Shockwave Therapy in Horses: Why It Works

When it comes to treating deeper musculoskeletal pain in horses—especially along the back, neck, and joints—shockwave therapy has become one of the most effective tools we have.

But not all shockwave is created equal.

Understanding how it works—and why I’ve chosen to use PulseVet focused shockwave—can help you make more informed decisions about your horse’s care and performance.

What Is Shockwave Therapy?

Shockwave therapy (Extracorporeal Shockwave Therapy, or ESWT) uses high-energy acoustic waves to stimulate healing in injured or painful tissues.

These waves travel deeper than most other modalities, allowing us to target structures that are otherwise difficult to treat, such as:

  • Deep muscle layers of the back and neck
  • Facet joints along the spine
  • Sacroiliac region
  • Chronic tendon and ligament injuries

Shockwave works by:

  • Increasing blood flow
  • Reducing pain signaling
  • Stimulating tissue repair and regeneration

Because of this, it’s particularly helpful for chronic pain, performance issues, and areas that haven’t responded fully to other treatments.

Why Shockwave Is So Effective for the Back and Neck

Back and neck pain in horses is often complex. It involves layers of muscle compensation, joint restriction, and chronic inflammation over time.

Shockwave stands out because it can:

  • Penetrate deeply into these structures
  • Target pain at its source
  • Create a stronger biologic response than more superficial therapies

In many cases, this allows us to make meaningful progress in just 1–3 treatments, rather than weeks of repeated therapies.

PulseVet vs. Piezoelectric Shockwave: What’s the Difference?

There are several types of shockwave systems used in veterinary medicine. The two most common are electrohydraulic (PulseVet) and piezoelectric systems.

PulseVet (Electrohydraulic Shockwave)

This is the system I use in my practice.

It produces a true, high-energy shockwave that:

  • Reaches deeper tissues more effectively
  • Covers a broader treatment area
  • Creates a stronger and more consistent healing response

Because of its power and depth, PulseVet is particularly well-suited for:

  • Back and neck pain
  • Facet arthritis
  • Sacroiliac/lumbosacral issues
  • Chronic or performance-limiting conditions

Piezoelectric Shockwave

Piezoelectric systems use multiple small crystals to generate waves.

They tend to:

  • Be more focused but lower energy
  • Treat a smaller, more precise area
  • Provide a gentler stimulus

These systems can be useful for certain localized conditions, but they often do not penetrate as deeply or stimulate as strong of a biologic response as electrohydraulic systems like PulseVet.

Why This Matters for Your Horse

When we’re treating performance horses—especially those with back, neck, or chronic issues—we’re often dealing with deeper, more complex pain patterns.

Using a system like PulseVet allows us to:

  • Reach the structures that actually need treatment
  • Reduce the number of treatments required
  • Create more meaningful, longer-lasting improvement

In many cases, this becomes a key piece of restoring comfort, improving movement, and supporting long-term soundness.

Shockwave for Arthritis and Tendon Healing

Shockwave therapy is especially valuable for managing arthritis and tendon injuries, where chronic inflammation and limited blood flow can slow healing.

In joints affected by arthritis—such as the facet joints of the spine or lower limb joints—shockwave helps reduce pain and improve mobility by increasing circulation and modulating inflammation.

For tendon and ligament injuries, shockwave stimulates cellular activity and encourages more organized tissue repair. This can be particularly helpful in chronic or repetitive strain injuries where healing has plateaued.

Because of its ability to reach deeper structures and activate a strong healing response, shockwave often allows for faster progression and fewer treatments compared to more superficial therapies.

How Shockwave Fits Into a Bigger Picture

Shockwave is rarely a standalone solution—and that’s a good thing.

The best results come from combining therapies based on what your horse needs, which may include:

  • Chiropractic (VMM) adjustments
  • Acupuncture
  • Facet or joint injections
  • Rehabilitation and strengthening work

Shockwave often serves as the catalyst—helping unlock deeper pain so the rest of the body can function more normally.

Final Thoughts

Shockwave therapy is one of the most impactful tools we have for treating deeper musculoskeletal pain in horses.

