Musculoskeletal system
ailments
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The revolution in the effective therapy
of horses with tendon injuries
Musculoskeletal system ailments
Anatomical structure of the tendon system of the forelimb
Tendons are fibrious cords of connective tissue attaching muscle to bone, cartilage or other tendons. They are a major contributor to shock absorption, are necessary for support of the horse's body, and translate the force generated by muscles into movement.
Tendon and ligament injuries
Unfortunately tendon injuries in horses are all too common. They account for 30 % of the wastage of young thoroughbreds in training, and treatment can be both long and difficult.
Tendons are composed of Collagen type I fibres. These are long fibres which run longitudinally up and down the tendon. They are slightly elastic and absorb some of the mechanical force exerted on the stay apparatus durung exercise.
The superficial digital flexor tendon is thinner than the deep digital flexor tendon and also takes the entire load on the leg before the deep digital flexor tendon starts to act. This is the reason why the superficial digital flexor tendon (SDFT) is much more frequently injured than the deep digital flexor tendon (DDFT).
In trotting horses the suspensory ligament (SL) is more often affected. Injury to the suspensory ligament results in loss of the ability to maintain the fetlock joint in its usual, normal position. Suspensory ligament desmitis (inflammation) can occur in aged horses as a result of the aging process, but more commonly it occurs in performance horses as a result of sudden overextension of the limb during weight bearing.
The superficial digital flexor tendon is located just under the skin surface, followed by the deep digital flexor tendon, inferior check ligament and suspensory ligament.
The clinical signs of a tendon or ligament injury can be quite different. Acute injuries are often characterized by heat, swelling and pain on palpation of the affected structure. Lameness can range from mild to severe and may be somewhat transient, sometimes lasting only a few days. Chronic injuries often result in persistent thickening of the tendon or ligament and an intermittent or persistent lameness.
Tendons are easily damaged if placed under too much strain, which can result in a painful, and possibly career-ending, injury. Tendon injuries are most commonly seen in high performance sport of horses that gallop or jump. When a tendon is damaged the healing process is slow, because tendons have a poor blood supply, reducing the availability of nutrients and oxygen to the tendon. Once a tendon is damaged, the tendon will always be weaker, because the collagen fibres tend to line up in random arrangements instead of the stronger linear pattern. Scar tissue within the tendon decreases the overall elasticity in the damaged section of the tendon as well, causing an increase in strain on adjacent uninjured tissue.
The effektive therapy with the REHA VIBRA® therapy system
Up to now, the therapy of tendon injuries mostly used to be a very long procedure and often required a lot of patience and a financial burdon for a controlled exercise program lasting for several months.
Now, we can offer you a solution in form of a most effective therapy of tendon and suspensory ligament injuries by means of our REHA VIBRA® therapy system in combination with very effective feed supplements.
Many horse owners have already applied this kind of therapy in supporting the healing process of horse tendons successfully. Ultrasound exams already show a significant progression of healing after two weeks.
What is the effect of the therapy with the REHA VIBRA® therapy system?
The tendons have a poor blood supply reducing the availability of nutrients and oxygen to the tendon. Therefore the healing process with a long-drawn-out kinetotherapy usually lasts between 12 and 14 months. The vibrations of the REHA VIBRA® therapy system having an effect on the horse's leg replace and accelerate the customary kinetotherapy considerably. The frequency and stroke settings have to be adjusted to the horse and its disease.
The vibrations of the REHA VIBRA® therapy system support the healing process in the following way:
- Because of the improved blood circulation more nutrients and oxygen can get to the affected tendons. In addition, the biological degradation products will be removed much more quicklier.
- The formation of collagen type I fibres and the removal of necrotic (dead) tissue is stimulated. (Sound tendons are composed of collagen type I fibres. Left to natural processes the tendon would heal by the laying down of scar tissue (type III collagen), which is inelastic, and hence cannot usually withstand the extreme forces a tendon must be able to tolerate.)
- Some other effects still have not been completely investigated yet.
Veterinaries in practice and science have already proved the REHA VIBRA® therapy system to be effective in supporting and accelerating the healing process.
Navicular disease
The deep digital flexor tendon flexes the coffin joint, and the navicular bone acts as a fulcrum that the deep digital flexor tendon runs over. The navicular bursa - a small sac that protects the deep digital flexor tendon and navicular bone from abrasion as the tendon slides over the area - lies between the navicular bone and the deep digital flexor tendon. There is no single known cause of Navicular disease or Navicular syndrome, although many theories.
Heel pain is very common in horses with Navicular Syndrome. Lameness may begin as mild and intermittent, and progress to severe lameness. This may be due to strain and inflammation of the ligaments supporting the navicular bone, reduced blood flow and increased pressure within the hoof, damage to the navicular bursa or deep digital flexor tendon, or from cartilage erosion.
Symptomatic horses display a "tiptoe" gait - trying to walk on the toes due to heel pain. They may stumble frequently. The lameness may switch from one leg to another, and may not be consistent. Lameness usually occurs in both front feet, although one foot may be more sore than the other.
Lameness is usually mild (1-2 on a scale of 5). It can be made worse when the horse is worked on a hard surface or on a circle.
After several months of pain, the feet may begin to change shape, especially the foot that has been experiencing the most pain, which tends to become more upright and narrow.
The REHA VIBRA® therapy system supports and accelerates the healing process of the affected navicular area.
