turned on and off a number of times per second, surging through the coil. The magnetic field expands around the coil, and then collapses, expands and collapses again with the pulse of current. One of the benefits of PEMF versus static magnets is that the fields are typically much larger, so you do not have to place the PEMF coil right on the area needing therapy. Given the correct amount of current and the optimum number of coil windings, some coils can emit a measurable magnetic field up to 18” from the surface of the coil. This makes it easy to use on equine patients, by strategically placing the coils in known problem areas like joints and major muscle groups.
Electromagnetic Field Therapy
Pulsed
Can PEMF therapy be used to treat your horse’s problem? by Doreen Hudson
I
t is not unusual at horse shows and in show barns to see pulsed electromagnetic field (PEMF) therapy systems treating stiff, sore, hard-working horses. Many devices on the market can be used for the back, shoulders and stifles, with attachments for the neck, the legs, feet and hocks. Just about any problem area can be treated.
SHORT HISTORY PEMF therapy is another method of utilizing a magnetic field, somewhat like static magnets, which have been used for centuries. The Yellow Emporer’s Canon of Internal Medicine describes treating acupuncture points with lodestone,
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which emits a naturally occurring magnetic field, to relieve painful conditions. In the middle ages, magnets were very popular as they were thought to be a cure for almost any malady. Fast forward to the 20th century, when magnetic bracelets, beds, rings, belts, blankets, etc., have been sold to treat all manner of problems, from athlete’s foot to insomnia. Almost everyone has heard of using magnets therapeutically.
PEMF devices are a bit more complicated to use than just placing a magnet on the tissue. PEMF systems are composed of coils of copper wire, through which a current of electrical energy is delivered. The current is
In addition, PEMF beds are now widely used in small animal rehabilitation centers to assist in therapy for degenerative conditions like arthritis and hip dysplasia. For horses, after short treatments over several days, owners and trainers can generally see and feel an improvement in the way the horse moves.
SCIENTIFIC SUPPORT The improvements we see from PEMF therapy are increasingly supported in the scientific literature. A quick review of PubMed (U.S. National Library of Medicine, National Institutes of Health), shows the wide range of growing literature on the biological and clinical effects of PEMF. Studies show the therapeutic effects of PEMF on: • joint diseases • patient recovery after arthroscopic surgery
• MS fatigue and quality of life • nerve regeneration in the cat • neural regeneration in the rat • knee osteoarthritic lesion progression in guinea pigs • articular hyaline cartilage
A significant number of studies look at how PEMF can positively affect neural regeneration. A limited
PHOTO ABOVE:Horses benefit by daily treatment with PEMF. This horse sports a typical PEMF system, with a number of magnetic coils centered on major joints and muscles, including a neck wrap.
Holistic Horse™ • April/May 2012 • Vol.19, Issue 78
Doreen Hudson,
respondsystems.com
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