Journal of Equine Rehabilitation最新文献

{"title":"Development of a grading system for visually assessing equine quality of movement","authors":"A.G. Bowen ,&nbsp;G. Tabor ,&nbsp;R. Labens ,&nbsp;H. Randle","doi":"10.1016/j.eqre.2025.100024","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.eqre.2025.100024","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>A series of three studies were conducted to develop an outcome measure for equine quality of movement during in-hand assessment of horses undergoing routine care, performance management or rehabilitation. In the first study, 10 expert equine physiotherapists completed a modified Delphi process to select anchor and grading words for scoring movement quality. Key features were identified and refined into directives to guide scoring. In the second study, two focus groups suggested measurement parameters and processes to improve standardisation, focusing on balancing principles of measurement with clinical practicality. The final study pilot tested the parameters, processes, and assessment forms while refining the directives, to transform the movements into a battery of 30 standardised movement tests. Each movement test has a unique directive, with the new scoring system using a paired word and numeric grade (0−5) along with comments to justify the score, linked to key features from the directive. The resultant Equine Quality of Movement Score is simple to use in the field pending reliability and validity trials.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":100781,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Equine Rehabilitation","volume":"3 ","pages":"Article 100024"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2025-01-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143621044","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Effects of a pulsed electromagnetic field (PEMF) therapy blanket on salivary cortisol and behavior in horses","authors":"E.F. Hartzler ,&nbsp;B. Grooms ,&nbsp;L. Smathers ,&nbsp;P. Ames ,&nbsp;B. Mandeville ,&nbsp;S.V. Burk","doi":"10.1016/j.eqre.2025.100019","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.eqre.2025.100019","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Domesticated horses are frequently exposed to high-stress environments due to their housing, travel, and use in competitions. Pulsed electromagnetic field (PEMF) therapy has been posited as a potential approach for alleviating horse stress, with research supporting PEMF for treatment of human stress related to mental health conditions. This study sought to determine if a commercial PEMF blanket affects horse salivary cortisol concentrations, relaxation behaviors, or stress behaviors. Horses (n = 36) were randomly assigned to two treatment groups and one control group. The Pr3 group received treatment at 1–6 Hz and the Pr7 group received treatment at 10–30 Hz. Both treatments were set at 5 millitesla (mT). The control (C) group was exposed to two conditions: wearing the blanket at 0 Hz (CB) and not wearing a blanket (CNB). Horses were exposed to 30 min treatments every other day for 15 days, with salivary cortisol sampling and behavior observations on days 1, 9, and 15. Salivary cortisol concentrations displayed some variability, but there were no significant decreases in salivary cortisol from pre to post when comparing conditions. Horses exhibited more relaxation behaviors under the CB condition when compared to the CNB condition (<em>p</em> = 0.031), but there were no significant differences when comparing controls and treatments. There were no significant differences for stress behaviors in any of the comparisons. Although the PEMF blanket treatment did not appear to reduce stress behaviors or salivary cortisol in our study, future research with longer treatment periods, alternate treatment protocols, and additional sampling times is recommended.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":100781,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Equine Rehabilitation","volume":"3 ","pages":"Article 100019"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2025-01-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143092525","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Evaluation of postural sway in horses standing on balance pads of varying densities and limb placement","authors":"Sandro Colla,&nbsp;Melissa King","doi":"10.1016/j.eqre.2025.100042","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.eqre.2025.100042","url":null,"abstract":"<div><h3>Background</h3><div>Balance and stability are relevant biomechanical components of overall health and athletic performance. Proprioceptive balance pads are frequently used in equine rehabilitation programs to improve postural stability.</div></div><div><h3>Objectives</h3><div>To compare the center of pressure (COP) variables in horses standing on varying proprioceptive balance pad densities and configurations.