Quote:
Originally Posted by slotdirt
So let me preface this by saying I know absolutely nothing about shockwave therapy, but for the folks who do, is this a normal occurrence for a sound horse? In reference to I'll Have Another, of course.
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"Extracorporeal shock wave therapy (ESWT) has become an emerging new technology for treating musculoskeletal problems, soft-tissue injuries and bone injuries in horses. ESWT is non-invasive, used to stimulate healing to return horses to a level of fully sound, useful activity without recurrence of disease.
From outside the body (extracorporeal), the machine generates high-intensity shock or pressure waves, which pulse to a specific site within the injured tissue. Though its actual mode of action is still in dispute, it stimulates and accelerates the healing process, essentially combining an immediate analgesic effect with a reduction in inflammation, neovascularization in soft tissue and osteogenesis in bone. According to Dr. Scott McClure, DVM, Iowa State University, a leading researcher in the field, it can be used to treat various conditions, such as suspensory ligament desmitis, navicular disease, saucer fractures, bucked shins, bowed tendon, sesamoid fractures, stress fractures and vertebral spinal pain (kissing spine lesions)."
http://veterinarynews.dvm360.com/dvm.../detail/162182
here's a pretty good summary of what shockwave is, and what it treats.
I just asked one of my bosses about using shockwave on sound race horses.. she said she overheard that it IS being used that way and she's going to try and find out some more information about why and how its used on sound horses. I'm wondering if its used to create better bone density. I'll let you know when I hear more from my boss.