The effect of mesotherapy on epaxial myofascial pain, thoracolumbar range of motion and postural stability in horses with back pain

Background

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.

Objectives

To evaluate the efficacy of mesotherapy on thoracolumbar myofascial pain, range of motion (ROM) and postural stability in horses with back pain.

Methods

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 P ≤ 0.05.

Results

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.

Conclusion

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.