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Back pain is prevelant in horses, but most treatments haven't been researched much or at all. Results of a study designed to measure the effects of massage, chiropractic, and phenylbutazone (Bute) on back sensitivity were presented at the December 2007 American Association of Equine Practitioners Convention. Researchers used a spring-loaded device with a rubber-tipped plunger that tracks applied pressure to measure mechanical nociceptive threshold (MNT)--the pressure at which a horse reacts painfully. This method of objective pain assessment is also used in humans to evaluate pain due to fibromyalgia, osteoarthritis, and other conditions. A higher MNT means more pressure is required to elicit a response, so the horse is less sensitive or painful.

Researchers theorized that subclinical back pain is present in all ridden horses, so therapy should lessen that pain and raise MNTs. Thirty-eight healthy adult horses with no history of back pain were used to see which treatment modality raised MNTs the most over the course of a week. The horses were treated with Bute, chiropractic adjustments and massage. There were two control groups - one received no treatment and continued to be ridden and another received no treatment, were rested and not ridden.

The results showed that the Bute group actually had a negative response, with efficacy decreasing as the days progressed, however on Day 7, this group had an 8% higher MNT. It was noted that bute is much more effective if given when active inflammation is present.

  • Only massage was consistently beneficial throughout the study period, with an 8% higher MNT on Day 1, 9% higher on Day 3, and 12% on Day 7.

  • Chiropractic intervention resulted in a slight (1%) decrease in MNT on Day 1, an 11% increase on Day 3, and a 27% increase on Day 7 on average.

  • Both active and inactive controls' MNTs fluctuated by about 1% across all days.
     

Source: Horse Health eNewsletter, April 01, 2008

Irene Collins

Irene Collins received training and was certified through Mike Scott and Joy Falese Equine
Massage & Muscle Therapy Program.

Continuing Education:

  • Equine Nutrition Therapy Seminar, Hamilton, MA January 2007

  • Lameness Conference, Myhre Clinic, Rochester, NH, February 2007

  • Physiology, Stretching and Neuromuscular Therapy, John Sharkey, National Training Centre, Dublin Ireland, Grafton, MA, April 2007

  • Equine Muscular Cadaver Clinic, Cummings School of Veterinary Medicine, Tufts University, Grafton, MA., April 2007

  • Parelli Natural Horsemanship – in training

  • Clinic - Riding with Lightness, Mark Russell, December 2007
  • Myofascial Evaluation of the Compensation Phenomenon in the Horse, Cummings School of Veterinary Medicine, Tufts University, J.P. Hourdebaight, April 2008.
  • Centered Riding Clinic, Lucille Bump, May 2008 Apprenticeship - Equine Myofascial Release, Jim Pascucci, Longmont Colorado, May 2008
     

     

Contact:

Irene Collins, Certified Therapist
ElegantEquineMassage@comcast.net
978-996-8075
www.ElegantEquineMassage.com