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Equine Laser Therapy

How does Laser Therapy work?

Laser therapy accelerates the body's natural healing process through photobiomodulation. Photobiomodulation therapy is a form of light therapy based on the photochemical process. This cascade of events at the cellular level relieves pain, reduces inflammation, and increases microcirculation. These three effects result in accelerated healing and restoration of function within the tissue. Laser therapy effectively treats chronic conditions, acute conditions, and post-surgical pain and inflammation. 

What can Laser Therapy Treat?

  • Acute & Chronic Bog Spavin & Maintenance (Tarsocrural Synovitis)

  • Acute & Chronic Bursitis

  • Acute & Chronic Cunean Tendonitis & Bursitis (incl. Maintenance)

  • Acute & Chronic Curb (Tarsal Plantar Desmitis)

  • Acute & Chronic Fibrotic & Ossifying Myopathy

  • Acute & Chronic Laminitis

  • Acute & Chronic Myositis

  • Acute & Chronic Back Pain

  • Acute/Subacute/Chronic bowed tendon

  • Back Disorder

  • Bone Spavin

  • Bucked Shins

  • Calming and sedation

  • Capped Hock

  • Carpal Disorder

  • Carpal Tunnel Syndrome

  • Carpitis

  • Cervical Musculature

  • Degenerative Joint Disease

  • Epiphysitis

  • Exertional Rhabdomyolysis

  • Fetlock and Pastern Disorder

  • Foot Disorder

  • Fractures

  • Greased Heels

  • Hip and Thigh Disorder

  • Hip Joint Disorders

  • Hock

  • Hunters Bumps

  • Hydroma of the Carpus

  • Hygroma of the Elbow Inferior Check

  • Ligament Desmitis

  • Joint Related Injuries Lameness Disorders

  • Metabolic Disorders associated with Laminitis

  • Metacarpal Disorder

  • Navicular Syndrome

  • Neck, Back and Vertebral Column

  • Osselets

  • Relief of Back Pain for Performance Enhancement

  • Ringbone

  • Routine Maintenance

  • Sesamoiditis

  • Soft Tissue Injuries

  • Sore Back and Loin

  • Splints

  • Sprains and Strains of Stifle Ligaments

  • Stifle Disorder

  • Stifle Joint

  • Stifle Ligaments Maintenance Therapy

  • Stringhalt

  • Subluxations of the Sacroiliac Joint

  • Superficial and Deep Digital Flexor Tendons

  • Superior Check Ligament Strain

  • Suspensory Desmitis

  • Suspensory Disorders

  • Synovitis

  • Tarsitis

  • Tendonitis

  • Tenosynovitis

  • Thoracolumbar Musculature

  • Thoroughpin

  • Upward Fixation of the Patella (including postoperative)

  • Wound Healing

  • Enhancing Athletic Performance

What can I expect during a laser therapy session?

During a treatment session, the handheld laser wand is slowly moved back and forth over the damaged tissue, producing a warm, pleasant sensation that most horses seem to enjoy and find relaxing. Session times will vary depending on the case, on average most treatments last for 30 minutes, with the number of sessions and frequency of treatments dependent on the injury. As the laser is administered, your horse will relax and can be seen yawning, taking deep breaths and licking their lips. The almost immediate relief of pain will allow them to be comfortable and any initial anxiety will dissipate. 

How long after a Laser Therapy session will it take to see improvement?

Often you will see some kind of improvement after the first session but many times it will take several treatments to see a notable difference. We recommend all patients receive a loading dose when starting laser therapy, such as, daily for the first three sessions then every-other day for three sessions. After the loading doses have been administered, protocols usually involve one to three sessions per week for several weeks. Often, the number of sessions is tapered off as the animal improves, so visits are scheduled less frequently. The effects of laser therapy treatment are cumulative so there is a benefit to repeated sessions, but the goal is to achieve the greatest degree of improvement and maintain that level with the fewest treatments necessary. 

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