Evaluation of extracorporeal shock wave therapy for osteoarthritis.

Abstract

Lameness, and more specifically, joint disease, causes significant loss of use of athletic horses and has a large economic impact on the horse industry. Despite numerous medical treatments, novel treatments are needed. Recent experimental evidence and anecdotal clinical impressions of extracorporeal shockwave therapy (ESWT) for the treatment of osteoarthritis (OA) have been reported.13 Unpublished clinical studies in dogs have shown promising results, as have anecdotal reports on treating shoulder, pastern, and coffin joint OA in horses. This information led to the completion of the current study comparing ESWT to Adequanma and sham treatments in horses.