Alt ti th for arthritis

I always appreciate EQUUS’s multifaceted perspectives on equine health. However, I am surprised at the lack of mention of the benefits of alternative therapies such as massage and especially laser therapy to treat arthritis as well as other types of injuries (“Manage Your Horse to Live Longer,” EQUUS 461).

Recently I have added laser therapy to my equine massage therapy practice, and the results were amazing--and also relatively easy and very inexpensive. Certainly injections help a horse with arthritis, as does stem cell therapy, but when affordability becomes a factor, laser therapy should be high on the list. Properly administered photobiomodulation can reduce pain and inflammation and speed healing.

Dependence upon nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) can be a slippery slope, and with an older horse demonstrating evidence of decline, or in cases where intestinal ulcers are a problem, they may not be the best choice. Please take into consideration that laser therapy has been thoroughly tested and documented to be of tremendous benefit for soft tissue injury, soreness or strain, as well as for joint, bone and muscle injury or disorder, dental issues, abscesses and infections as well as skin conditions, to name a few. Susan Bartfay, CEMT Blue Ribbon Equine Massage Conway, Massachusetts