And the type of shockwave matters.

By using shockwave we’re able to deliver a treatment that is:

  • Deeper
  • More powerful
  • More efficient
  • Cartilage sparing

—so your horse can return to comfort, performance, and longevity with fewer treatments and better results.

Visit the PulseVet site to learn more about shockwave therapy: https://pulsevet.zomedica.com/pet-parents/?utm_source=google&utm_medium=cpc&utm_campaign=pulsevet+lead+gen&utm_term=search&utm_content=shock+wave

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Class IV Laser Therapy for Horses: How Light Stimulates Healing

Injury, inflammation, and muscle soreness are common challenges for performance horses. Whether a horse is recovering from a tendon strain, managing chronic back pain, or simply experiencing the demands of athletic work, supporting the body’s ability to heal is essential for long-term soundness.

One therapy that has gained increasing use in both human and veterinary medicine is Class IV laser therapy, also known as photobiomodulation. This technology uses specific wavelengths of light to stimulate cellular activity, reduce inflammation, and promote tissue repair.

What Is Laser Therapy?

Class IV therapeutic lasers deliver concentrated light energy into tissues beneath the skin. Unlike surgical lasers that cut tissue, therapeutic lasers are designed to stimulate biological processes within cells.

The light penetrates through the skin and is absorbed by structures inside cells called mitochondria, which are responsible for producing cellular energy.

When stimulated by therapeutic laser light, mitochondria increase production of adenosine triphosphate (ATP), the molecule that powers cellular repair and metabolism. This increased energy availability helps tissues repair themselves more efficiently.

How Laser Therapy Works

Laser therapy influences several biological processes that support healing and reduce pain.

These effects include:

Improved cellular metabolism
Increased ATP production allows cells involved in healing—such as fibroblasts and muscle cells—to function more effectively.

Reduced inflammation
Laser therapy can help regulate inflammatory pathways and decrease the production of inflammatory mediators that contribute to pain and swelling.

Improved circulation
Photobiomodulation promotes microcirculation and oxygen delivery to injured tissues.

Pain modulation
Laser therapy may reduce nerve sensitivity and improve muscle relaxation, helping decrease discomfort.

These combined effects help explain why laser therapy is commonly used to support recovery from musculoskeletal injuries.

Conditions Laser Therapy Can Help Treat

Laser therapy is often used in horses to help manage:

• tendon and ligament injuries
• muscle soreness or strain
• back and neck pain
• joint inflammation
• wounds or soft tissue injuries
• sacroiliac discomfort
• chronic areas of inflammation

It is frequently incorporated into rehabilitation programs and may be used alongside other treatments such as acupuncture, spinal manipulation, and therapeutic exercise.

Why Laser Therapy Is Useful for Performance Horses

Performance horses experience repeated strain on muscles, tendons, and joints. Even small areas of inflammation can alter movement patterns and lead to compensation in other parts of the body.

Laser therapy can help support recovery by:

• reducing inflammation in stressed tissues
• improving muscle relaxation and mobility
• accelerating healing following injury
• helping maintain comfort during training

When used as part of a comprehensive evaluation of the horse’s movement and biomechanics, laser therapy can help restore more normal function and support long-term soundness.

Integrating Laser Therapy with Whole-Horse Evaluation

While laser therapy can be very helpful for reducing inflammation and stimulating healing, it is most effective when combined with a careful assessment of the horse’s movement and underlying biomechanical factors.

In many horses, areas of inflammation develop because of deeper issues such as muscle imbalance, saddle fit problems, or compensation from other sources of pain. Addressing these contributing factors helps create lasting improvement rather than temporary relief.

The Science Behind Photobiomodulation

Photobiomodulation has been studied extensively in both human and veterinary medicine. Research has demonstrated that therapeutic laser wavelengths can influence mitochondrial activity, inflammatory pathways, and tissue repair processes.

Some commonly cited research includes:

Chung H et al. 2012.
The nuts and bolts of low-level laser therapy.

Hamblin MR. 2017.
Mechanisms and applications of photobiomodulation.

