Heat
Therapy
Heat causes blood vessel dilation in the skin and superficial tissues.
This improves the blood flow to the injured area, and so can speed healing.
Benefits
Moist heat refers to use of warm water.Warm hosing,standing the horse in tub of warm water,or placing a warm,wet cloth over the area are examples of moist heat.
Poultice can also provide moist heat.
With chronic injuries, it is essential to address the cause of pain and dysfunction, not just the symptoms.
Reference
Lameness
Heat causes blood vessel dilation in the skin and superficial tissues.
This improves the blood flow to the injured area, and so can speed healing.
However
in the first 2 to 3 days following injury,increasing the blood flow
can worsen the swelling and restart bleeding from damaged blood
vessels.
So,
heat therapy should not begin until at least 2 days after
injury,particularly if bruising or hemorrhage has occurred.
Benefits
- Increase metabolic activity in the cells
- Reduce pain by desensitizing the nerve endings
- Relief of muscle spasm
- Increase joint mobility by relaxing or softening the surrounding tissues (joint capsules, supporting ligaments)
- Relax muscle fibers
- Reduces joint stiffness
Moist heat refers to use of warm water.Warm hosing,standing the horse in tub of warm water,or placing a warm,wet cloth over the area are examples of moist heat.
Poultice can also provide moist heat.
With chronic injuries, it is essential to address the cause of pain and dysfunction, not just the symptoms.
Among
the types of injuries and conditions which can benefit from heat
therapy are:
- arthritis
- hoof abscesses
Reference
Lameness
Equine
Research
by
Chritine King and Richard Mansmann
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