Vokietytė-Vilėniškė, Giedrė

Intensive training and demanding competition schedules often lead to stress, weight loss and musculoskeletal problems in athletic horses, negatively affecting performance and welfare. Physiotherapy has gained increasing attention as a valuable tool to enhance recovery and optimize athletic performance in equine sports. Capacitive-Resistive Monopolar Radiofrequency (CRMRF) is a physiotherapy modality that generates an electromagnetic field to induce deep tissue heating, enhance local circulation and stimulate tissue repair. While this modality has been extensively studied in human athletes showing benefits in pain reduction, mobility improvement and faster recovery, scientific data on its application in equine pain management remain limited. The aim of this study was to evaluate the effect of CRMRF on back pain sensitivity and changes in the mechanical nociceptive threshold (MNT) in athletic horses. In this randomized controlled pilot study, MNT was measured in jumping horses (n = 10) following a standardized physical activity protocol and subsequent CRMRF therapy in trial group. Pressure algometry was used to evaluate MNT before physical activity, immediately after in both groups and following CRMRF treatment. A statistically significant decrease in MNT was observed after physical activity (p = 0.05) in both trial (n = 5) and control (n = 5) groups. Further significant changes were recorded after CRMRF application (p = 0.027) in the trial group. These findings support the hypothesis that CRMRF may help lower pain and improve the musculoskeletal condition of the back in equine athletes. This highlights its potential role as a valuable tool in equine rehabilitation and performance optimization.

We hypothesized that osteopathic manipulation therapy (OMT) can regulate the activity of the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) and hypothalamic-pituitary-gonadal (HPG) axes, resulting in positive physiological and hormonal changes. This study investigated the effects of OMT on cortisol and testosterone concentrations in horses. Experimental longitudinal, randomized, controlled study. Healthy stallions from the same stable selected on the basis of their age, breed, weight, health, training level, and daily routines were divided into an OMT group (n = 19) and a control group receiving no therapy (n = 19). Horses in the OMT group underwent OMT, while those in the control group underwent regular handling, and horses in both groups underwent measurement of blood serum cortisol and testosterone concentrations and the testosterone/cortisol (T/C) ratio at three time points (before, after, and 1 h after the intervention) at 2-week intervals (0, 14, 28 days). The OMT group showed significant changes on day 14, with a 31.24% decrease in cortisol concentration, a 27.34% increase in testosterone concentration, and a 1.97% increase in the T/C ratio from the baseline levels (P < 0.001). The results of this study provide insights into the potential of OMT as a non-pharmacological method for modulating endocrine function and improving overall health, stress, and pain management.

Disertacija „Fiziologinis osteopatinės manualinės terapijos poveikis žirgų nocicepcijai, kraujo rodikliams ir streso hormonų pokyčiams“ siekia įvertinti šios terapijos efektyvumą gyvūnų sveikatos gerinimo kontekste. Tyrime analizuojami žirgų skausmo suvokimo (nocicepcijos), kraujo rodiklių (pvz., hemoglobino, leukocitų skaičiaus) ir streso hormonų (kortizolio, testosterono) pokyčiai prieš ir po osteopatinės manualinės terapijos taikymo. Pasirinkti rodikliai atspindi bendrą sveikatos būklę ir stresinių reakcijų intensyvumą, todėl jų analizė leidžia nustatyti terapijos poveikio mastą. Tyrimas remiasi eksperimentiniu atsitiktinių imčių metodu, kuriame dalyvavo anglų grynakraujai jojamieji žirgai. Rezultatai atskleidžia, kad osteopatinė manualinė terapija gali reikšmingai sumažinti skausmo suvokimą, keisti kraujo rodiklius, sumažinti streso hormonų lygį bei padidinti anabolinį indeksą - testosterono / kortizolio santykį. Šios išvados rodo, kad osteopatinė manualinė terapija gali būti efektyvi priemonė ne tik gydant, bet ir prevencijai naudojant žirgų sveikatos problemas. Disertacijoje pateikiama išsami metodologinė analizė ir duomenų interpretacija, kuri suteikia naujų įžvalgų apie osteopatinės manualinės terapijos fiziologinį poveikį žirgams. Ši tyrimo sritis yra svarbi veterinarijos mokslui, nes gali prisidėti prie efektyvesnių gydymo metodų kūrimo bei gyvūnų gerovės užtikrinimo.