These studies help explain why laser therapy has become an increasingly valuable tool in sports medicine and rehabilitation.

Supporting Comfort and Recovery

For many horses, Class IV laser therapy can be a useful tool for reducing pain, supporting healing, and helping maintain comfort during training and competition. When used thoughtfully as part of an integrative approach to equine care, it can play an important role in helping horses recover from injury and perform at their best.

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Veterinary Spinal Manipulation (Chiropractic) for Horses: Restoring Motion and Performance

Horses are incredible athletes, relying on precise coordination between the spine, muscles, and nervous system to move efficiently. When joints within the spine lose their normal mobility, horses often develop subtle compensation patterns that can eventually affect comfort, performance, and soundness.

Veterinary spinal manipulation—often referred to as chiropractic care—is a technique used by trained veterinarians to restore normal motion to restricted joints in the spine and pelvis. By improving joint mobility and neuromuscular communication, this therapy can help horses move more comfortably and efficiently.

What Is Veterinary Spinal Manipulation?

In veterinary medicine, chiropractic care is more accurately called veterinary spinal manipulation or veterinary medical manipulation (VMM). The treatment involves applying a precise, controlled force to joints that are not moving normally.

These restrictions are sometimes referred to as joint dysfunction or hypomobility, meaning the joint has lost some of its normal motion.

When a joint becomes restricted, several things can happen:

• local muscle tension develops
• pain receptors in the joint capsule become activated
• proprioception (the body’s sense of position and movement) becomes altered
• surrounding tissues compensate to protect the area

Over time, these compensations can contribute to abnormal movement patterns and increased strain on other structures.

The Role of the Nervous System

One of the most important effects of spinal manipulation occurs through the nervous system.

The spine houses the spinal cord and provides pathways for the nerves that control muscles, coordination, and movement. Small joints along the spine contain a high density of proprioceptive receptors, which send information to the brain about body position and movement.

When joint motion becomes restricted, these receptors can send altered signals to the nervous system. Spinal manipulation helps restore normal joint motion and improve the quality of this sensory feedback.

Research in both human and veterinary medicine suggests that spinal manipulation may help:

• improve joint mobility
• reduce muscle hypertonicity
• enhance proprioceptive signaling
• reduce pain perception

These effects can lead to improved movement coordination and greater comfort.

How Joint Restrictions Develop in Horses

Joint restrictions can develop for many reasons, including:

• athletic strain or repetitive work
• slipping or minor injuries
• compensation from other areas of pain
• saddle or tack issues
• asymmetrical training patterns
• conformational stresses

Because horses are extremely stoic animals, these issues may initially appear as subtle changes in performance rather than obvious lameness.

Common signs of spinal dysfunction include:

• difficulty picking up a lead
• resistance to bending or collection
• stiffness through the back
• uneven muscling
• reluctance to engage the hind end
• behavioral changes under saddle

What to Expect During Treatment

A chiropractic evaluation begins with a careful assessment of movement, posture, and spinal mobility. Areas of restriction are identified through palpation and motion testing.

Treatment involves a quick, controlled adjustment applied to the affected joint. The goal is to restore normal motion and reduce tension in the surrounding tissues.

Most horses tolerate spinal manipulation very well and often show improved mobility shortly after treatment.

Chiropractic Care as Part of a Whole-Horse Approach

Spinal manipulation is most effective when combined with a comprehensive evaluation of the horse’s movement and biomechanics.

Many performance problems involve multiple contributing factors such as:

• muscle imbalance
• saddle fit issues
• compensation from previous injuries
• training or conditioning patterns

Addressing these factors alongside chiropractic treatment helps support long-term improvement and reduces the likelihood of recurring problems.

Supporting Long-Term Soundness

For many horses, chiropractic care can play an important role in maintaining comfort and performance throughout their athletic careers. By restoring normal joint motion and improving neuromuscular communication, spinal manipulation can help horses move more freely and efficiently.

When integrated with careful movement evaluation, rehabilitation exercises, and appropriate training management, this therapy can support improved function and long-term soundness.

