Comparison of electroacupuncture versus laser acupuncture in horses with thoracolumbar back pain

Introduction

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.

Materials and methods

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.

Results

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.

Discussion

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.