
- Laser Therapy
- Male
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