Current Equine Case Studies
Case Study 1
Initial Presentation: An aged Quarter horse gelding that was champion five
times at the All American Quarter Horse Congress during his career was presented
with a generalized myositis from a hard show season, a long career and a 23
hour trailer ride to the show. Palpation revealed several areas of lumbar muscles
in spasm in addition to a lack of range of motion in both stifles and hocks.
His first event was in three days reining.
Treatment: Class IV Pegasus Therapy Laser was applied to the entire animal.
Starting with acupuncture points Yin Tang, GV 24, TH 05, PC 06, HT07 and Bai
Hui, a total of two to three seconds of application were applied to each point.
This relaxed the animal within just a few minutes. Then 10,000 joules of laser
energy was applied starting along the meridian lines laterally along the cervical
spine and continuing down just lateral to each side of the thoracic, lumbar
and gluteal musculature. Following this, 1,200 joules of laser energy was applied
to the carpal, fetlock, stifle and hock joints. Total treatment time was only
a little over 30 minutes. The animal was allowed to rest for about 12 hours
and was then exercised lightly.
Results: Twenty-four hours later this aged animal
was at least 60% improved upon palpation. The trainer reported that the night
before he “rode the best he has ridden in months.”
Treatment: Class IV laser therapy was again applied with the Pegasus Therapy
Laser in the same fashion as the previous day. The total treatment time was
again only a little over 30 minutes. During the night, the animal was trained
fairly rigorously since his first event was reining.
Results: Forty-eight hours after the first treatment and twenty-four hours
after the second treatment, after an hour of training, this animal actually
palpated very well and there was an increased range of motion in both of the
stifles and hocks.
Treatment: A third treatment was administered with particular attention to
the lumbar, gluteal, semimembranosus and semitendinosus muscles. All joints
were treated and a total of 15,000 joules of laser energy were applied.
Results: This animal made the top ten in his cut and in the trainer’s
words:
“he has the bounce back in his step.”
This animal was in four more classes over a ten day period. Laser therapy was
administered approximately 24 hours before each class. Out of 138 in his class,
he placed 7th with a 12 year old girl riding and 5th out of a class of 168 with
another youth in the saddle.
Case Study 2
Initial Presentation: A three year old Thoroughbred was presented with a small
tear in the deep digital flexor tendon that occurred during exercise eight days
ago. There is slight swelling in the area and some slight pain upon palpation.
Treatment: Class IV Pegasus Therapy Laser was applied to the entire anatomical
area for a total of 2,400 joules of laser energy. Therapy was administered from
just beneath the knee to the fetlock both laterally and medially while the limb
was put through range of motion exercises.
Results: Immediately after the first treatment the swelling was entirely gone.
Digital palpation revealed an almost pain free area after treatment.
Resolution: Class IV Pegasus Laser therapy was applied every-other day for
two more treatments, then twice per week for two weeks and then once on the
forth week. The animal was hand walked on the third week of therapy and put
through range of motion exercises each day. Another ultrasound was performed
and the tear in the tendon was totally resolved. The animal was given one more
treatment within the next two weeks and then started with light exercise. The
animal was back in regular training in eight weeks with no evidence of the injury.
Case Study 3
Location: Front Right shoulder of the horse
Viewing: Anterior to posterior and lateral to medial (APLMO) at an oblique angle
Color Guide: On the thermograph equipment used, white is hot and purple is cold. The thermal gradients are set at .5 degrees C for each thermal gradient or color change.
Thermograph #1:
The initial thermograph contains a white area that is a large area of increased thermal gradient. This increase in the thermal gradient depicts soreness or heat (inflammation) within these anatomical structures.
Thermograph #2:
After an initial laser therapy administration of 6000 joules of energy, a significant drop in thermal gradients occurred. After 30 minutes, the thermal gradients were still dropping. Unfortunately the horse was unable to be tested again, as it was taken to the track and jogged three miles at a slow pace.
Case Study 4
Location: Right side of the thoracic and lumbar spine. As a reference point, the peak is the withers of the horse.
Viewing: Posterior to Anterior, Lateral to medial and at an oblique angle.
Color Guide: On the thermograph equipment used, white is hot and purple is cold. The thermal gradients are set at .5 degrees C for each thermal gradient or color change.
Thermograph #1
Initially, there is a large increase in thermal gradients especially throughout the thoracic area. This is due to a conformation problem and a lameness problem distal in the right front limb.
Thermograph #2
The second thermograph was taken within a few minutes after the administration of 500 joules of energy to the thoracic area. It is amazing how fast the thermal gradients fall. Remember, with this unit, this is less than one minute of treatment time.
Thermograph #3
The last thermograph was taken after 1200 joules of light energy was administered. This shows excellent improvement and results within the first day.
