Effects of High-Intensity Laser Therapy (HILT) on Skin Surface Temperature and Vein Diameter in Healthy Racehorses with Clipped and Non-Clipped Coat.
Authors: Zielińska Paulina, Soroko-Dubrovina Maria, Śniegucka Karolina, Dudek Krzysztof, Čebulj-Kadunc Nina
Journal: Animals : an open access journal from MDPI
Summary
# Editorial Summary Coat clipping significantly alters how high-intensity laser therapy (HILT) penetrates equine tissue, with important implications for treatment protocols in racehorses. Researchers applied HILT to the carpal region of 20 Thoroughbreds—half with clipped coats and half with intact coats—measuring skin surface temperature via thermography and medial palmar vein diameter via ultrasonography before and after treatment. Non-clipped skin demonstrated substantially greater temperature elevation, suggesting superior photothermal energy absorption; conversely, the clipped group showed significantly greater vascular dilation, indicating enhanced photobiostimulation at tissue depth despite reduced superficial heating. A weak negative correlation between temperature rise and vessel diameter in both groups suggests that these two therapeutic mechanisms operate through distinct pathways. These findings warrant reconsideration of current HILT protocols: practitioners may need to adjust laser parameters or treatment duration depending on coat status, as the current one-size-fits-all approach may sacrifice either thermal or cellular stimulation effects depending on whether the treatment area is clipped.
Read the full abstract on PubMed
Practical Takeaways
- •When using HILT on racehorses, clipping the coat increases tissue photobiostimulation but reduces heating effects; consider coat status when selecting therapy parameters
- •Non-clipped coats achieve more efficient photothermal effects with HILT, while clipped areas optimize photobiostimulation—choose approach based on treatment goals
- •HILT affects vascular diameter differently depending on coat status; monitor vein response and adjust treatment protocols accordingly for optimal therapeutic outcomes
Key Findings
- •Skin surface temperature increase after HILT was significantly lower in clipped coat group compared to non-clipped coat group
- •Clipped coat group showed greater increase in medial palmar vein diameter than non-clipped group
- •Weak negative correlation existed between changes in skin surface temperature and vein diameter in both groups
- •Clipping treatment area increases photobiostimulation while reducing photothermal effect compared to non-clipped coat