One of the oldest and simplest physical treatments in the horse is thermal therapy. Thermal therapy—applying either hot or cold treatments—is one of the most accessible and time-tested remedies for injuries in horses.
Cold therapy is generally used for recent injuries, within two to seven days of the occurrence. It is particularly effective during the first 24 to 48 hours after surgery or injuries such as sprains or strains of joints or tendons, bruises, cellulitis and lymphangitis.
Heat therapy is more commonly used for chronic issues. Typical recommendations for heat therapy are to delay application until at least 48 hours after injury. In most cases, it should not be applied until after the acute inflammation has subsided, about seven days after an injury or surgery.
Heat therapy is very effective for:
- Old horses
- Horses those are slow to warm up
- Horses in work
- Young horses who are learning new things
- Horses undergoing retraining
- Horses returning to work after a period of rest
- For any horse or pony to enjoy as a reward
Heat therapy is beneficial by increasing local metabolism, resulting in improved oxygenation and toxin removal, increasing blood flow, bringing nutrients to the muscles, helping to heal the damaged tissue and increase the elimination of carbon dioxide and cellular waste products, such as prostaglandins and bradykinins, which decreases nerve fiber sensitization and pain. Increased temperature at the site of injury will loosen collagen fibers and reduce swelling. Heat therapy helps to decrease stiffness, increase flexibility, maintain lymphatic function, decrease spasm within muscles and improve overall feeling of comfort.
Heat therapy is especially beneficial for wound healing. Horses experiencing strained back/topline muscles (who are usually hypersensitive to palpation of the area) enjoy the relief heat provides by reducing muscle spasms. When used in conjunction with careful stretching techniques, heat can the range of joint movement and improve tissue elasticity. Heat therapy also helps to soften the skin over an abscess to draw out fluid.
When Should I Use Heat?
Heat therapy is often used to help treat back pain but is also an important part of exercising, warming up the muscles prior to activity. Warming up the muscles prior to exercise improves the flexibility of the soft tissue and surrounding muscles, tendon and ligaments and increases the horses overall range of movement. Heat therapy can also be used to decrease spasms within the muscle itself.
Heat therapy is applied to limbs, most commonly the fetlock joint, cannon bone and the pastern. Heat therapy can be applied on acute injuries or ongoing conditions, like arthritis.
Heat supports the final stages of the natural healing process when the body actively replaces cells and repairing tissues with specialized cells, which are directly delivered via the blood stream. In many cases heat therapy is used for a maximum of 20 minutes at a time.
Heat is most suited to use for chronic conditions. Such as:
- Muscle spasm which is very common in the horses’ back – especially in the lumbar region behind where the back of the saddle sits.
- Relaxation of general muscle stiffness – perhaps from an increase in workload or general wear and tear
- Osteoarthritis and other joint stiffness – particularly common in the hock and fetlock joints
- Chronic tendonitis – this is common in the fore limb superficial digital flexor tendon and deep digital flexor tendon in race and ex-race horses, and in jumping horses. In dressage horses this is seen more in the hind limbs.
- Bursitis – this in an inflamed pocket of fluid with the joint, usually seen in the knee or in the hock.
Where Can I Apply Heat?
Heat can be applied almost anywhere, as long as you can keep it in place for the required time. Use heat before exercising your horse to help warm the muscles and tendons. Heat should always be used at rest and care should be taken to not overheat vulnerable tendons in the lower limb.
If your horse is not in work then heat can be applied at any time of day when they are resting, either on the yard or in their stable. As a general rule, heat should be applied for around 20 minutes at a time up to 4 times a day.
When Should Heat NOT be Used?
Heat can have an adverse effect if used:
- in the acute stages of inflammation (the first 72 hours after injury or surgery)
- on an open or bleeding wound
- In both of the above scenarios cold should be applied to aid vasoconstriction (the narrowing of blood vessels).
I use various forms of therapies during the treatment to ensure that the session is both effective and enjoyable for your horse! I always carry The Epiony Thermal Wand with me in case it is required during bodywork session.
To find out more about The Epiony Thermal Heat Wand please check my post The Epiony Thermal Wand
References:
Should I Use Hot or Cold Therapy? – Practical Horseman
Where, When and Why Heat Should be Used! – Equilibrium Products