Shock wave therapy is a non-invasive, pain free treatment for a variety of orthopaedic conditions in the horse. Pulses of pressure are produced by an air compressor and transmitted directly into an injured area using a special transducer. The machine can be focused to deliver pulses of differing energy strength and depth depending on the injury being treated.
At the site where the pressure waves interact with the tissue (the site of injury) they release energy, creating two beneficial effects:
⦁ New blood vessels grow into the area bringing oxygen, nutrients and growth factors – things that are vital to stimulate healing.
⦁ The nerve endings are numbed creating a temporary localised pain relief.

The use of shock wave therapy is well established in treating a variety of different equine injuries:
⦁ Tendon and ligament strains, especially suspensory ligament injuries
⦁ Back pain
⦁ Sacro-iliac strains
⦁ Non healing fractures
⦁ Angular limb deformities in foal
Typically horses have 3 treatment sessions of shock wave therapy at fortnightly intervals.