Northwest Equine Veterinary Associates

Shockwave therapy has been successfully used in equine sports medicine to treat many soft tissue and bony problems, both acute and chronic. Common conditions that we treat with ESWT include suspensory ligament tears or strains, tendon injuries, osteoarthritis, collateral ligament injuries, back pain, and muscle tears.

Shockwave therapy employs high energy sound waves that are focused within the probe head. Each probe head is designed to reach a certain depth. When the shockwave reaches the target tissue at the appropriate depth, the energy is released into the surrounding tissue, stimulating new blood vessel growth resulting in tissue regeneration in tendons, joints, and bone.

Once the area of injury is determined (by radiography or ultrasonography), the area is prepared by clipping and cleaning the skin. Gel is applied to the skin and prior to the start of therapy, the horse is sedated. The number of shockwaves and energy level varies with the structure and condition being treated. Most treatment sessions last 15-20 minutes and are repeated two to three times every two to four weeks.