Equine Spa:

The Benefits of Hydrotherapy

EQUINE HYDROTHERAPY SPA BENEFITS

Independent case studies were carried out by Professor Evan Hunt of the Sydney Orange University, to determine the efficiency of cold-water equine spa hydrotherapy in the treatment of leg injuries of horses.

Having established the optimum conditions required to facilitate healing, clinical trials were conducted on 27 horses initially.

Positive results were replicated across a whole range of leg injuries, from bowed tendons (grade 2 or 3 lesions) to suspensory ligament injury, inflammation of foreleg suspensory ligaments and chronic fetlock synovitis. One had had a chipped bone removed from the fetlock joint, and another had a penetrating wound of the digital flexor tendon sheath.

Subsequent treatment of 65 horses showed that open wounds responded rapidly to treatment, resulting in reduced scarring, hoof growth was stimulated, laminitis responded well and even navicular syndrome responded in some cases.

Injury Treatment

Conditions responding well to hydrotherapy treatment include:

Tendon and Ligament damage
Bone Damage e.g. sore shins, fractures and splints
Joint Conditions e.g. OCD, degenerative joint disease, arthritis
Swellings and Stiffness e.g. concussion injuries, post operative swelling, lymphangitis
Infections in Wounds e.g. puncture wounds, infected joints, infected tendon sheaths, open wounds, over-reach injuries
Laminitis
Navicular Syndrome
Poor Hoof Growth

Injury Prevention

For centuries the therapeutic benefits of salt water have been known. Salt draws fluid from inflamed areas whilst sterilizing wounds and toughening skin. The most famous proponent of use of sea water was Ginger McCain and superstar Red Rum who trained regularly on Southport Beach to help keep leg problems at bay, and went on to win three Grand Nationals. The injury prevention benefits include:

Pre-Competition - Cooling of critical structures of the lower limb prior to exercise reduces the likelihood of critical temperatures being reached during exercise which may lead to a catastrophic ‘meltdown’ of proteins. This type of breakdown leads to tendon strains, suspensory and ligament damage.

Post-Competition - Cooling of critical structures of the lower limb after exercise enables the heat generated through exercise and from sites of injury to be dispersed and prevented from reaching critical levels. It is especially effective against the inflammation in tendon strains which results in significant secondary damage.

Pro-active healing - The process of exercise naturally results in some cell damage and may even include microscopic lesions within tendons and ligaments which normally go unnoticed. By regularly utilising hydrotherapy these tiny lesions can be healed before the compound effect of exercise results in a more major injury. Signs of wear such as wind-galls and puffy joints can be prevented from forming by regular spa treatments and minor cuts and abrasions are healed more quickly. The old adage ‘prevention is better than cure’ is never truer than with injuries to horses. No-one wants to see their horse sidelined from competition due to an injury which could have been prevented.

Pain-relief - The ultra-cool temperatures maintained within a spa during a treatment allow deeper penetration than any other cooling method including ice-boots, ice wraps, cooling pastes or whirli-boots. This provides a pain relieving effect on nerves buried much deeper in the horses lower-limbs. As we all know, after strenuous exercise we all ache a bit and your horse is no exception. Hydrotherapy is an effective way to make your horse more comfortable after it has exerted itself in competition and provides relief for tired legs easing stiffness and strains whilst taking the sting out of jarred-up joints and sore shins.

Improved limb health - Hydrotherapy improves circulation in the lower limb and hoof, helping to keep at bay problems such as laminitis and navicular. Poor circulation can cause oxygen starvation of cells and resulting death of tissues and prevents toxins produced from normal metabolism and excess fluids being swept away for excretion from the body. The oxygen-rich environment within the spa and the strong upward massaging effect produced from the jets of air from the base of the unit, enhance effective circulatory function. A pain-free, healthy limb is more able to operate effectively, allowing freer movement. That means an extra mark in dressage, a clear round show-jumping or that extra turn of hoof, which makes the difference between winning or losing.

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