Has anyone tried light/infrared therapy with their horses? Have you seen any good results? It seems to be increasingly popular with equine massage therapists in our area, and I’ve seen some horses who really seem to like it. I’m curious if it would be worth a try with my own horses.
I lost everything I typed:(:(
i have had a 6" x 9" pad from these folks for 12-13 years. https://equinelighttherapy.com
One horse loved it. One horse tolerated it, if he was really sore, another horse would buck it off. I use it on myself a LOT.
I have got my money’s worth over the years:)
As an equine “sports therapist” (I’m still in school so I use this term lightly but don’t know what else to call myself lol)I have used plain light “beams” in conjuncture with accupressure meridians, instead of just finger pressure. I also use a red light machine. It works great with scar tissue, to bring more circulation to muscles before/after massaging them, and to help loosen muscles prior to an adjustment.
Are there any clinical studies by reputable organizations validating the claims?
G.
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Light therapy has been well studied for years:
The Photobiological Basis of Low Level Laser Radiation Therapy The Photobiological Basis of Low Level Laser Radiation Therapy, Kendric C. Smith; Stanford University School of Medicine; Laser Therapy, Vol. 3, No. 1, Jan - Mar 1991
Low-Energy Laser Therapy: Controversies Research Findings, Jeffrey R. Basford MD; Mayo Clinic; Lasers in Surgery and Medicine 9, pp. 1-5 (1989)
New Biological Phenomena Associated with Laser Radiation , M.I. Belkin U. Schwartz; Tel-Aviv University; HealthPhysics, Vol. 56, No. 5, May 1989; pp. 687-690
Macrophage Responsiveness to Light Therapy, S Young PhD, P Bolton BSc, U Dyson PhD, W Harvey PhD, C Diamantopoulos BSc; London: Lasers in Surgery and Medicine, 9; pp. 497-505 (1989)
Photobiology of Low-Power Laser Effects, Tina Karu PhD; Laser Technology Centre of Russia; Health Physics, Vol. 56, No. 5. May 89, pp. 691-704
A Review of Low Level Laser Therapy, S Kitchen MSCMCSP C Partridge PhD; Centre for Physiotherapy Research, King’s College LondonPhysiotherapy, Vol. 77, No. 3, March 1991 Systemic Effects of Low-Power Laser Irradiation on the Peripherial Central Nervous System, Cutaneous Wounds]
Burns, S Rochkind MD, M Rousso MD, M Nissan PhD, M Villarreal MD, L Barr-Nea PhD. DG Rees PhD, Lasers in Surgery and Medicine, 9; pp. 174-182 (1989)
Use of Laser Light to Treat Certain Lesions in Standardbreds, L.S McKibbin DVM, D Paraschak BSc., MA; Mod Veterinary Practice, March 1984, Sec. 3, p. 13
Low Level Laser Therapy: Current Clinical Practice In Northern Ireland, GD Baxter BSc, AJ Bet, MA,JM AtienPhD, J Ravey PhD; Blamed Research Centre University Ulster Physiotherapy, Vol. 77, No. 3, March 1991
The Effects of Low Energy Laser on Soft Tissue in Veterinary Medicine, LS McKibbin R Downie; The Acupuncture Institute, Ontario Canada; J. Wiley Sons
A Study of the Effects or Lasering of Chronic Bowed Tendons, Wheatley,LS McKibbin DVM, and DM Paraschak Bsc MA; Lasersin Surg Medicine, Vol. pp. 55-59 (1983) Scc 3
Lasers and Wound Healing, Albert J. Nemeth, MD; Laser and Dermatology Center, Clearwater FL, Dermatologic Clinics, Vol… 11 #4, 1993
Low Level Laser Therapy: A Practical Introduction, T. Ohshiro RG Caiderhead, Wiley and Sons
Low Reactive-Level Laser Therapy: A Practical Application, T. Ohshiro;Book:Wiley and Sons
Laser Biostimulation of Healing Wounds: Specific Effects and Mechanisms of Action, Chukuka S Enwemeka, PhD; Assistant Professor of Physical Therapy - U. of Texas, Health Science Center, San Antonio, TX; The Journal of Orthopaedic Sports Physical Therapy, Vol. 9. No.10, 1988
Effect of Helium-Neon and Infrared Laser Irradiation on Wound Healing in Rabbits,B Braverman, PhD; R McCarthy. Pharmd, A Lyankovich, MD; D Forde, BS, M Overfield, BS and M Bapna, PhD; Rush- Presbyterian-St. Luke’s Medical Center; University of Illinois, Lasers in Surgery and Medicine 9:50-58 (1989)