</div></div><div><h3>Study design</h3><div>Controlled clinical trial.</div></div><div><h3>Methods</h3><div>Ten healthy horses were used to collect the center of pressure displacement parameters (area, craniocaudal sway, mediolateral sway, and velocity) during quiet stance on force platforms without proprioceptive balance pads and during randomly selected variations in pad densities and limb configurations. COP outcome variables were statistically analyzed using a linear mixed model, followed by Dunnett and Tukey adjusted pairwise comparisons.</div></div><div><h3>Results</h3><div>Medium-density pads in all four limbs induced the greatest COP area displacement, craniocaudal sway, and COP velocity. Soft-density pads in all four limbs resulted in the greatest mediolateral sway. Overall, standing all four limbs on pads regardless of the density produced greater COP variables than placing either forelimbs or hindlimbs on pads. All four limbs placed on medium, soft, and firm-density pads, and forelimbs placed on medium and firm-density pads were statistically different from baseline (no pads).</div></div><div><h3>Main limitations</h3><div>Material properties from different brands and pad shapes may have different results.</div></div><div><h3>Conclusions</h3><div>The findings of this research can inform the development of more effective rehabilitation protocols for postural control training in horses.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":100781,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Equine Rehabilitation","volume":"3 ","pages":"Article 100042"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2025-01-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145264447","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Comparison of electroacupuncture versus laser acupuncture in horses with thoracolumbar back pain","authors":"Kaitlin Sebring,&nbsp;Allison K. Dockery,&nbsp;Leslie M. Phelps,&nbsp;Sharon K. Vaughn,&nbsp;Katherine L. Ellis","doi":"10.1016/j.eqre.2025.100041","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.eqre.2025.100041","url":null,"abstract":"<div><h3>Introduction</h3><div>Back pain is commonly identified in equine athletes. Acupuncture provides analgesia and is used to treat horses with thoracolumbar back pain with significant improvements seen after a few sessions. However, electroacupuncture is not always tolerated by the horse, thus laser acupuncture is often used as an alternative treatment method. No studies have been performed comparing electroacupuncture versus laser acupuncture in reducing thoracolumbar back pain in the horse.</div></div><div><h3>Materials and methods</h3><div>Twenty-one horses with confirmed thoracolumbar pain were randomly assigned to 3 different treatment groups: control (no treatment), electroacupuncture, or laser acupuncture. Each horse underwent 3 rounds of treatment on Day 1, 4, and 7, and mechanical nociceptive thresholds (MNTs) were measured at baseline (Day 0), after each treatment (Day 1,4,7), and 1-week post-treatments (Day 14). A linear mixed model was used to test for effects of treatment group on MNT, with fixed factors used for treatment group, time, and site and all two- and one three-way interaction effect and random intercepts for each horse and side within each horse.</div></div><div><h3>Results</h3><div>Electroacupuncture significantly increased MNTs at all but one site on day 7 and all sites on day 14. Laser acupuncture significantly increased MNTs at three of the five sites on day 7 and 14. Electroacupuncture resulted in greater pain relief compared to the control group at L3 at day 7 and 14. No other significant differences between treatment groups were found.</div></div><div><h3>Discussion</h3><div>Electroacupuncture and laser acupuncture are viable tools for addressing and relieving thoracolumbar pain after three sessions. Analgesic effects last for one week after 3 treatment sessions.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":100781,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Equine Rehabilitation","volume":"3 ","pages":"Article 100041"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2025-01-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145108764","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Exploring inertial sensing technology to quantify gait patterns in Thoroughbred foals before and after corrective trimming for angular limb deformities","authors":"Kate Horan ,&nbsp;James Coburn ,&nbsp;Peter Day ,&nbsp;Julia Lanfear ,&nbsp;Sharon E. Warner ,&nbsp;Thilo Pfau ,&nbsp;David M. Bolt ,&nbsp;Dagmar Berner","doi":"10.1016/j.eqre.2025.100034","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.eqre.2025.100034","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Angular limb deformities are a common orthopaedic problem in Thoroughbred foals. In some