Which Equine Therapy Is Best – PEMF, Cold Laser, or Massage Therapy?

3 comments Jun 10, 2021

There are many different types of equine therapies, but which is the best for your horse? Here we will outline the benefits of using PEMF, Cold Laser Therapy and Massage Therapy on horses.

PEMF (Pulsed Electromagnetic Field)

PEMF is short for Pulsed Electromagnetic Field therapy. PEMF consists of the device creating an electromagnetic field within tubes that look like hoses and helps the horse recover on a cellular level. Electromagnetic field therapy stimulates the metabolism of the cell, kicking it into life, which rejuvenates the body by oxygenating the red blood cells, and goes towards the areas that are inflamed or injured. Having nutrient-rich blood go to the cells that need it will stimulate quicker recovery. PEMF covers and stimulates a wide area and is typically used more for a whole-body therapy.

What Ailments Can PEMF Help With?

As part of the overall holistic approach to equine therapy, PEMF therapy for horses is beneficial for alleviating numerous cell-related injuries. It has beneficial effects in minimizing tendon and ligament injuries, and also works with soreness of the back, the stifle, the hock, and the shoulders. They also work to alleviate non-union fractures, stone bruises, and stimulate wounds that are not healing as they should.

The Benefits of PEMF Therapy

It has been a trend that has only recently gained traction in the United States; however, it has been used for decades in Europe. PEMF therapy is a very beneficial stimulatory therapy for a variety of reasons:

Owners and trainers can see improvement after one or two PEMF sessions, giving the owner more confidence in the horse’s rehab.
It is beneficial for the entire system, not just the localized problem. Even if you are treating a horse for a very specific injury, such as a tendon problem, the whole system is being treated.
Looking at it from a holistic perspective, other factors that you may have concerns about, such as box rest anxiety, are improved completely by incorporating PEMF therapy.
PEMF is a healthy alternative to drugs or sedatives. As many trainers are looking for natural approaches to treat ailments, PEMF therapy is a safe, drug-free, and non-invasive treatment.

PEMF Products Brandenburg Equine Sells

Sport Innovations – PROSERIES 3 in 1 Equine Therapy Blanket (PEMF + HEAT + MASSGE)

The “ProSeries 3 in 1” horse magnetic therapy, massage and heat blanket can be used to reduce muscle tension and to increase circulation in the horse’s body.

Let the blanket do the work for you! Simply apply the 3 in 1 blanket to your horse, before or after a workout and your horse will reap all of the therapeutic benefits of three therapies while he stands in his stall. Therapeutic massage helps keep your horse limber, fit and ready to perform at his best.

There are a series of programs you can run on this blanket, varying the time and intensity of the pulsed electromagnetic field and massage for different applications.

Learn more about the PROSERIES 3 in 1 Equine Therapy Blanket

Sport Innovations – MAGPRO PLUS 2 in 1 Equine Therapy Blanket (PEMF + HEAT)

The "MAGPRO PLUS" horse PEMF & heat therapy blanket are used to reduce muscle tension and to increase circulation in the horse's body.

Let the blanket do the work for you! Simply apply "MAGPRO PLUS" to your horse's back, before or after a workout and your horse will reap all of the therapeutic benefits of two therapies while he stands in his stall. This therapeutic PEMF heat therapy blanket helps keep your horse limber, fit and ready to perform at his best.

Learn more about the MAGPRO PLUS 2 in 1 Equine Therapy Blanket

Sport Innovations - Pulsating Magnetic (PEMF) Leg Wraps

Sport Innovations wireless design integrates computer and battery directly onto the leg wrap – no wires or whither pack needed. The leg wraps use magnetic therapy (PEMF) to optimize circulation increase. Battery operated, portable, light weight, rechargeable.

They are versatile and can be used on front and hind legs, your horse can move around on the cross ties because of the lightweight system.

The magnetic waves, when in contact with the blood supply, causes the magnetic flux in the blood supply to increase the number of red corpuscles and strengthens arteries. The movement of blood is then accelerated.

The biological system also feels the effects of the magnetic fields by strengthening and improving automatic nerves, building new cells and rejuvenation tissue, and helps with the overall function of the internal organs.

