Over the span of an equine athlete's career, the risk of injury is ever present. Stress and trauma can cause damage to soft tissue or bone. Bone spurs are a frequent side effect of injury. In an effort to reverse or prevent further damage caused by these bony projections, shock-wave therapy has been implemented into the equine industry.
Equine athletes benefit from shock wave therapy.
Bone Spurs
Bone spurs, located radiographically, are symptoms of damage, not disease itself. They are classified as either osteophytes or enthesiophytes. An osteophyte is visible on a radiograph. It occurs at the area of the joint where the articular cartilage blends into the bone. An enthesiophyte effects the attachment of the joint capsule or ligaments around the joint. It exists at the insertion of the joint capsules, tendons and ligaments. The radiographic changes present represent the tearing of fibers that attach these soft tissue structures to the bone.
Shock Wave Therapy
Extracorporeal ("outside the body") shock wave therapy is a non-invasive way to perform some surgical procedures without having the risk of internal surgery, making the treatment beneficial for horses. Shock wave therapy originated in removing renal caculi (kidney stones) in humans. A shock wave unit is basically a box that generates acoustic waves to a wand. It sends high-energy acoustic pulses, much like sound waves, through the body. These pulses pass readily though soft tissue to effect hardened material such as mineralized deposits or bone.
Procedure
An equine athlete diagnosed with bone spurs is lightly anesthetized; this keeps the horse from moving and aids in accurately direct the pulses to the correct location. The treatment location is shaved to improve contact. A coupling or contact gel is placed on the skin. The session lasts minutes and involves no pain. Veterinarians recommend two days of rest following each treatment.
Treatment
Shock wave unit penetration ranges are 5 mm, 20 mm, 35 mm and 60 mm. Depth, energy and accuracy of the wave vary among manufacturers. Setting are determined based on how deep the wave must travel to reach the spur. The treatment consists of 1500 to 2500 pulses. Treatment sessions are performed at intervals of seven to 10 days. Treatments range from one to five, based on severity of the injury. Most injuries require at least three sessions.
Benefits
Following treatment, studies have shown an 80 percent reduction in pain. Part of this is a result of temporarily disrupting nerve impulse transmission, which reduces the perception of pain. Shock-wave therapy also has an anti-inflammatory action by reducing the amount of inflammatory bio-chemicals that cause pain. By reducing bone spurs and the pain they inflict, many horses are able to return to pain-free healthy condition. This allows them to compete without affecting their ability to perform.
Tags: soft tissue, bone spurs, equine athlete, shock wave, Shock Wave
