Shockwave Therapy

Shockwave Therapy is a form of treatment used to assist and enhance the healing process of bone, tendon, and ligaments. It is of particular benefit where there is an injury to bone or where there is damage to the attachment of a tendon or ligament. The energy imparted to the tissue by the shockwave therapy unit stimulates activity in the bone and fiber producing cells.  Shockwave therapy is a managed re-injury to a previous inadequately or improperly healed is a non-invasive treatment used to enhance the rate of soft tissue and bone healing in horses.

The "shock waves" are not electrical waves: they are powerful positive pressure acoustic waves. These waves transmit energy to deeper structures in the body.  The therapy improves circulation, stimulates new cell growth and promotes healing by causing the body to recognize the injury and activate the body’s natural healing processes. There is also evidence that shock wave therapy encourages faster and stronger healing than if the horse was just rested.

Injuries responding well to shockwave therapy include arthritic issues (e.g. low hock arthritis), bone injuries associated with ligament attachments (e.g. high suspensory injuries), new and slow healing soft tissue injuries, and various back and pelvis injuries (e.g. kissing spines).

Front Range Equine’s mobile shockwave equipment enables the therapy to be done at the client’s barn or vet clinic. After sedating and twitching the horse, an external “probe”, power strength and a specific number of acoustic “shocks” (depending on the diagnosed concern) is applied for 10-15 minutes at the injury’s location. When the sedation has worn off, the horse can resume prescribed rehabilitation. Generally, horses receive the shock therapy 2-3 times at two-week intervals.

Shockwave therapy can materially enhance theeffectiveness ofPRP, when done immediately prior to the PRP injection

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