Effects of Pulsed Electromagnetic Field as a Supplement to Topical Dimethyl Sulfoxide and Controlled Exercise in Treatment of Equine SDF Tendonitis

Abstract

BACKGROUND: Equine superficial digital flexor (SDF) tendonitis is a very common cause of lameness in athletic horses inducing long lameness and prolonged recovery. Multiple treatment protocols have been proposed for this injury none of which have been able to solve the problem completely. Therefore, an affordable, widely available, and non-invasive thera-peutic protocol is sought in the horse industry. OBJECTIVES: The present study aimed to compare the use of topical dimethyl sulfoxide (DMSO) with a combination of topical DMSO and pulsed electromagnetic field (PEMF). METHODS: The subjects were divided into two groups of five polo ponies. The animals in the control group were treated by topical DMSO and controlled exercise, while the ponies in the experiment group received the same protocol plus PEMF on the injured tendon. RESULTS: The ultrasonographic factors evaluated in the current study were mostly similar between the two groups except for fiber alignment and echogenicity. The latter variables were shown to have a slightly better improvement in the test group indicating the minimal positive effects of PEMF. In clinical evaluation, both groups were almost identical sug-gesting no impacts for PEMF. CONCLUSIONS: In conclusion, applying PEMF using different protocols, such as more extended application at differ-ent frequencies is deemed necessary to elicit a favorable outcome of PEMF for the treatment of SDF tendonitis.

Keywords

• dimethyl sulfoxide
• equine tendonitis
• lameness
• pulsed electromagnetic field