VetSRev
Database of veterinary systematic reviews
Database of veterinary systematic reviews
Animals (2021) 11:
DOI: 10.3390/ani11061508
Injuries to the locomotor system are a common problem in athletic horses. Veterinarians address these injuries using appropriate medical, surgical, and pharmacological treatments. During or after recovery from the initial injury, horses may be treated for functional locomotor deficits using specific rehabilitation techniques aimed at restoring full athletic performance. This study reviews the literature to identify which rehabilitative techniques have been used most frequently in horses over the past 20 years, the protocols that were used, and the outcomes of the treatments in naturally occurring injuries and diseases. Publications were identified using keyword selection (Equine Athlete OR Equine OR Horse) AND (Rehabilitation OR Physiotherapy OR Physical Therapy). After removing duplicates and screening papers for suitability, 49 manuscripts were included in the study. The majority of publications that met the inclusion criteria were narrative reviews (49%) in which the authors cited the relatively small number of published evidence-based studies supplemented by personal experience. Observational/descriptive studies were also popular (35%). Randomized control trials accounted for only 10%. The most frequently reported rehabilitation techniques were exercise, electrotherapy, and hydrotherapy. The findings highlight the need for further information regarding type of intervention, parameterization, and outcomes of equine rehabilitation in clinical practice.
Atalaia, T., Prazeres, J., Abrantes, J., & Clayton, H. M. (2021). Equine rehabilitation: a scoping review of the literature. Animals, 11(6). https://doi.org/10.3390/ani11061508 techniques, therapy, musculoskeletal anomalies, literature reviews, veterinarians, clinical aspects, diagnosis, surgery, trauma, wounds, intervention, exercise, equine rehabilitation, manual therapy, therapeutic modalities, physical therapy