At Woodside Equine Clinic, so many of our patients are not only beloved companions, but also valued athletes. Equine sports medicine is an important part of proper horse care for many of our clients, and our team is here for it. 

What is Equine Sports Medicine?

Equine sports medicine is a branch of veterinary medicine that centers on keeping horses in peak athletic condition. It focuses on the diagnoses, treatment, and prevention of injuries and helps horses to perform at their best. It is also valuable to helping them heal after injury or other setbacks. 

Equine sports medicine is a blend of routine veterinary care, rehabilitation, and sports science that helps to keep horses healthy and strong.

Equine sports medicine was first fully recognized as an entity in 2018, but has already made a big impact. It can help patients with a variety of issues, including:

• Lameness
• Spinal injuries
• Airway problems
• Neurological deficits
• Cardiovascular disease
• Behavioral changes

Sports Medicine as Part of Horse Care

Just like human athletes who benefit from physical therapy, horses also need specialized care to recover and perform at their best. This is the center of equine sports medicine. 

Rehabilitation for horses is similar to physical therapy for people, helping to restore function, improve strength, and prevent further injury. However, rehabilitation approaches that work for humans aren’t always effective for horses. The science behind equine healing and how different injuries respond to treatment is still being studied in this fairly new field. 

A team of specialists that include our expert veterinarians, farriers, nutritionists, and horse owners can work together to arrive at a diagnosis and treatment plan for our patients. Each horse’s needs are unique. 

Efforts at diagnosis can include things like:

• Ambulatory assessment and physical exam
• Dynamic evaluation
• Performance review
• Endoscopy
• Advanced imaging like CT and ultrasonography

Historically, equine rehabilitation involved long periods of stall rest, but research has shown that too much immobilization can have negative effects including muscle atrophy, joint stiffness, and cartilage degeneration. This can impede recovery. Controlled exercise programs are now often an essential part of rehabilitation. This, paired with treatment modalities like shockwave, chiropractic care, joint injections, and acupuncture can make a huge difference.

Sports medicine and rehabilitation isn’t just for sport horses, either. It’s beneficial for all of our equine patients, especially as they age. Rehabilitation programs can be adapted to horses of any age or activity level. Early diagnosis of problems and preventative care can lead to more successful treatments, keeping horses in good shape throughout their lives.

Equine sports medicine and rehabilitation are essential for improving the health, performance, and quality of life for athletic horses. Working with trained horse veterinarians ensures the best outcomes, allowing horses to recover and perform at their peak.