cases, these deformities resolve naturally but in other cases treatment, such as farriery intervention consisting of remedial trimming and/or shoeing, or surgery, is required to correct associated movement abnormalities. With advances in inertial measurement unit (IMU) technology, foal movement patterns can now be objectively measured. This study used IMU technology to determine whether Thoroughbred foals presenting with angular forelimb deformities had differences in their gait asymmetry, upper body range of motion (XSens MTw sensors, n = 10 foals) or the duration of stride cycle phases and stride length (HoofBeat forelimb hoof sensors, n = 5 foals) at walk before and after corrective trimming. Paired sample t-tests indicated that there was no significant difference in gait asymmetry parameters or range of motion at the poll, withers, tubera coxae and sacrum before and after trimming (p &gt; 0.05). Linear mixed models were used to compare before/after trimming data for the stride cycle phase durations and stride length and included speed as a covariate and foal as a random factor. After trimming, forelimb landing duration significantly decreased by 5.5 ms (25 %), while mid-stance and breakover durations increased by 26.8 ms (7.0 %) and 7.6 ms (4.8 %), respectively; total stride duration post-trim was 24.0 ms (2.6 %) longer than pre-trim. Stride length was also 3.3 cm (2.4 %) longer after trimming. Further investigation in a larger cohort of foals is needed as part of a longitudinal assessment to evaluate gait changes during development, and to relate this to their locomotor performance as adult horses.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":100781,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Equine Rehabilitation","volume":"3 ","pages":"Article 100034"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2025-01-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144679712","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Determining the validity and reliability of a novel hoof photography template in shod equines","authors":"Nicole Barr,&nbsp;Bianca Duthie,&nbsp;Kenneth Joubert,&nbsp;Jeanine Watson-van Zyl,&nbsp;Bronwyn Desfontaines","doi":"10.1016/j.eqre.2025.100026","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.eqre.2025.100026","url":null,"abstract":"<div><h3>Background</h3><div>Valid and reliable field tests may enable the equine health team to accurately assess and monitor hoof conformation. This study aimed to assess the validity of a newly-developed template to capture a true lateral photograph of the equine hoof, compared against a latero-medial view radiograph and an estimated true lateral photo.</div></div><div><h3>Materials and methods</h3><div>Two veterinarians took radiographs (RAD) of both forelimbs and measured the dorsal wall heel angle (DHWA) and heel angle (HA). Two Investigators captured photographs of each forelimb: one with the template (TEMP) and one estimated true lateral sans template (PHOTO). Concurrent validity was determined using intraclass correlation coefficients alongside Spearman’s rho. Agreement was assessed using non-parametric Bland Altman plots. Reliability and inter-observer reliability were calculated through intraclass correlation coefficients.</div></div><div><h3>Results</h3><div>Good concurrent validity was found for the DHWA across all methods (ICC= 0.85; p &lt; 0.001, Spearman's <em>r</em> = 0.88, p &lt; 0.01, whereas moderate agreement was observed for HA (ICC= 0.65; p &lt; 0.001, Spearman’s <em>r</em> = 0.8, p &lt; 0.01). Comparing methods, Bland-Altman plots revealed good agreement between RAD-TEMP, RAD-PHOTO (median difference= 0°; −0.4°, respectively) for DHWA. For HA, good agreement between RAD-TEMP and RAD-PHOTO was discovered (median difference= −1°; 0.5°, respectively). Further, widespread scatter was present on all plots. Reliability between RAD-TEMP and RAD-PHOTO for the DHWA was excellent (ICC= 0.92; p &lt; 0.001, ICC= 0.90; p &lt; 0.001, respectively). Moderate reliability was found between the RAD-TEMP (ICC= 0.63; p &lt; 0.001) and RAD-PHOTO (ICC= 0.73; p &lt; 0.001) for HA.</div></div><div><h3>Conclusions</h3><div>Mobile photography of the hoof shows promising validity and reliability when using the novel template and when taking an estimated true lateral photograph.