The following is an extract from a series of articles written by Gail Williams, published by Horse and Rider magazine.

Healing Horses

Physiotherapy for fractures
Veterinary physiotherapy can help horses with broken bones as well as bad backs, as Dr Gail Williams explains

It may come as a surprise to many readers that physiotherapy can help a great deal in the treatment of broken bones. Vets are increasingly referring horses with fractures for physiotherapy, not only to stimulate bone healing, but also to support the horse as he returns to work. Physiotherapists use pulsed electro magnetic force therapy (PEMF) to help horses recover from fractures. PEMF is totally different to the ‘static’ magnets you’d find in equine boots or rugs. With PEMF, the electro-magnetic field is pulsed in a way that produces an effect in musculo-skeletal tissue.

Bone can change!
You may think that bone changes very little with time, but nothing could be further from the truth. Bone has a remarkable adaptive response to forces exerted by, and on, the body. Bone is constantly remodelled so that it’s at its strongest where larger forces are exerted, and use (or disuse) of body parts has a marked influence. For example, research among tennis players has shown that there is considerably more bone density in the serving arm than in the non-serving arm, because it is subjected to more stress and strain. Bone is mainly composed of calcium and collagen, with some trace elements. It has ‘piezo-electrical’ properties – ie, when compressed, it produces an electrical charge. Areas of stress in bone generate more small electrical charges than unstressed areas. It’s thought that polarised bone-forming cells (osteoblasts), which carry an opposite electrical charge, are attracted to these areas, increasing bone density to counter that stress.

PEMF therapy causes an increase of blood flow to the fracture, and speeds up the process of bony callus formation. It also attracts osteoblasts (cells which make bones) to the area, as it has the same effect as the body’s normal way of increasing bone density. In this way, PEMF accelerates the bone healing process.

As long ago as the 1980s, veterinary researchers published work showing that not only did PEMF significantly shorten fracture healing time, but that it helped to maintain bone density in the fractured bone. PEMF has deep tissue penetration and can also penetrate plaster casts or thick bandages, so treatment for fractures can begin even if the fracture is immobilised.

Case Study This racehorse gelding fractured the left ilium in his pelvis when racing in May 2007. The photograph was taken at the beginning of December 2007. You can see how the left side of his hip is dropped and the muscle is unequal, with the right side being more developed muscularly. This horse fractured his left pelvis; after seven months, the right side of his quarters developed more, his right hind foot turned out and hock turned in

Immobilising the horse
The horse spent the first five weeks after his injury tied to pillar reins so that he couldn’t lie down, and to restrict his movement. He was treated twice a day with PEMF. This is simple to use, and I have some units which I can pre-set and leave with owners or grooms to treat the horse themselves, although I like to check the horse once a week. After five weeks, although the horse was still on box rest, the pillar reins were taken away so he was allowed to lie down. Luckily, his temperament was such that confining him to pillar reins did not cause too much mental stress. PEMF treatment was used continuously until August 2007, when I could start him back in light work.

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