rehabilitation


exercise that targets most of the muscles that are normally used in movement without the joint and muscle stress of ‘out-of-water’ work. Increased resistance to movement forces the muscles to work harder in water than they would in air. Swimming also eliminates the damaging concussive forces to bones, tendons, and joints associated with ‘out-of-water’ work. Repetitive trauma caused by these concussive forces can delay postsurgical wound healing or further injure limbs and arthritic joints. Also, the natural buoyancy of water prevents sudden falls, twists, stops, and risk of re-injury while providing a rigorous therapeutic session. In addition, swimming improves respiration and provides excellent cardiovascular exercise. The use of a whirlpool (jets, turbines) promotes muscle relaxation and helps prevent a ‘guarding’ response, which occurs when an animal puts excess stress on healthy limbs to compensate for injured limbs. Although it is convenient to practice hydrotherapy in facilities equipped with specially constructed equine swimming pools, they are not always affordable or readily available. However, hydrotherapy can be administered in a less formal body of water, such as a stream, a lake or the sea.


Therapeutic Ultrasound sends sound waves set to specific frequencies and velocities through body tissues. It produces heating and non- heating effects. The high- energy output associated with therapeutic ultrasound causes temperature elevations in tissues


to depths of 5 cm or more. This effect is beneficial for stretching contracted tissues. The non- heating effect uses sound waves to enhance the movement of body fluids (e.g., blood, synovial fluid). Ultrasound assists in healing acute injuries without increasing the inflammatory response. Additional advantages of ultrasound include deep muscle, ligament and fascia repair and reduced inflammation and swelling in joints. This therapy also alleviates pain while promoting the natural healing of the body, making it ideal for wound healing and reducing oedema. Therapeutic ultrasound has resulted in a successful increase in cellular activity and blood circulation when applied to wounds, damaged muscles and tendons. During therapy sessions, ultrasound has been combined with different stretching exercises to elongate muscles and reduce restriction by scar tissue. Ultrasound also can be used to treat conditions such as torn muscles, bursitis, inflamed joints, joint trauma, scar tissue, strained tendons and muscles, and muscle spasms.


Cold Compression is used for joint problems, minor injuries such as overreaches and topical skin problems, including mud fever. It can be very beneficial in helping alleviate painful swelling and soreness. Cold therapy causes vasoconstriction of vessels, followed by a vasodilatory response. These changes decrease metabolic activity, oxygen demand and blood flow, reducing the chemical response to swelling, inflammation, and


pain. Cold compression is widely accepted as the best way to help accelerate recovery of muscle tears, soft tissue oedema and swelling, strained tendons and ligaments, and other soft tissue injuries that hinder performance and competition ability. Cold therapy systems can be as simple as an ice pack or boot. These therapies are used in conjunction with compression to treat acute tendon injuries, suspensory desmitis, laminitis, splints, haematomas and other nonspecific areas of swelling and inflammation. It is important to note that like many other therapies, cold compression is only one way in which an ailment might be treated; it is essential to consider combinations of therapies to achieve the best results.


Heat Therapy plays a vital role in the rehabilitation, maintenance, and prevention of injuries and is being used in conjunction with ultrasound, deep massage, and forms of hydrotherapy.8 Because it soothes nerve endings, heat therapy decreases pain in infected and sore areas.8 By dilating blood vessels, heat therapy promotes better circulation, dislodges toxins, and allows more nutrients to enter bodily tissues. Generally, this form of therapy is used to relieve mild swelling and stiffness associated with muscle strain, arthritis, tendonitis, and bursitis.6,7 Materials and tools such as heat blankets, hot packs, heating lamps, and chemical heat are invaluable applications of heat therapy.


Microcurrent Therapy introduces natural (endogenous)


sub-sensory microcurrents into the body, with different sequences of currents stimulating differing metabolic processes.


Microcurrent will rapidly eliminate swelling, bruising, inflammation, pain and psychological trauma before stimulating accelerated tissue repair, enabling total restoration of normal healthy function in a fraction of the usual time with little, if any, scar tissue. The sequences of these currents are measured in millionths of an amp – microcurrents - and are sub-sensory, so cannot be felt by any animal. As they replicate the currents of electricity that are naturally occurring (endogenous) within all animals and act systemically, at cellular level, they are totally natural and entirely safe. They cannot be overused or misused, but it is possible to optimise their use, which microcurrent therapy does.


Low-Level Laser Therapy - Medical lasers can penetrate the skin without elevating tissue temperature or creating an incision; they are used mainly in the areas of physiotherapy, acupuncture and cosmetic improvement. Two types of medical laser used for rehabilitation therapy are infrared lasers and visible- red lasers. Visible-red lasers are less commonly used. The resonating (lasting) effects of lasers restore diseased or injured cells to their normal state, stimulating and repairing the body’s healing process. In rehabilitation therapy, lasers are primarily used at injury sites or to stimulate acupuncture points.


So-called ‘carrot stretches’ are often used to encourage therapeutic stretching


Equine Page 24 www.theequinesite.co.uk


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