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":100781,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Equine Rehabilitation","volume":"3 ","pages":"Article 100026"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2025-01-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143768693","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"A retrospective study of a psychotherapy incorporating horses for veterans with PTSD","authors":"William R. Marchand ,&nbsp;Elena Nazarenko ,&nbsp;Ryan Lackner ,&nbsp;Amber Martinson ,&nbsp;Amy Hartquist ,&nbsp;Lisa Finnell ,&nbsp;Dylan Taplin","doi":"10.1016/j.eqre.2025.100043","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.eqre.2025.100043","url":null,"abstract":"<div><h3>Background</h3><div>Psychotherapy incorporating horses is often provided to veterans with posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD), though research is limited. The Whispers with Horses (WwH) intervention was developed to address one of the challenges associated with conventional mental health interventions among this population, limited treatment engagement. Further, WwH was designed to be a structured and manualized intervention that would facilitate multisite controlled trials. This study assessed the feasibility of implementing WwH. Specific study aims were to assess: (1) feasibility, (2) safety, (3) accessibility/utilization and (4) engagement.</div></div><div><h3>Methods</h3><div>This was a retrospective chart review study of a two-year trial of implementing WwH. Demographic, diagnostic and utilization data were extracted from electronic health records. Enrollment, attendance, no-show and completion rates were utilized to evaluate treatment engagement.</div></div><div><h3>Results</h3><div>There were 231 participant referrals and 40 % attended at least one session. Four hundred and twenty-three sessions of therapy were provided with no adverse events. The mean number of sessions attended was 3.6, the no-show rate was 3.4 % and the completion rate was 62 %.</div></div><div><h3>Conclusion</h3><div>These findings suggest that it is feasible and safe to implement WwH within a clinical setting. Also, no-show and completion rates may be equal, or possibly superior, to those associated with conventional mental health interventions for this population. Thus, if confirmed by additional studies and shown to be effective through rigorous outcome studies, the intervention may provide a mechanism to help address treatment engagement challenges among veterans with PTSD. Further studies of WwH are warranted, including randomized clinical trials.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":100781,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Equine Rehabilitation","volume":"3 ","pages":"Article 100043"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2025-01-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145473737","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Cognitive and physiological impacts of psychotherapy incorporating human-equine interactions during substance withdrawal: A scoping review","authors":"M.M. Friend ,&nbsp;M.C. Nicodemus ,&nbsp;C.A. Cavinder ,&nbsp;C.O. Lemley ,&nbsp;P. Prince ,&nbsp;K. Holtcamp ,&nbsp;R. Elam","doi":"10.1016/j.eqre.2025.100022","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.eqre.2025.100022","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>The use of psychotherapy incorporating equine interaction (PIE) is becoming widely utilized for the treatment of a range of conditions; however, evidence supporting the efficacy of this treatment is highly variable, inconsistently defined, and largely anecdotal. Further, few studies have investigated its use in the withdrawing substance use disorder (SUD) population. This scoping review investigates the physiological and cognitive implications of withdrawal associated with SUD in conjunction with the effects of psychotherapy utilizing equine interaction on these parameters. This review was developed following the guidelines of Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) scoping review protocol. The search utilized Google Scholar, PubMed, Medline, and PsychInfo databases to collect literature. Of the 556 articles within the initial review, 153 papers were reviewed in full and 122 met inclusion criteria. The information from this literature indicated addiction and withdrawal chronically elevate stress responses such as cortisol. This elevation has a negative impact on cognitive functions integral to recovery. Psychotherapy incorporating equine interaction has been cited to mediate these symptoms through potential physiological coupling, thus, supporting conclusions from literature that this treatment improves recovery rates. The literature revealed enhancements in therapeutic alliances, patient comfort, confidence, mental health, emotional stability, and communication skills associated with this therapeutic intervention. As such, the literature included in this review supports the potential for the use of psychotherapy incorporating equine interaction in SUD treatment, particularly during the period of withdrawal. However, there is a lack of literature investigating physiological impacts of PIE, especially within SUD treatment.