Page 82 - May 2021

VETERINARY VIEWS
Considering the power and acceleration of an equine athlete, it is little wonder that horses develop musculoskeletal
injuries while performing their jobs. The wealth of medical possibilities for achieving an accurate diagnosis has improved the timeli- ness of therapeutic intervention. But successful resolution to healing also relies on effective treatment. Advances in therapeutic equipment have kept pace with increasing needs of equine athletes for inflammation control and physical therapy. Let’s look at a few possibilities.
THE OLD COLD GOLD STANDARD
The most valuable tool previously avail- able to horse owners for equine relief from pain and swelling was cold therapy. Cold therapy benefits an injury by reducing
cellular metabolism to lessen hypoxic (reduced oxygen) injury to tissues. Cold also decreases blood vessel permeability to lessen swelling and cold reduces pain sensitivity and perception.
This tried-and-true therapeutic approach has been developed into a high-tech for-
mat. No longer must you stand your horse
in a cold, running stream of water or jump sideways as he kicks over a bucket of icy water. One device that facilitates easy application combines compression with cold: Game ReadyTM Equine.
The compression feature of Game ReadyTM is not just static compression like a bandage that applies constant pressure to control swelling and edema. Its “active” compres-
sion “squeezes and releases” to mimic natural muscle contractions that push edema ‘fluid’ into the lymphatic system for removal. In the “releasing” phase of the cycle, fresh, oxygen- ated blood flow enters the injury site. In addition, compression improves cold “wrap” contact with the injury and allows specific selection of pressure rather than you having to rely on “feel.”
Ice melts faster in acute phases of an injury as heat exchanges between the injury site and the ice bath. Water circulated through the compression wrap to the injury site continually replenishes cold, which is more effective than an ice or gel pack sitting on the skin’s surface.
In addition, dry cold therapy can be applied without risk of prolonged exposure of skin and hooves to wet applications.
The wrap may be applied directly over a bandage-covered wound without concern for water saturation.
by Nancy S. Loving, DVM
HYDROTHERAPY
In contrast, an equine “aqua spa” com- pletely immerses a horse’s lower legs in cold, salt water for whirlpool-type treatment of an acute injury or following rigorous workouts. Aerators massage limbs while the osmotic effect of salty water “pulls” swelling from inflamed tissues. Aeration of cold water (less than 48o F) increases dissolved oxygen, which may facilitate the immune response and healing.
Adding a treadmill to an underwater spa allows additional therapeutic gains for injured horse limbs – water depth and temperature can be adjusted for variable benefits. As you may appreci- ate when swimming, weight bearing in water is reduced by 40-60%, soft tissues are mobilized, joint friction is lessened, and pain is modulated when a horse exercises on an aqua treadmill.
THERAPY EQUIPMENT
Cold therapy aids healing by reducing injury to tissues and decreasing swelling, and also reduces pain sensitivity.
An equine “aqua spa” immerses the lower legs in cold, salt water for whirlpool-type treatment of an injury or following rigorous workouts. Aerators massage limbs while the salty water “pulls” swelling from inflamed tissues.
80 SPEEDHORSE May 2021