Advance Therapy To Heal the Equine Athlete
Equine Cold Saltwater Spa
The equine cold saltwater spa is a vital treatment for reducing
inflammation in lower leg injuries and accelerating the body’s
natural healing processes. Spa therapy can help treat injured tendons,
ligaments, shins, hooves, wounds, cuts and bruises. The spa can also
be used on a regular basis as a preventative measure for reducing the
risk of injuries.
When an injury is swollen, it cannot heal properly until swelling is
reduced and controlled. By reducing swelling and encouraging damaged
tissues to begin repairing, spa therapy triggers the start of the healing
process. Once initial swelling is reduced, continued spa treatments can
control any further swelling that may interfere with healing. Regular
use of the spa can greatly reduce everyday stresses and strains that
could develop into more serious injuries.
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Spa treatments are very useful for helping to combat laminitis, one of
the most common equine diseases and a major killer. In the early stages
of laminitis, spa treatments can greatly improve the chances of preventing
a full-blown episode. Stopping the disease in its early stages is vital
because once it takes hold, hooves are often permanently weakened so
that even when horses make a successful recovery, they are much more
likely to suffer further attacks. For chronic cases, spa treatments help
to prevent infection after remedial farriery, encourage healthy hoof
growth and relieve pain. Spa treatments can benefit many other injuries
that are slow to heal and are prone to re-injury, particularly tendons
and ligaments.
The spa is also very useful for treating minor injuries; bruises and
strains that would otherwise slow down training and prevent peak performance.
The equine spa uses modern technology to improve the natural healing
effects of seawater and cold running water. To maximize the benefits
of the treatment, the spa water is regulated at a low temperature of
between 35° and 40° F (2° and 4° C) with a high concentration
of salt to intensify the healing effects. The cold water temperature
reduces swelling, numbs pain and slows down the degeneration of damaged
tissues, encouraging the body’s natural healing processes to operate
more efficiently. The salt concentration also reduces swelling, conditions
the skin tissues and increases water density, which intensifies the effect
of the cold water. The water is pumped with jets of air, which have a
massaging effect that stimulates tissues and relaxes the horse. Aeration
of the water at low temperature also significantly increases the concentration
of oxygen, which enriches the healing process.
The depth of the water can be varied according to the requirements of
the treatment session. The spa is emptied and refilled for each for horse.
There are doors at both ends of the spa unit so horses can be easily
loaded and unloaded without having to back out. A typical spa session
lasts for 10-20 minutes. The spa can accommodate the largest of horses
but by substituting the full door with a half door, the smallest pony
can be treated comfortably.
