Functional electrical stimulation for equine epaxial muscle spasms: retrospective study of 241 clinical cases
Authors: Schils S.J., Turner T.A.
Journal: Comparative Exercise Physiology
Summary
# Editorial Summary: Functional Electrical Stimulation for Equine Epaxial Muscle Spasms Schils and Turner examined whether functional electrical stimulation (FES) could effectively reduce epaxial muscle spasms in horses, drawing on retrospective data from 241 clinical cases treated with over 1,800 FES sessions. Using the Modified Ashworth Scale adapted for equine assessment, the researchers found that 79% of horses (191/241) achieved at least a one-grade improvement in muscle spasm severity following just two FES treatments, with notably 59% (142/241) maintaining this improvement for a minimum of two months post-intervention. The consistency of response across this large cohort—particularly the high proportion sustaining longer-term benefit—suggests FES warrants consideration as a practical adjunct for managing back soreness and associated myofascial dysfunction, especially given the non-invasive nature of the modality. For practitioners treating performance horses with chronic epaxial tension or post-injury stiffness, these findings indicate FES may facilitate more rapid functional recovery when integrated into rehabilitation protocols, though individual response variation and optimal treatment frequency merit further investigation.
Read the full abstract on the publisher's site
Practical Takeaways
- •FES appears effective for epaxial muscle spasms with ~4 in 5 horses showing measurable improvement after just 2 treatments
- •Benefits persist beyond treatment period in majority of cases, suggesting this could reduce need for repeated interventions
- •Consider FES as a non-invasive modality for managing back spasms, particularly when horses show poor response to conventional therapy
Key Findings
- •80% of horses (191/241) demonstrated 1-grade improvement in muscle spasms after 2 FES treatments using Modified Ashworth Scale
- •60% of treated horses (142/241) maintained sustained improvement for minimum 2 months post-treatment
- •1,800+ FES treatments administered across the case series with consistent clinical response