Extracorporeal Shock Wave Therapy

These pressure waves travel through the body’s fluid and soft tissue and their effects occur where there is a change in tissue type, such as where bone and muscle meet. Consult an Equine Anatomy Chart to understand your horse’s anatomy. The most common use for shock waves in humans is to break kidney stones into fragments that can then be passed. We’ve collected a number of research reports on ESWT, so visit Gladstone Library to get more detailed information on Extracorporeal Shock Wave Therapy.

Studies at the University of Iowa have found that Initial clinical investigations with Extracorporeal Shock Wave Therapy show promise in treating bone spavin, stress fractures, navicular syndrome, and high suspensory disease among other musculoskeletal diseases.

While there is still insufficient data to make empirical claims about efficacy, clinical investigators suspect potential benefits of treating suspensory desmitis. Two separate studies of focused shock wave therapy seem to indicate that stress fractures appear to heal faster as well.

Beyond clinical cases, there is some initial data on the effects of focused shock waves on equine bone and soft tissue. As expected researchers found no damage to the soft tissue surrounding the target area when ESWT was tested on the dorsal aspect of the equine metacarpus. The University of Iowa researchers advised that, “in a study of two horses in which bone formation was measured by fluorescent labeling of bone, there appeared to be an increase in bone formation at the treated site.”

A study presented at the 50th Annual Convention of the American Association of Equine Practitioners (December, 2004) in Denver, Colorado, researchers from Iowa State University, Purdue University, and Texas A&M University, found that “Extracorporeal shock wave therapy was effective in decreasing the lameness associated with navicular syndrome in 81% of the horses as determined by an unmasked evaluator and in 56% of the horses with masked evaluators.”

In addition, the researchers claimed that, “Extracorporeal shock wave therapy provided a non-invasive, effective mechanism to decrease the lameness associated with navicular syndrome. There were no complications associated with the procedure. Horses that responded to treatment did not regress in the year after treatment.”

In a paper presented to the 6th World Congress of the World Equine Veterinary Association in Paris, Drs. Brems, Cartanjen, and Kaminski of the Equine Clinic in Zorneding, Germany divulged that, “The best results have been achieved when using shock waves on therapy-resistant horses. In fact, pastern tendon lesions, in particular lesions affecting the tendon origin and tendon attachment, as well as lesions of the flexor tendon and sesamoid bone ligaments, tendon calcifications, arthrosis, steoporosis of sesamoid bones and massive scar formation have all been treated successfully.”

The German Doctors also advised that, “the success... is always conditional on a precise clinical, radiological and [ultrasonic] diagnosis by the veterinarian. Depending on the type and severity of the disorder, one to three Extracorporeal Shock Wave Therapy sessions are performed at intervals of seven to 21 days. In-patient treatment is not required so that the horse can generally leave the clinic after the effect of the sedative injection has worn off. After completion of shock wave treatment, the horses undergo movement therapy tailored to their individual requirements.”

Most Extracorporeal Shock Wave Therapy Equipment we could find appears to be manufactured in Europe, but Extracorporeal Shock Wave Therapy is generally available throughout the United States by progressive veterinary practices. There is a growing body of evidence that it’s a useful therapy, but more research is necessary. The good news is that the research is continuing.

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