A pilot study of the effects of acupuncture treatment on objective and subjective gait parameters in horses. (January 2017)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Dunkel, Bettina; Pfau, Thilo; Fiske-Jackson, Andrew; Veres-Nyeki, Kata O.; Fairhurst, Harriet; Jackson, Katrina; Chang, Yu-Mei; Bolt, David M.
• Is Part Of: Veterinary anaesthesia and analgesia. Volume 44:Number 1(2017)
• Page Start: 154
• Page End: 162
• Publication Date: 2017-01
• Subjects: acupuncture -- alternative medicine -- equine -- lameness -- musculoskeletal pain; Veterinary anesthesia -- Periodicals; 636.089
• DOI: 10.1111/vaa.12373
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 1467-2987

Abstract

Abstract: Objectives: To investigate whether acupuncture can alter gait in horses as assessed by objective and subjective parameters. Study design: Prospective, randomized, singleblinded, crossover study. Animals: Eight adult horses. Methods: Horses were randomly assigned to a treatment (three acupuncture treatments in 8 days) or control group. Subjective and objective gait analyses were performed before and after each treatment and at 1, 3 and 7 days after the last treatment (time-points 1–9, respectively). Horses were assessed at the trot in a straight line on a hard surface and on the lunge on the left and right reins on a soft surface (conditions 1–3, respectively). After 12 weeks, groups were reversed. Objective gait analysis was performed using inertial sensors and subjective analysis by two board- certified surgeons who reviewed video-recordings. Each limb was assessed for lameness before and after treatment. Lameness and global scores were assigned using 4-point scales. Assessors were blinded to treatment status. The effects of treatment (yes/no), time (1–9) and horse under conditions 1 –3 were compared using a linear mixed-effects model and a generalized estimating equation. Results: Treatment decreased hip hike difference under all conditions [condition 1: control, 6.3 ± 6.4 mm versus treatment, –0.2 ± 6.4 mm (p = 0.007); condition 2: control, 9.7 ± 7.8 mm versus treatment, 2.8 ± 7.8 mm ( p = 0.032); condition 3: control, 7.3 ± 6.3 mm versus treatment, –2.7 ± 6.4 mm ( p = 0.003)]. Other parameters also improved significantly under conditions 1 and 3. Based on subjective gait analysis, treatment decreased lameness [odds ratio (OR) 0.51, 95% confidence interval (CI) 0.34–0.78; p = 0.002] but not global (OR 0.53, 95% CI 0.24–1.10; p = 0.12) scores. Conclusions and clinical relevance: Acupuncture can change horses' gaits to a degree appreciable by objective and subjective analyses.