Manual therapies, physiotherapy, and modalities are often used as a treatment and prophylactic method for preventing various injuries, as well as a rehabilitation tool in the post-operative, traumatic period for horses. Significant results have been achieved with these therapies: increased joint range of motion, tissue extensibility, and reduced pain and inflammation. This study evaluated the effect of osteopathic manual therapy (OMT) on the nervous and immune systems, as well as on the hypothalamus-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis. To assess changes in these systems, non-invasive biomarkers were chosen: the heart rate (HR), respiratory rate (RR), temperature (T), as well as objective measurements: blood serum cortisol (BSC) concentration and white blood cell (WBC) count. A total of 30 thoroughbred horses were randomly divided into an experimental group (n = 15) and a control group (n = 15). Blood samples and physiological indicator measurements such as HR, RR, T, BSC and WBC were taken before (p0), after (p1) and one hour after (p2) the OMT treatment for the experimental group. Analogical sequence was performed for the control group without OMT. A significant increase of BSC by 0.94 µg/dl after OMT suggest a direct influence on the HPA axis. Also, a substantial decrease of WBC by 0.57 × 109/l indicates the immune system’s response to the treatment. Moreover, an observed significant decrease in HR and RR shows that the autonomic nervous system was affected by activating the parasympathetic nervous system. Based on the results obtained, it is concluded that OMT has an effect on the HPA axis and on the nervous and immune systems.

A horse needs to move in different gaits and carry a rider during riding. Therefore, the equine back must be in a good functional state. Preventing back disorders is one of the keys to ensuring a horse’s health. This study aimed to assess cranial osteopathy therapy as a treatment and prevention method for preventing and reducing back pain. Thirty-two thoroughbred horses were categorised by their backs’ functional status (16 without back pain and 16 with back pain). The mechanical nociceptive threshold was determined before and after osteopathic treatment by an algometer (pain test FPX 100) with pressure points between T14-T15, T18-L1, and L5-L6. The data were analysed with a significance of P < 0.05. The study found that cranial osteopathic therapy raised the mechanical nociceptive threshold average in 83.3% measured points for horses without back pain and in 50% measured points for those with back pain. This study revealed that both horses without back pain and horses with back pain had a positive response to cranial osteopathic therapy, as evidenced by the increased nociceptive threshold limits, indicating that osteopathic therapy can be used as a primary or additional treatment method for back dysfunction.

Osteopatinė medicina yra grįsta prielaida, jog pagrindinis terapeuto uždavinys yra palengvinti ir paskatinti pačio organizmo gebėjimą gydyti save, suaktyvinant fiziologinius procesus. (3) Mechaniškai prisiliečiant, aktyvinama kraujotakos ir limfinė sistemos, skatinamas sinovinių skysčių aktyvesnis tekėjimas. (2) Tikslas – įvertinti osteopatinės manualinės terapijos (OMT) įtaką žirgų fiziologiniams parametrams, kraujo kortizolio (KK) ir baltųjų kraujo kūnelių kiekiui kraujyje(BKK). Iš viso tirta 30 žirgų, 15 tiriamoji grupė (TG), 15 – kontrolinė grupė (KG). Širdies susitraukimo dažnis (ŠSD), kvėpavimo dažnis(KD), temperatūra (T), KK ir BKK buvo tiriami prieš terapiją (P0), iš karto po jos (P1) ir valanda po (P2). ŠD ir KD buvo traktuojami kaip simpatinės nervų sistemos biožymenys. (3) Kraujo kortizolio kiekis ir baltųjų kraujo kūnelių kiekis – kaip imuninės sistemos ir pagumburio-hipofizės-antinkščių veiklos biožymenys. (3) Iš viso po procedūrų TG T vidurkis padidėjo 0,17 laipsniais, o po valandos padidėjo 0,07 laipsniais. Galime teigti, jog poveikis buvo reikšmingas iš karto po OMT. TG BKK vidurkis sumažėjo 0,57 x 109/l, o po valandos sumažėjo – 0,12 x 109/l. Galime teigti, jog poveikis buvo reikšmingas iš karto po OMT. TG KK vidurkis po procedūrų padidėjo 0,94 μg/dL, o po valandos padidėjo – 0,39 μg/dL. Galime teigti, jog poveikis buvo reikšmingas iš karto po OMT. Taikant koreliacinę analizę nustatyta , kad kuo WBC kiekis yra didesnis, tuo mažesnė temperatūra (p = 0,004). Taip pat nustatytas statistiškai reikšmingas vidutinio stiprumo teigiamas ryšys tarp kvėpavimo dažnio ir širdies darbo (p = 0,005). KK padidėjimas reiškia, jog atliekant OMT procedūrą suaktyvinama pagumburio- hipofizės-antinkščių veikla. Taip pat BKK sumažejimas kraujyje parodo, jog taikant manualinę terapiją aktyvinama imuninė sistema. Taip pat, remiantis koreliacija, galime teigti,

