The Effect of Chiropractic Treatment on Limb Lameness and Concurrent Axial Skeleton Pain and Dysfunction in Horses

Abstract

Chiropractic care is a common treatment modality used in equine practice to manage back pain and stiffness but has limited evidence for treating lameness. The objective of this blinded, controlled clinical trial was to evaluate the effect of chiropractic treatment on chronic lameness and concurrent axial skeleton pain and dysfunction. Two groups of horses with multiple limb lameness (polo) or isolated hind limb lameness (Quarter Horses) were enrolled. Outcome measures included subjective and objective measures of lameness, spinal pain and stiffness, epaxial muscle hypertonicity, and mechanical nociceptive thresholds collected on days 0, 14, and 28. Chiropractic treatment was applied on days 0, 7, 14, and 21. No treatment was applied to control horses. Data was analyzed by a mixed model fit separately for each response variable (p < 0.05) and was examined within each group of horses individually. Significant treatment effects were noted in subjective measures of hind limb and whole-body lameness scores and vertebral stiffness. Limited or inconsistent therapeutic effects were noted in objective lameness scores and other measures of axial skeleton pain and dysfunction. The lack of pathoanatomical diagnoses, multilimb lameness, and lack of validated outcome measures likely had negative impacts on the results.

Pharmacokinetics, clinical efficacy and safety of acetaminophen (paracetamol) in adult horses with naturally occurring chronic lameness

“…The lamest limb was determined to be the mode of the primary lameness limb amongst the three reviewers for each horse on each treatment day and was retained for statistical analysis. The median lameness score amongst reviewers for each limb was totalled to create a whole body lameness score out of 40 and was retained for statistical analysis 16 …”

“…The median lameness score amongst reviewers for each limb was totalled to create a whole body lameness score out of 40 and was retained for statistical analysis. 16 Subjective 2.9 | Hepatic ultrasound and biopsy Hepatic ultrasound and biopsy were performed on day À1 and 22 as previously described. 11 A 5 MHz curvilinear ultrasound probe was utilised to identify hepatic parenchyma and the liver was examined for any evidence of hepatopathy.…”

Science‐in‐brief: Highlights from the abstracts at the Ninth International Conference on Canine and Equine Locomotion, Utrecht, 2023

“…In an attempt to evaluate its use in horses with lameness and concurrent axial skeleton pain and dysfunction, Maldonado et al showed some interesting, but somewhat inconsistent positive effects on lameness, back pain, and stiffness. 28 Limitations of their study included the presence of chronic, multilimb lameness and lack of pathoanatomical diagnoses. Further research into the benefits of chiropractic treatments in relation with back pain, lameness and motion asymmetry is still needed.…”