Magnetic therapy vs. cold hosing?

[hussar]

My endurance Arab did something to his LH fetlock yesterday while stumbling in iron-hard rough ground. He's only slightly lame but there is some heat and swelling. My instincts were to cold hose (and bute) which I did. But a friend has insisted I borrow her mega-expensive magnetic pulse treatment kit (boot + power unit) which she swears by.

I have a problem reconciling the principle of magnetic therapy (basically increasing blood flow to the affected area although I know it's a lot more scientific than that) with the principle of cold hosing to reduce inflammation. Can I do both? Or will one cancel out the other?

 

[RachelB]

Cold therapy is recommended for the initial stages of many many injuries and conditions, as it reduces inflammation by constricting the blood vessels. Hosing is about the best method of applying cold to an area. Magnetic therapy (of which only pulsed magnetic therapy (as opposed to static) is supposed to do anything at all) encourages blood flow and therefore aids healing. Therefore as the two therpies contradict eachother, you are quite right - cold hosing first, magnets after

 

[hussar]

Thank you! I shall resume my cold hosing although my horse definitely preferred the magnetic boot ...

 

[nelliefinellie]

I thought magnetic therapy was contra indicated for acute injuries? I would carry on with the cold hosing

 

[spaniel]

It is. Stick to the cold hosing.

 

[scotsmare]

Stick to the hosing for now!

 

[hussar]

Thanks! I found a website that advised not using the magnetic thingy for the first 48 hours after the injury occurred, so that backs you all up (and my instinct!).

Hosing and ice boots it is.