Žirgo nugara – viena svarbiausių struktūrų palaikanti raitelio svorį bei žirgo balansą. Nugaros skausmo nustatymas yra labai subjektyvus, paremtas digitaline palpacija. Algometrija – vienas objektyviausių skausmo identifikavimo metodų, matuojama kg/ cm². Žirgų nugaros funkcionalumui palaikyti naudojama manualinė terapija, efektyviai didinanti nocicepcinį slenkstį net 12 proc. [2]. PEMF terapinių prietaisų efektyvumas yra plačiai ištirtas žmonėms, tačiau ar taip pat efektyviai veikia ir žirgų nugaros funkcionalumą? Tikslas – ištirti PEMF įtaką žirgų nugaros skausmo slenksčiui. Tyrime dalyvavo 20 kliniškai sveikų, suaugusių, neturinčių nugaros patologijų žirgų (eksperimentinė grupė n = 10, kontrolinė grupė n = 10) žirgų. Algometriniai matavimai buvo atlikti abiejose kūno pusėse, nuo kranialinės link kaudalinės kūno pusės, iš kairės į dešinę. Matavimų lokacijos buvo adaptuotos pagal Haussler and Erb and Varcoe-Cocks et al metodiką, prieš ir po 15 min. PEMF terapinės programos (kontrolinei grupei terapinė gūnia nebuvo įjungta). Požymis, kad nocicepcinis slenkstis pasiektas, buvo laikomas aiškus elgesio pasikeitimas. Siekiant padidinti tyrimo patikimumą, viename taške buvo atlikti trys matavimai, jų vidurkis naudotas statistinėje analizėje [2], atliktoje naudojantis Microsoft Excel 2016 paketu, naudojant porų t-testą, p ≤ 0,05. MNT vertės statistiškai reikšmingai po PEMF terapijos padidėjo 10 iš 14 matuotų taškų eksperimentinėje grupėje, vidutiniškai 1,55–2,53 kg/cm². Statistiškai reikšmingas pokytis po terapijos nebuvo nustatytas kontrolinėje grupėje p < 0,05. Remiantis tyrimo rezultatais, PEMF terapija efektyviai didina sportinių žirgų nugaros funkcionalumą. Nocicepcinio slenksčio vertės padidėjo 13.7–22.7 proc. net sveikiems žirgams. Reikalingi tolimesni tyrimai, siekiant įvertinti ilgalaikį efektą žirgams su nugaros skausmu.

Introduction The spine is a complicated arrangement of structures, forming a bridge between the fore and hindlimbs [1]. Strong forces applied to equine back creates excessive tension for back muscles and that‘s one of the most common reasons for poor performance and further pathological changes at the back. The clinical assessment of equine back pain is very subjective, mostly based on palpation. Pressure algometry has been shown to be an objective method to quantify pain on pressure over specific landmarks until avoidance response is noted, it is called the mechanical nociceptive threshold (MNT) expressed in kg/cm² [3]. The better back functionality is, the bigger is MNT. Numerous types of physiotherapy are available to maintain a healthy horse's back. Further investigations shown, that manual massage therapy increases MNT by 12% [2]. Does vibrating massage therapy pad also affects MNT changes? Aim The aim of this investigation was to evaluate vibrating massage pad therapy effectiveness in increasing back functionality of sport horses back based on MNT changes. Methods 20 clinically healthy adult horses (experimental group n=10, control group n=10), without current history of back pain aged averagely 7 y/o, various breeds, both male and female, in stable X were included in this study. Measurements were carried out at both sides using a Pain Test FDX 100 Algometer (Wagner Instruments s Inc., Greenwich, CT, USA) with rubber tip, starting from cranial to caudal and left to right side. The specific measure landmarks have been adopted from Haussler and Erb and Varcoe-Cocks et al. at saddle application site, between T7-L1 before A(0) and after A(1) 30 min. of high intensity vibrating massage pad therapy program (for the control group massage pad wasn’t turned on).As a positive reaction indicator of reaching MNT by pressure algometry was considered obvious behaviour change such as ears pinning back, stepping [...].