Bone Fracture Consolidates Faster With Low-Power Laser, MA Trelles, MD and E Mayayo, MD, Barcelona, Spain; Lasers in Surgery Med. 7:36-45 (1987)
Wound Management with Whirlpool and Infrared Cold Laser Treatment,P Gogia; B Hurt and T Zim; AMI-Park Plaza Hospital, Houston TX, Physical Therapy, Vol. 68, No. 8, August 1988
Effects of Low-Level Energy Lasers on the Healing of Full-Thickness Skin Defects, J Surinchak. MA; M Alago, BS, R Bellamy, MD; B Stuck, MS and M Belkin, MD; Lettennan Army Institute of Research. Presido of San Fransico, CA; Lasers in Surgery Medicine, 2:267-274 (1983)
Biostimulation of Wound Healing by Lasers: Experimental Approaches in Animal Models and in Fibroblast Cultures, RP Abergel, MD; R Lyons. MD; J Castel, MS, R Dwyer. MD and i Uitlo. MD, PhD; Harbor UCLA Medical Center. CA: J Dennatol. Surgery Oncol., 13:2 Feb. 1987
Effects of Low Energy Laser on Wound Healing In a Porcine Model, J Hunter, MD; L Leonard, MD; R Wilsom MD; G Snider, MD and J DLxon, MD; Department of Surgery, University of Utah Medical Center, Salt Lake City UT, Lasers in Surgery Med. 3:285-290, 84
Effect of Laser Rays on Wound Healing, E Mester, MD; T Spiry, MD; B Szende. MD and J Tola; Semmelweis Medical Univ. Budapes, The American Journal of Surgery. Vol 122, Oct 1971
Low Level Laser Therapy in the United Kingdom, Kevin C Moore, MD; The Royal Oldham Hospital, Oldhant, UK
Effects of Skin-Contact Monochromatic Infrared Irradiation on Tendonitis, Capsulitis and Myofascial Pain,T.L Thomassoi DDS, 19th Annual Scientific Meeting, American Academy of Neurological Orthopaedic Surgeons, Aug. 27-30, 1995 Facial Pain/TMJ Centre, Denver, CO
I’m not sure - the testimonials I hear are just anecdotal. I’ve heard good things about the red light pads that @walkinthewalk mentioned and there’s a massage therapist in our area who also uses some sort of blue light…?
One of my bodyworkers uses light pads frequently, and has been developing (or developed? Haven’t talked to her in a while) something for www.therapyproducts.net - some sort of a light pad with a broad array of colors/light types. My experience is only anecdotal as well. I’m always a little skeptical about products like the light pads, but the three horses she used it on showed a marked difference in their way of going with her work + the light pads (but, of course, there’s no way to separate out what made the bigger/any difference - the light pad or her bodywork). But while some of her methods are a little quirky, she’s the one who picked out my TB who does the FEI GPs and also the one who put his body back together in the years following my purchase of him off the track (and boy was he a mess!). I have much more faith in her determination of things that work than really anyone else I work with.
This article reviews various studies on the benefit of phototherapy on postexercise recovery: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3554033/. One could follow up on the original research linked to find out more.
Now, for my personal anecdotes, I’ve noticed for years that our dog with Legg Perths Calves responds to laser treatments given at the vet clinic, and the positive effects last for a while. Even if it just makes him more comfortable, rather than providing any long-term benefit, it seems worthwhile.
Eventually, a wellness doctor (an MD) I went to began offering something similar, so I tried it. It made such a difference to me, within a couple of sessions, that I decided to obtain a unit.
When I go to use it on myself, the dog will suddenly show up, climb into my lap to get his own treatment, then leave when he’s done. It’s not that he just wants to sit in my lap, either – he’s really my husband’s dog and I’m the second choice, except when I plug the laser device in.
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