Vibration therapy has been gaining popularity in horses, claiming
benefits such as improved circulation and lymphatic drainage, promoting
healing, increasing hoof growth rate and increasing bone density.
In whole body vibration (WBV) therapy the body is subjected
to low frequency vibrations. The horse stands on a plate which is set to vibrate,
typically at a frequency of up to 50 times a second.
Studies have investigated the value of whole-body
vibration therapy in horses. So far, researchers have found that horses
generally tolerate the treatment well and appear relaxed, but results have
shown little evidence of physiological benefits.
Recent reports have described positive effects of WBV on
hoof growth and cross-sectional area and symmetry of the multifidus muscle in the
thoracolumbar spine.
One study1,
by Bart Tom Halsberghe, looked at the effect of WBV on hoof growth.
Ten horses were included in the study. They were treated
with WBV for 30 min, twice daily, five days a week, for 60 days in addition to
their regular exercise routine. Halsberghe
assessed hoof growth by measuring from the hairline down to a horizontal groove
in both front feet. He took measurements at 30-day intervals, starting 30 days
before the start of treatment (WBV) until 60 days after treatment finished.
He found a significant increase in hoof growth after
30 days WBV and after 60 days WB, although the increase occurred mainly during
the first 30 days of treatment. There was no prolonged effect on hoof growth
rate after the WBV treatment finished. x
A second study2,
using the same group of horses, looked at the effect of whole-body vibration on
the cross-sectional area (CSA) and left to right symmetry of the multifidus
muscles at four points along the lumbar spine.
Halsberghe found a significant increase in multifidus
muscle CSA at all points after 30 and 60 days of WBV. The multifidus muscles
were also significantly more symmetrical. He also reports a statistically
significant improvement in left-right symmetry of the multifidus muscles after
60 days of WBV treatment.
He concludes: “These results indicate that whole body
vibration can be used as a non-invasive, safe and non labor-intensive
therapeutic modality to accelerate hoof growth in the horse.”
“WBV may be a valuable
alternative to dynamic mobilisation exercises when an increase in size and
improvement in left to right symmetry of the m. multifidus is sought.”
For more details, see:
1) Effect of two months
whole body vibration on hoof growth rate in the horse: A pilot study
Bart
Tom Halsberghe
Research
in Veterinary Science (2018) 119, 37-42.
https://doi.org/10.1016/j.rvsc.2018.05.010
2)
Whole body vibration
affects the cross-sectional area and symmetry of the m. multifidus of the
thoracolumbar spine in the horse.
Halsberghe, B.T., Gordon-Ross, P., Peterson, R.
Equine Veterinary Education (2017) Vol 29, pp
493-499
https://doi.org/10.1111/eve.12630
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