Revolutionary Treatment for Equine Pain and Recovery
Shock Wave Therapy (ESWT) is a cutting-edge, non-invasive treatment that uses high-energy sound waves to relieve pain, accelerate healing, and improve the quality of recovery in equine patients. Originally developed for human medicine, this technology has become a gold standard in treating conditions that cause pain and lameness in horses. Unlike other therapies, ESWT penetrates deeply to stimulate biological responses at the cellular level, reducing inflammation, enhancing blood flow, and even recruiting stem cells to the area of injury. Effective for a range of issues—from tendon and ligament injuries to osteoarthritis and even wound healing—shock wave therapy can help your horse recover faster and reduce the likelihood of reinjury.
What is shock wave or ESWT?
ESWT, commonly known as “shock wave therapy” is a noninvasive, highenergy, pressure wave treatment, which is commonly used in human and veterinary medicine. It helps the body in relieving pain, speeding healing and improving the quality of healing. Shock wave is a much higher energy treatment and can penetrate to deeper areas than many other types of modalities. “Shock wave” is a physics term to describe a rapid increase in pressure, such as the energy from an explosion or thunder resulting from lightning. “Shock wave” does not refer to electrical shock. It is actually a high-energy SOUND wave treatment.
How does shock wave work?
Shock wave provides a high-energy, focused pressure wave. The pressure wave acts as a mechanical force at the cellular level causing various biological reactions, including the release of proteins associated with decreased inflammation and increased blood vessel formation. Shock wave has also been demonstrated to recruit stem cells, and positively regulate inflammatory proteins associated with osteoarthritis
What is shock wave used for?
Shock wave has been proven effective and is considered the gold standard of treatment for a variety of conditions that result in pain and lameness, including:
- Tendon and ligament and muscle injuries (suspensories; boAscend Equined tendons; muscle strains)
- Osteoarthritis/Degenerative Joint Disease (bone spavin; hock injuries; ringbone)
- Foot/Heel Pain (Navicular syndrome/foot lameness)
- Bone healing/fractures (splints; stress fractures; buck shins)
- Back and neck pain (kissing spines/lumbosacral pain/arthritis)
- Wound healing Shock wave can help your horse return to work more quickly and may help to prevent recurrent injuries.
Shock wave can help your horse return to work more quickly and may help to prevent recurrent injuries.
Can shock wave be used with other treatments?
Shock wave can be used on its own (as an alternative to surgery) or with other modalities.
Are there different types of shock wave?
Yes, there are a variety of technologies available, and the key differences directly correlate to safety and efficacy. In addition, there is a radial pressure wave technology which is often falsely referred to as a shock wave technology. PulseVet’s VersaTron electrohydraulic technology is considered the gold standard in equine medicine. It is also covered by most insurance companies. The technology has been documented in extensive human and horse research and validated in thousands of clinical studies. It is the only type that provides true focused energy and true shock waves at all energy settings which is critical to ensuring results. The versatility of the device and different penetration depths make it optimal for various indications.