October 2005

Shock-Wave Therapy Has Its Limits

Shock-wave therapy is still a last-ditch effort, tried after conventional therapies have failed.

Shock-wave therapy should only be applied by a veterinarian experienced in its use.

Shock-wave therapy in horses has received a lot of press, both good and bad. Since its introduction a few years ago, it’s been called everything from a near miracle to the most dangerous thing you can do to a performance horse. Trying to figure out the truth was severely hampered by the fact that most of the information was anecdotal. We now have better studies to learn from.

What It Is

Without getting overly technical, “shock waves” are waves of extremely high-pressure ultrasound, like the force that travels over distance from an explosion. Shock waves travel smoothly through many different mediums but disrupt and release their energy when they come in contact…