AquaPacer
Underwater Treadmill System unites two powerful tools to achieve
accelerated conditioning: the natural properties of water and hydrokinetic
exercise in a user controlled environment. The natural properties of water:
buoyancy, high resistance, hydrostatic pressure and its thermal effect
have unparalleled therapeutic benefits that have been utilized for centuries.
Hydrokinetic exercise is facilitated by using the horse's own natural
movement on a non-slip, solid surface treadmill. The AquaPacer workout
is unparalleled for therapeutic healing and conditioning. Horses are encouraged
to use the same muscles, ligaments and tendons that are employed in traditional
land-based exercise but without the stress and trauma.
Therapeutic sessions in the AquaPacer can be fully customized to each
horse or through variable water heights, variable treadmill speeds and
variable water temperatures. Benefits include: reduced weight bearing,
reduced impact on limbs, soft tissue mobilization, modulation and reduction
of pain, joint decompression, and reduction of friction between articulating
joints, hydrostatic pressure to assist blood flow and reduce swelling.
Resulting in: reduced recovery time by 50-60%, improved healing, improved
performance, accelerated conditioning, advanced muscle development, improved
cardiovascular fitness, improved range of motion and flexibility, promotes
correct posture and a balanced gait, and minimizes performance injuries.
Digital Ultrasound is used to assess soft tissue injuries
as well as monitor the healing process. Ultrasound is a valuable tool
for viewing tendons, ligaments and bony structures. Regular monitoring
of horses that are on the road to recovery is made simple with ultrasound
imaging. Digital ultrasound images can be sent to referring veterinarians
as jpeg images or high quality paper copies.
Direct Digital Radiography is used to assess bone structures
in our equine athletes. The Eklin EDR-3 delivers superior diagnostic images
in as little as 4 second (horse side)! The system's high resolution consistently
produces detailed diagnostic images that are unparalleled in the equine
veterinary industry. We also have a direct link with North Carolina State
University radiologists and surgeons who can see images from our servers
instantly if a surgical consult is needed.
Electrotherapies
Electronic Muscle Stimulation (EMS) is characterized by a low
volt stimulation targeted to stimulate motor nerves to cause a muscle
contraction. Contraction/relaxation of muscles has been found to effectively
treat a variety of musculoskeletal and vascular conditions. MS differs
from TENS in that it is designed to stimulate muscle motor nerves, while
TENS is designed to stimulate sensory nerve endings to help decrease pain.
Common uses: Prevent or retard disuse atrophy, strengthening programs,
reeducate muscles, post-op orthopedic surgery, joint replacement, gait
training, shoulder subluxation and reduction of muscle spasms.
Interferential Stimulation (IS) This type of stimulation is characterized
by the crossing of two electrical medium, independent frequencies that
work together to effectively stimulate large impulse fibers. These frequencies
interfere with the transmission of pain messages at the spinal cord level.
This deep tissue penetration can be adjusted to stimulate parasympathetic
nerve fibers for increased blood flow. Interferential Stimulation differs
from TENS because it allows a deeper penetration of the tissue with more
comfort (compliance) and increased circulation. Common uses: Pre and post-orthopedic
surgery, joint injury syndrome, cumulative trauma disorders, increasing
circulation and pain control.
Low-frequency Ultrasound provides a consistent, penetrating heat
to affected tissues. Low-frequency ultrasound is helpful to stimulate
circulation, relax muscles and relieve muscular pain and discomfort.
Micro current (MC) Where TENS is used to hide pain, Micro current, because
of its close proximity of our own body’s current, is thought to
work on a more cellular level. It has been theorized that healthy tissue
is the result of the direct flow of electrical current throughout the
body. Electrical balance is disrupted when the body is injured at a particular
site, causing the electrical current to change course. The use of Micro
current over the injured site is thought to realign this flow, thus aid
in tissue repair. Common uses: speed the healing process, reduce inflammation,
masks acute and chronic pain, releases trigger points and improves soft
tissue regeneration.
Transcutaneous Electrical Neural Stimulation (TENS) is used to
stimulate sensory nerves to block pain signals by stimulating endorphin
production to help normalize sympathetic function. Common uses: Acute
and chronic pain, back and cervical muscular and disc syndromes, RSD,
arthritis, shoulder syndromes, neuropathies, and many other painful conditions.
Endoscopy allows us to examine the inside of the stomach
for gastriculcers and to diagnose any disorders of the larynx and pharynx.
We are equipped with a 3-meter gastroscope and a 1-meter laryngic-scope.
Gastroscopy (3-meter 9.8 feet) involves placing an endoscope
into the stomach and looking at its surface.This is the only way to definitively
diagnose ulcers is through. To allow this, the stomach must be empty,
so most horses are held off feed for 18 hours and not allowed to drink
water for two to three hours prior to the procedure. With light sedation
and possibly a twitch, the endoscope is passed through the nostril and
down the esophagus into the stomach. The light and camera on the end of
the endoscope allows the veterinarian to observe the lining of the stomach.
Up to 93% of racehorses get stomach ulcers, regardless of age. Almost
60% of other performance horses have ulcers. Up to 57% of foals have stomach
ulcers, particularly during the first several months of life. 50% of horses
with ulcers show no outward signs of gastrointestinal disease.
Laser therapy has long been used in human medicine for
its beneficial effects. These include: analgesia, accelerated healing
of soft tissue and wounds, increased circulation (vasodilatation and vascularization),
anti-inflammatory action, reduced scarring, increased collagen fibers
and bone nodule formation and increased patient comfort. Laser therapy
is non-invasive and does not require sedation.We use one of the only clinics
to offer the recently FDA approved class 4 KLaser.
Nuclear Scintigraphy is a type of nuclear imaging that uses a
"radiopharmaceutical" which is injected into the blood stream.
The compound concentrates in tissues where there is inflammation or increased
cellular activity, such as a hair-line fracture within a bone or a high
suspensory ligament strain. Scintigraphy can also be used to accurately
evaluate navicular syndrome and spinal arthritis- two common problems
where radiographs are not always capable of giving a definitive answer!
Shockwave therapy is a relatively new method for treating
equine lameness. Frequently, horses who have not responded to conventional
treatments benefit greatly from shockwave therapy. Common conditions that
respond well are: ligament injures tendon injuries, bone spavin, ringbone,
splints, or delayed union fractures and sore backs. Shockwave has been
shown to produce marked analgesia and stimulate bone formation. A key
benefit to this therapy is that it is performed on the standing, sedated
horse in only a few minutes. Shockwave therapy often significantly reduces
lay-up time and improves the quality of the healing tissue.
Therapeutic Massage Therapy is a hands-on, non-invasive
technique long recognized for both physical and mental therapeutic purposes.
Skeletal muscle, the system responsible for movement, makes up 60% of
a horse’s body; yet, muscles are commonly overlooked in preventative
maintenance and injury rehabilitation. Musculoskeletal problems are the
most common cause of poor performance in horses. These hands-on techniques
have been proven effective in a number of ways, from increasing performance
level and stamina, general maintenance, to injury prevention and recovery.
They accomplish this by increasing circulation and reducing muscular fatigue,
tension and stress, the primary causes of muscular injury.
