International Survey Regarding the Use of Rehabilitation Modalities in Horses.
Authors: Wilson Janine M, McKenzie Erica, Duesterdieck-Zellmer Katja
Journal: Frontiers in veterinary science
Summary
An international questionnaire distributed across eight veterinary groups sought to establish which of 38 rehabilitation and performance modalities were in current use for equine patients, with 305 respondents predominantly from private equine practice in the USA, Europe, and Canada treating primarily Warmbloods and Thoroughbreds in hunter-jumper and dressage disciplines. All 38 modalities surveyed were reported in use, though uptake varied considerably: controlled hand walking, therapeutic shoeing, ice therapy, and compression bandaging were near-universal (95–97%), whilst injectable biologic therapies such as PRP and IRAP enjoyed strong adoption (81–87%), yet modalities including hyperbaric oxygen therapy, cytowave, and radiofrequency remained marginal (6–9%). A notable finding was the divergence in scope of practice, with injectable modalities almost exclusively administered by veterinarians, whilst non-invasive therapies such as stretching, massage, and acupuncture were delivered by a range of practitioners including farriers, physiotherapists, trainers, and veterinary technicians—though only 33% of respondents reported formal collaborative working with equine physiotherapists. These results underscore both the widespread adoption of diverse rehabilitation approaches in equine practice and a critical knowledge gap: substantial variation exists in modality application across practitioners of differing qualifications, yet robust evidence regarding efficacy, optimal delivery protocols, and potential adverse effects remains limited for many interventions.
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Practical Takeaways
- •Controlled hand walking, therapeutic shoeing, ice, and PRP represent the core rehabilitation toolkit across equine practices—these are broadly accepted and implemented.
- •If using injectable biologics (PRP, IRAP, stem cells), ensure veterinary administration; however, many modalities can be safely and effectively delivered by trained technicians, farriers, or physical therapists under appropriate supervision.
- •Consider developing collaborative relationships with equine physical therapists to expand rehabilitation capabilities, as currently only one-third of practices do so—this represents an opportunity to enhance patient outcomes.
Key Findings
- •All 38 rehabilitation modalities surveyed were being used by respondents, with controlled hand walking (97.3%), therapeutic shoeing (96.1%), and ice (95.2%) most prevalent.
- •Injectable modalities (IRAP, PRP, stem cells) were administered almost exclusively by veterinarians, while other modalities were variably applied by veterinarians, technicians, farriers, physical therapists, and trainers.
- •Hyperbaric oxygen therapy (9.4%), cytowave (8.3%), and radiofrequency (6.4%) were the least commonly utilized modalities.
- •Only 33% of respondents reported collaborative working relationships with physical therapists on equine patients.