Following my tendon post - anyone tried laser therapy?

[hussar]

Having established that the small tear in my boy's DDFT is a nick rather than a hole, and having been told by the vet hospital that there's nothing I can really do to speed up the healing process - and being reluctant to accept that - I've been trawling the net and come across a laser therapy site. Handheld units utilising low level cold lasers to stimulate the affected area ... claims to help with soft tissue injuries, tendons and ligaments.

Anyone know anything about their effectiveness or lack of?

 

[Marnie]

I had a horse with a large core lesion in the DDFT about 5 years ago and on the vets recommendation I had a physio come out and do laser treatment. The injury was about 6 months old and there had been no healing, but within 3 weeks of starting the laser, there was significant filling of the core lesion - the vet was very pleased as apparently his experience was that it was unlikely to be effective in an old injury.

I don't know about any research etc to back up my experiences, but I would say it would be worth a try. I claimed on my insurance for the treatment, and they paid up happily.

 

[keekee]

hydrotherepy might help... my girl is there now and it is apparently sooo good for all types of tendon injury and wounds..

 

[m3gan]

A lady I know used laser treatment on her horse for a muscle injury and had positive results . I think it took a few visits. Good luck!

 

[Doublethyme]

Not exactly the same thing, but I am using a Bioscan Light Therapy boot on my mare's annular ligament/DDFT injury and she is making good progress. If you read the stuff on the American Bioscan website, it says that the light therapy is more effective than the lasers (well they would wouldn't they!).

My vet supported it and my insurance company agreed to pay 50% of the cost of the boot, even though technically it wasn't covered - they only cover hire of the equipment usually or for a professional to come out and treat the horse - which you can also arrange with the company who sells Bioscan products below.

http://www.wholehorse.co.uk/intro_light.html

 

[hussar]

Thanks for the replies. I'm in the process of hiring a laser unit (the light therapy looks interesting too, Doublethyme, but I'm going to have to try one thing at a time!). I'll report back if we get good results.

 

[hellybelly6]

My horse had a horrendous splint in his DDF and part of his felt lock cartilage. He underwent a tenoscopy for diagnosis and had the injury tidied up.

The vet at the vet school recommended walking in hand for 10 mins twice a day, gradually building up by 5 minutes each week until eventually my horse could be turned out. I also enquired about physiotherapy etc and was advised that gentle and progressive exercise was the best treatment. I led my horse in wind, rain and even sleat for up to an hour everyday.

Guess what my horse has a slight swelling in the area, but he came through sound. Trouble is now his bone spavin, high and low ring bone, side bone and possible pedal osteitis, but Danilon and synequin are controlling his pain. His tendon is fine.

Good luck