For Equine Therapists

How the Pegasus Therapy Laser Can Help Equine Therapists

The Pegasus Therapy Laser is the newest, most effective and affordable therapy modality available in the arena of equine physical therapy. Regardless of the modalities that you are currently using, the results obtained with this device will astound you.

All equine therapists are aware that injury prevention and prompt treatment are crucial to peak equine performance (an injured horse cannot train at peak levels, therefore, cannot reach peak genetic performance potential); with the Pegasus Therapy Laser you will have a modality at your fingertips that will perform these functions and even more.

The Pegasus Therapy Laser is demonstrating a higher degree of treatment outcomes and results in less time and effort than all other Laser and LED devices on the market.

Some of the direct benefits include:

1. Reduces recovery time from injury and illness
2. Does not mask symptoms, but corrects muscle-related problems by directly treating them
3. Enhances performance without medication and inherent side-effects
4. Alleviates pain and soreness from strenuous training
5. Reduces stress levels in the horse, both physical and psychological
6. Improves concentration and enhances learning ability
7. Improves respiratory, digestive, immune, and neural systems
8. Increases venal and lymphatic circulation
9. Prevents additional injury (saving you $$$)
10. Ultimately, an improvement in the equine athlete’s quality of life
    

Comparison to Other Treatment Modalities

Pharmaceutical Relaxants

This form of chemotherapy works via the entire nervous system and is called for in cases of entire body muscle seizure as in a traumatic accident or shock.  However, by blunting the horse's entire nervous system, it is inaccurate for addressing specific muscle problems.  Drug therapy can relax a general muscle mass (like heat); but since it affects the contraction as well as the release processes, it diminishes the horse's overall strength and capability.  Though necessary in cases following acute trauma, as a treatment modality in chronic situations, it is often ineffective. 

Electrical Stimulation

Electrical Stimulation devices work by adding contraction to a muscle that already cannot find release.  This may not be the best way to release muscle spasms.  These devices can be useful for low levels of pain relief, for neuromuscular diagnosis, and for exercising a muscle with deficient nerve impulse (nerve damage).

Thermotherapy and Heat

Applied to a wide area, heat application is not accurate and is carried away by the bloodstream.  It has neither depth nor durability and cannot affect deep tissue.  The best use for this therapy is to relax a general area which affects the nerve endings and may bring some temporary comfort to a horse.

Cold Hydrotherapy and Ice

Because the body always tries to maintain a steady body temperature, icing an area will actually produce increased circulation after several minutes of initial vasoconstriction. After acute trauma, it is the treatment of choice to stop hemorrhaging, reduce pain and keep swelling to a minimum. After this initial physiological function, other modalities are more efficient and effective in treatment. 

Magnetic Therapy

Studies show that the magnetic field produced by even the strongest magnet cannot and does not penetrate more than a fraction of an inch below the skin layer, making them ineffectual against deep muscle problems. 

Rest

Rest is extremely important after acute injury. However, there are times when it becomes counterproductive. This is because resting and immobilization allow a spasm to become permanent.  Muscle strength diminishes significantly after two weeks of stall rest and joints become stiff from lack of movement.  Also, confinement can be very mentally taxing on your horse, resulting in spasms due to tension.

Equine Chiropractic Treatments

High Velocity Thrust (HVT) deals with subluxations of the skeletal structure and facilitating normal space between joints, therefore enhancing joint function. Much benefit in the way of relieving pressure on the nerves, can be derived from chiropractic adjustments, when the situation calls for it.  Though the muscles may derive some relief when treated by this method, equine chiropractic cannot relieve muscle spasms or knotted fascia and is not the best treatment for such situations.  In addition, HVT has proven to cause muscle and fascial tearing, which may cause soreness and inflammation in a horse.  This is why the technique must be done by a fully trained and experienced practitioner and why several states, will only allow licensed veterinarians to perform Equine Chiropractic. Muscles have two primary jobs; either to hold bones together (static) or move them (dynamic).  If a vertebral or joint misalignment has existed for any length of time, the muscles will have memorized an "incorrect" setting.  After chiropractic adjustment, these muscles do not automatically "right" themselves.  Unless the muscles involved are released so that "correct" muscle memory can be reestablished, chiropractic adjustment will usually not hold.  Hypertonic muscles will simply pull the horse out of alignment again.