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":100781,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Equine Rehabilitation","volume":"3 ","pages":"Article 100022"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2025-01-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143550222","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"The Equine Quality of Movement Score: How reliable is it?","authors":"A.G. Bowen ,&nbsp;G. Tabor ,&nbsp;R. Labens ,&nbsp;M. Douglas ,&nbsp;H. Randle","doi":"10.1016/j.eqre.2025.100023","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.eqre.2025.100023","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Visually assessing equine quality of movement in the field is a routine part of performance management and rehabilitation procedures. To improve this subjective process, an outcome measure to grade quality of movement has been developed. The Equine Quality of Movement Score (EQoMS) is a battery of 30 standardised in-hand movement tests with a paired word and number grading system and directives to guide scoring based on key features. Six assessors (3 equine physiotherapists and 3 specialist equine veterinarians) scored video footage of 20 horses performing these movement tests. Videos were presented for scoring in a randomised order over two rounds with a 2-week gap in between. Intra-rater reliability was excellent (Spearman’s rho = 0.95, <em>P</em> = &lt;0.001), and inter-rater reliability using ranked scores was moderately strong (Spearman’s rho = 0.66–0.95, <em>P</em> = &lt;0.001). Assessors agreed on the relative quality of movement but disagreed on the absolute magnitude of movement quality. The assessors' free-text comments indicated a bias towards making negative comments. Reflecting the EQoMS directives, different features were commented on for different gaits, figures of movement and surfaces. Differences in terminology were found in the comments made by specialist equine veterinarians and equine physiotherapists, with the latter avoiding directly commenting on lameness. The variation in scores and comments emphasises the subjective nature of movement quality. Even when given the same training and directives to guide scoring, individual assessors' weighting of qualitative and quantitative elements was different. Further refinement is required to improve agreement on characteristics of equine movement, and the reliability of the EQoMS.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":100781,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Equine Rehabilitation","volume":"3 ","pages":"Article 100023"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2025-01-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143578689","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"The effect of mesotherapy on epaxial myofascial pain, thoracolumbar range of motion and postural stability in horses with back pain","authors":"M.P. Vig,&nbsp;M.R. King,&nbsp;E.K. Contino","doi":"10.1016/j.eqre.2025.100040","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.eqre.2025.100040","url":null,"abstract":"<div><h3>Background</h3><div>Thoracolumbar back pain and dysfunction are common in equine athletes and treatment often requires a multimodal approach. Mesotherapy is one treatment used for managing back pain, with 42 % of veterinarians reporting good to excellent results.</div></div><div><h3>Objectives</h3><div>To evaluate the efficacy of mesotherapy on thoracolumbar myofascial pain, range of motion (ROM) and postural stability in horses with back pain.</div></div><div><h3>Methods</h3><div>Twelve horses with clinical signs of back pain were enrolled. Epaxial muscle pain and hypertonicity/spasticity [subjectively graded 0–3 (absent - severe)], mechanical nociceptive thresholds (MNTs), postural stability and spinal kinematics were measured on days 0, 2, 7 and 28. Horses were randomly selected to receive mesotherapy (n = 6) or serve as controls (n = 6). The two groups were compared with statistical significance set at <em>P</em> ≤ 0.05.</div></div><div><h3>Results</h3><div>Right L3 MNTs were significantly higher (less painful) in the treatment group (7.38 ± 1.79 kg/cm²) versus control group (5.36 ± 2.14 kg/cm²) on day 2 but not on days 7 or 28. MNTs were not significantly different at any other sites or timepoints. There were no significant differences in thoracolumbar myofascial pain, muscle tone and spasm, thoracolumbar kinematics or postural stability between groups.</div></div><div><h3>Conclusion</h3><div>Overall, the results indicated that a single mesotherapy treatment was not effective at improving thoracolumbar myofascial pain, spinal flexibility or postural stability in horses with clinical signs of back pain, without a structural diagnosis.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":100781,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Equine Rehabilitation","volume":"3 ","pages":"Article 100040"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2025-01-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145264446","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}