Learn more about the Pulsating Magnetic (PEMF) Leg Wraps

Sport Innovations – Pulsating Magnetic (PEMF) Hock Wraps

Our wireless design integrates computer and battery directly onto the leg wrap – no wires or whither pack needed. The leg wraps use magnetic therapy (PEMF) to optimize circulation increase. Battery operated, portable, light weight, rechargeable.

They are versatile and can be used on front and hind legs, your horse can move around on the cross ties because of the lightweight system.

Learn more about the Pulsating Magnetic (PEMF) Hock Wraps

Cold Laser Therapy

Cold Lasers are better suited for targeting specific areas of the body like injuries and acupressure points. Cold laser therapy, also called LLLT (Low Level Laser Therapy), has been used for decades to stimulate healing and provide pain relief in many animals such as dogs. Cold laser therapy for horses has been the topic of numerous clinical studies over the years and works by directing a non-invasive source of energy, in this case, a low temperature and low laser, to the source of pain, injury, or inflammation.

The LLLT stimulates healing as the laser works to penetrate deep into the cells of horses, known as the mitochondria. When the mitochondria are stimulated, this facilitates greater cell energy and communication between the cells, resulting in greater growth.

What Ailments Are Treated With Cold Lasers?

Cold lasers are a common treatment in horses with a variety of injuries. For example, if a horse experiences pain from trotting, walking, galloping, leaping, or other specialized movements, this can further exacerbate the pain and could be a signpost of arthritis, degeneration of the cartilage, as well as other joint problems or deformities caused by old injuries, age, or neglect.

Cold laser therapy has been used to treat equines with a variety of ailments including back pain, osteoarthritis, muscle pain, repetitive motion stress syndrome, tendon, and ligament injuries, and has also proven beneficial to aid post-operative healing.

The Benefits of Cold Laser Therapy

As you can see, it can be used for a variety of ailments.

Cold Laser Therapy (LLLT) primary benefit is it greatly reduces inflammation and pain. Depending on the injury of the horse in question, the reduction of inflammation will improve the horse's quality of life. Because it promotes quicker tissue repair, this is an ideal choice for horses with open wounds, and also improves arthritic conditions in horses because of its ability to ease pain and inflammation.
It can stimulate the lymphatic system. The lymphatic system is the network of tissues that work together to move lymph into the bloodstream. This can help the horse to remove toxins from its system, greatly simulating recovery and healing.
Cold laser therapy is also a very mobile treatment. Rather than taking a horse for treatment, it is easy to purchase cold laser therapy devices, which will reduce the stress of traveling to another location. What's more, the procedure is quick and painless, and the horses are usually unaware of any treatment being performed.

Cold Laser Therapy Products - Brandenburg Equine

3B Cold Laser Therapy Device (LLLT) Handheld- Class 3B

A quality class 3B Cold Laser LLLT with (5) 808nm laser diodes and (10) 650nm laser diodes for a maximum output of 800mW. Cold Therapy Lasers are 95% effective for pain relieving and anti-inflammation in many cases. This handheld cold laser has MORE 808nm diodes and is stronger than other similar handheld lasers on the market. Includes FREE protective eye-wear.

Each laser has two sets of beams. Ten 650 nanometer laser beams are set around the perimeter of the device head. They reach a depth of 2-3 centimeters in depth and are perfect for reaching acupressure points as well as more surface level issues like skin and hair.

The center of the device head has Five 808 nanometer laser beams, which penetrate much deeper tissue – 4-6 centimeters deep, As such, the lasers can penetrate rotator cuffs, static nerve pain, lower back pain, tissue injuries and inflammation.

Learn more about the Brandenburg handheld 3B Cold Laser

Massage Therapy

Another equine therapy treatment you may consider is massage therapy. Everybody benefits from massage to recover from training and competing and by the same notion, additionally it can help your horse. There are many different types of equine therapy, covering a wide variety of practices equine massage therapy also called movements or manipulations comprises a number of approaches to stimulate a variety of healing components. These can include nerve stroking, compression, tapotement, and petrissage.

massage gun for horses

What Ailments Can Massage Therapy Treat?

Massage therapy for horses can treat a number of physical ailments. If your horse is displaying any signs of discomfort or pain, such as shaking its head, being reluctant to canter on one lead, carrying the tail to one side, and various girthing issues, massage therapy could help.

