Therapeutic Modalities
ETS utilizes a variety of modalities as an adjunctive treatment included in your horse’s comprehensive treatment plan. These modalities can serve an important role in pain and edema reduction, deep heating, acceleration of the healing process and wound healing. ETS takes great care to utilize modalities such as ultrasound, laser, PEMF and cold therapies in an evidence based manner to get the most effect while ensuring your horse’s safety.
Although a variety of individuals offer therapeutic modalities, the best way to insure that these treatments are used safely, appropriately, and in an evidence based manner is by a physical therapist. PTs are required to have advanced knowledge of the application, indications and contraindications of these devices and must show competency through state examination and licensure.
Although a variety of individuals offer therapeutic modalities, the best way to insure that these treatments are used safely, appropriately, and in an evidence based manner is by a physical therapist. PTs are required to have advanced knowledge of the application, indications and contraindications of these devices and must show competency through state examination and licensure.
LASER Therapy
LASER has both local and systemic effects to speed the healing process and provide pain relief. LASER has been shown to increase vascularity, increase nitric oxide levels, stimulates collagen production and modulate pain. It can be used to stimulate acupuncture points non-invasively, relieve trigger points and is particularly effective in wound healing.
Wavelength, dosage and exact placement are vital to the success of any modality but particularly for LASER.
Wavelength, dosage and exact placement are vital to the success of any modality but particularly for LASER.
Therapeutic Ultrasound
Ultrasound is used to increase circulation, decrease pain and spasm, enhance cellular repair, modulate the inflammatory response and warm tissues and joints in preparation for exercise and stretching.
Dr. Welter uses a state of the art Chattanooga unit FDA approved for human use. It has capabilities to treat deep and superficial injuries ranging from acute to chronic with a variety of settings.
Dr. Welter uses a state of the art Chattanooga unit FDA approved for human use. It has capabilities to treat deep and superficial injuries ranging from acute to chronic with a variety of settings.
Targeted Pulsed Electromagnetic Fields
ETS is very excited to offer this new technology to our clients. Many horse owners are familiar with older methods of electromagnetic fields in th form of magnetic blankets, wraps, or coil devices. These treatments were non-specific, lacked scientific reasearch support and often were prohibitively expensive to purchase. New human technology has allowed for targeted devices able to provide a calculated dose of PEMF in a site specific manner than can now be easily and economically incorporated into your horse's treatment plan. A growing body of evidence indicates that tPEMF:
-is at least as effective as NSAIDs in the treatment of pain and edema
-Accelerates surgical wound healing by up to 58% and tendon repair by up to 69%
-can slow the progression of osteoarthritis and have positive effects on cartilage cells
-is at least as effective as NSAIDs in the treatment of pain and edema
-Accelerates surgical wound healing by up to 58% and tendon repair by up to 69%
-can slow the progression of osteoarthritis and have positive effects on cartilage cells
Cold Therapy
Cold therapy devices reduce inflammation, control edema and decrease pain by modulating nerve conduction.
Electrical Stimulation
A variety of techniques make this a versatile tool to address both acute and chronic conditions. Dependent on the type and settings of E-stim provided, it has strong evidence supporting pain relief, spasm reduction, reduction of muscle atrophy, wound healing acceleration, retraining denervated tissues (such as in sweeney), and increased microcirculation.
H-Wave
H-wave is a unique and very effective modality used widely in Europe to treat equine back pain. ETS is one of only a few practices in the US with H-Wave technology. Because of it's unique waveform, it is able to penetrate large muscle groups so important for effective treatment of the horse's spine and pelvic musculature. It is the only form of e-stim able to simultaneously provide low frequency muscle stimulation and high frequency deep analgesic pain control. It is also very effective at controlling inflammation and edema through stimulating lymphatic drainage and nitric oxide production.
NMES
Neuromuscular electrical stimulation (NMES) is the administration of a low level electrical current that decreases swelling and allows muscle contraction and recruitment after orthopedic or neurological injury. Frequency, pulse duration, amplitude, waveform, on/off time, ramp and polarity of electrodes are all parameters that can be adjusted when using NMES for specificity of effect. Indications for use of NMES are atrophy (muscle wasting), swelling and pain.
TENS
Transcutaneous Electrical Neuromuscular Stimulation (TENS) is used mostly for pain management. TENS decreases pain and inflammation by providing a low level electrical current which disrupts the normal pain perception pathways. The pulse rate and width can be controlled in order to deliver to desired effect. TENS also can be used to stimulate acupuncture points in order to achieve a body-wide response.