Suggested References

Haussler KK.
Chiropractic evaluation and management of musculoskeletal disorders in horses.

Haussler KK, Bertram JE.
Gait analysis and spinal motion in horses.

Pickar JG.
Neurophysiological effects of spinal manipulation.

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Acupuncture for Horses: How It Works and Why It Helps

Acupuncture has been used in veterinary medicine for decades to help manage pain, improve movement, and support healing in horses. While the practice originated in traditional Chinese medicine, modern research has helped explain many of the physiological mechanisms behind acupuncture and why it can be effective for musculoskeletal problems and performance issues.

In horses, acupuncture is commonly used to treat back and neck pain, muscle soreness, lameness, sacroiliac discomfort, and nerve-related conditions. It is also frequently incorporated into rehabilitation programs to help restore normal movement and support long-term soundness.

How Acupuncture Works

From a modern medical perspective, acupuncture works through several well-studied mechanisms involving the nervous system, connective tissues, and local circulation.

When a fine needle is placed at specific points in the body, it stimulates sensory nerve fibers in the skin and muscle. This stimulation triggers a cascade of responses including:

• release of endogenous opioids (natural pain-relieving chemicals such as endorphins)
• modulation of pain signals within the spinal cord and brain
• improved local blood flow
• reduction of inflammation
• changes in muscle tone and neuromuscular function

Studies in both human and veterinary medicine have shown acupuncture can influence neurotransmitters such as serotonin and endorphins, which help regulate pain perception and muscle activity.

Research references include:

Han JS. Acupuncture and endorphins. Neuroscience Letters.
Lundeberg T. The physiological basis of acupuncture.

These mechanisms help explain why acupuncture can be useful for conditions involving chronic pain, muscle tension, and nerve irritation.

The Fascial Connection

One particularly interesting perspective on acupuncture comes from the relationship between acupuncture points and the body’s fascial network.

Fascia is the connective tissue system that surrounds and connects muscles, bones, nerves, and organs throughout the body. It forms a continuous three-dimensional network that helps distribute tension and coordinate movement.

Research has shown that many traditional acupuncture points occur at areas where connective tissue planes intersect or where fascia changes direction. When acupuncture needles are inserted and gently stimulated, they can create measurable mechanical effects within this fascial network.

The book The Spark in the Machine by Dr. Daniel Keown explores this concept in depth. Keown proposes that acupuncture points correspond to important junctions within the body’s connective tissue and nerve pathways that develop during embryologic growth.

During early embryologic development, the body forms along segmental patterns related to the nervous system and connective tissue layers. These developmental pathways closely resemble traditional acupuncture meridians. In this way, acupuncture may interact with anatomical structures that reflect how the body originally formed and organized itself.

This emerging understanding helps bridge traditional acupuncture theory with modern anatomy and developmental biology.

Why Acupuncture Helps Horses

Horses are remarkable athletes, but they are also extremely stoic. Subtle sources of pain or muscle dysfunction may go unnoticed until they begin to affect performance or develop into more obvious lameness problems.

Acupuncture can help by:

• reducing musculoskeletal pain
• improving muscle relaxation and mobility
• restoring normal neuromuscular function
• supporting healing after injury
• improving comfort in horses with chronic pain

It is often used alongside other therapies such as spinal manipulation, rehabilitation exercises, or laser therapy to support recovery and improve long-term soundness.

A Whole-Horse Approach

Acupuncture works best when it is part of a comprehensive evaluation of the horse’s movement and biomechanics. In many cases, performance problems are multifactorial and may involve body pain, compensation patterns, saddle fit, or training demands.

By combining careful movement assessment with integrative therapies like acupuncture, we can often identify subtle sources of dysfunction and help horses move more comfortably and efficiently.

Final Thoughts

Modern research continues to improve our understanding of how acupuncture works within the nervous system and connective tissue network of the body. For many horses, it can be a valuable tool for reducing pain, improving mobility, and supporting long-term performance and soundness.

When used thoughtfully as part of a comprehensive evaluation and treatment plan, acupuncture can help restore balance and function so horses can perform comfortably and confidently.

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