If your horse is getting older, you may find your horse is experiencing signs of tightness, muscle fatigue, and inflammation. If your horse is experiencing any problems with muscle recovery or a lack of suppleness, massage used in combination with skeletal mobilization can increase the range of motion, resulting in less tension in the poll, and helping the horse move more freely.

Massage can also work with psychological issues. If your horse is experiencing any symptoms of being ill-treated, appears timid, or shies away from aggression, a session of massage therapy can release endorphins and help the horse to relax, making them feel calmer. Because a massage can influence the autonomic nervous system and move from a stressed state in the sympathetic nervous system to the parasympathetic nervous system, this will help the horse go into a more relaxed state. This is commonly known as the “relaxation response.”

What Are the Benefits of Massage Therapy for Horses?

Anybody who has experienced a massage will know just how immediate that sensation of calm is, and equine massage therapy is one practice that serves as a preventative measure.

Massage therapy can help to balance and maintain the musculoskeletal system which can stimulate the body to heal itself naturally. As even the smallest injury in a horse could take up to 90 days to become apparent, regular equine massage therapy is one of the best methods to enhance performance, prevent problems, and provide due care and attention to the horse.
Equine massage therapy is a practice that aids recovery. It reduces fluid and swelling in the soft tissues, and massaging optimizes the conditions so the body can communicate with itself on a cellular level to work together to stimulate healing.
It can also help to pinpoint problem areas. As vets cannot always spend a lot of time diagnosing problems, equine massage can help to identify an issue quickly, not least because the owner or trainer is engaging with the horse closer than usual.

Which Equine Therapy Is Best for Your Horse?

If you are looking for the best therapy for your horse it is important to discuss all options with your Veterinarian. There is no reason why you cannot use all three techniques to make sure your horse is operating at its best. The real question is what ailments do you need to treat?

If your horse is experiencing signs of anxiety or stress arising from an incident, massage may be the best approach because this can stimulate endorphins and relax the horse. However, if your horse has experienced a long-term injury arising from aging, such as osteoarthritis, cold lasers can help stimulate blood flow and increase circulation. PEMF therapy is a great choice for tendon and ligament injuries.

In conclusion, PEMF covers and stimulates a wide area while cold lasers tend to be best for a concentrated problem area. The cold laser is best for targeting specific areas. It's important that, as with any ailment, we are treating the underlying cause, rather than just masking the symptoms. If you want your horse to be healthy and happy, it's important to address all underlying conditions. We recommend you consult with your Veterinarian before you consider any treatment.

Massage Therapy Products - Brandenburg Equine

Brandenburg Equine Percussion Equine Massage Gun

This is an amazing and powerful percussion equine massage gun. The deep muscle fascia massage gun is a portable rechargeable vibration device with large torque and long adjustments. Our cordless percussion equine massage gun is designed to boost the health and well-being of both horse and rider, ensuring excellent recovery and great overall health.

Providing a deep massage, the equine massage gun uses rapid strokes to stimulate blood flow, which helps muscles relax while promoting injury recovery and pain relief. You can choose from six different attachments so that the massage is customized to suit the needs of you and/or your horse.

Learn more about the Brandenburg Equine Percussion Equine Massage Gun

3B Cold Laser Therapy Device (LLLT) & Massage Gun Combo

Get our handheld 3B cold laser therapy device and our percussion massage gun in one super priced package!

Cold Therapy Lasers are 95% effective for pain relieving and anti-inflammation in many cases. This handheld laser has MORE 808nm diodes and is stronger than other similar handheld lasers on the market. Includes FREE protective eye-wear. No complicated manuals or heavy equipment needed for using the cold laser therapy device. This cold laser therapy device is perfect for Veterinarians, Equine Therapists, Techs, & home-use.

This is an amazing and powerful percussion equine massage gun. The deep muscle fascia massage gun is a portable rechargeable vibration device with large torque and long adjustments. Our cordless percussion equine massage gun is designed to boost the health and well-being of both horse and rider, ensuring excellent recovery and great overall health. Providing a deep massage, the equine massage gun uses rapid strokes to stimulate blood flow, which helps muscles relax while promoting injury recovery and pain relief.

Learn more about the 3B Cold Laser Therapy Device (LLLT) & Massage Gun Combo

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