Introduction Osteopathic manual therapy (OMTh) is getting more common in Equine veterinary medicine. It is known that these physical manipulations affect joints, soft tissues, bones and muscles, that may be affected by trauma or inflammation (1,2).It is known that heavy pain may elevate the heart rhythm, activate respiratory rate or increase serum cortisol level (3,5). With this type of therapy major results were achieved such as increased range of motion and tissue extensibility, reduced pain and inflammation (4). In addition after OMTh horses were found to be more relaxed (1). This research could influence the future treatment choice for horses that require rehabilitation after trauma as OMTh is a non-invasive procedure which doesn’t involve any harsh medication or surgical interventions. Aim To evaluate the impact of OMTh of equine on changes in physiological factors such as heart rate (HR) and respiratory rate (RR) and blood serum cortisol level (BSCL). Methods In this study 30 sport horses were evaluated of which 15 were experimental group (OG) – treated by OMTh and 15 were control group(CG). Treatment was performed by the same equine osteopath. HR, RR evaluation and BSCL measurements were taken before (P0), immediately after (P1) and an hour after (P2) OMTh in OG and at the same time in CG. Results The average HR of OG was P0=39,33b/min, P1=35,07b/min, P2=35,33b/min. Average of the HR after procedure decreased 4,27b/min and an hour later 4b/min. The average HR of CG was P0=42b/min, P1=38,67b/min, P2=36,8 b/min. Average of the HR after procedure decreased 3,33b/min, and an hour later 5,2 b/min. The average RR of OG P0=14,13t/min, P1=12t/min, P2=13,73t/min. Average of the RR immediately after procedure decreased 2,13t/min, after an hour 0,4t/min. The average RR of CG P0=13,33t/min, P1=11,47t/min, P2=11,87 t/min. RR decreased 1,87t/min immediately after therapy and 1,47t/min an hour later. OG average BS[...].

Nowadays, osteopathic manual therapy (OMT) is chosen as the primary method for treating musculoskeletal conditions in equine. It is known that these physical manipulations are used with joints, soft tissues, bones and muscles [3]. With this type of therapy, major results were achieved such as an increased range of motion ant tissue extensibility, reduced pain and inflammation [2]. Also, after OMT, horses were found to be more relaxed. [4] This research could influence the future treatment choice for horses that require rehabilitation, as OMT is a non-invasive procedure that does not involve any harsh medication or surgical interventions. Thus, the aim of this research study was to evaluate the impact of OMT of equine regarding changes in physiological factors such as the heart rate (HR), respiratory rate (RR), temperature (T) and count of white blood cells (WBC). The HR, RR and T were chosen as biomarkers to establish whether OMT would affect the sympathetic nervous system, the WBC level was also evaluated as an immune system biomarker [5, 6]. 30 sport horses were evaluated of which 15 were the experimental group (OG) treated by OMT; 15 horses were the control group (CG).Treatment was performed by the same equine osteopath. Measurements were taken before (PO), immediately after (P1) and an hour after (P2) OMT in OG and at the same time in CG. The average (avg.) HR of OG P0=30.33b/min, P1=35.07b/min, P2=35. 3b/min. Avg. of the HR after procedure decreased 4.27b/min. The avg. HR of CG P0=42b/min, P1=38.67b/min, P2=36.8b/min. Avg. of the HR after procedure decreased 3.33b/min. The avg. RR of OG P0=14.13t/min, P1=12t/min, P2=13.73t/min. Avg. of the RR after procedure decreased 2.3 t/min. Avg. RR of CG P0=13.33t/min, P1=11.47t/min, P2 = 11.87t/min. RR decreased 1.87 t/min after therapy. Avg. T of OG P0=37. 51°C, P1=37. 68°C, P2=37. 58°C.After the therapy, T increased 0.17°C. T in CG was P0=37. 52°C, P1=37. ...[...].