Use of laser light to treat certain lesions in standardbreds

Mod Vet Pract. 1984 Mar;65(3):210-3.

Abstract

The final and last-quarter race times and racing classes for a group of Standardbreds were analyzed before and after infrared laser light treatment. These horses had either check ligament injuries, plantar desmitis or pharyngeal lymphoid hyperplasia. A 904-nm infrared laser was used to treat check ligaments at 146 Hz for 26 sec/cm2 of affected area, acute plantar desmitis at 73 Hz and chronic plantar desmitis at 292 Hz for 26 sec/cm2 of affected area, and pharyngeal lymphoid hyperplasia at 146 Hz for 5 minutes. Of 35 horses treated for check ligament injuries, 80% had similar or faster final race times, 68.6% had similar or faster last-quarter times, and 68.6% raced in similar or higher classes after treatment. Of 8 horses treated for plantar desmitis, 87.5% had similar or faster final and last-quarter times, and raced in similar or higher classes after treatment. Of 30 horses treated for pharyngeal lymphoid hyperplasia, 80% had similar or faster final race times, 90% had similar or faster last-quarter times, and 70% raced in similar or higher classes after treatment.

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Horse Diseases / pathology
  • Horse Diseases / therapy*
  • Horses
  • Hyperplasia / diagnosis
  • Hyperplasia / therapy
  • Hyperplasia / veterinary
  • Lameness, Animal / etiology
  • Lameness, Animal / pathology
  • Lameness, Animal / therapy*
  • Laser Therapy*
  • Ligaments / injuries*
  • Lymph Nodes / pathology*
  • Pharynx
  • Running