Abstract
ObjectivesTo investigate whether acupuncture can alter gait in horses as assessed by objective and subjective parameters. Study designProspective, randomized, singleblinded, crossover study. AnimalsEight adult horses. MethodsHorses 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. ResultsTreatment 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 relevanceAcupuncture can change horses' gaits to a degree appreciable by objective and subjective analyses.
Highlights
Acupuncture, which is part of traditional Chinese medicine, is increasingly incorporated into human and veterinary medicine
Acupuncture treatment was well tolerated by all horses except that in one horse the insertion of the needle at one specific point resulted in violent shaking and foot stamping
To the authors' knowledge, this is the first prospective, single-blinded, crossover study to evaluate the effects of acupuncture treatment on movement parameters in horses
Summary
Acupuncture, which is part of traditional Chinese medicine, is increasingly incorporated into human and veterinary medicine. Acupuncture has been increasingly incorporated into equine medicine, but controlled clinical trials investigating its efficacy remain sparse. The lack of controlled studies in which objective assessments are made has led to continued scepticism about whether acupuncture has any effects at all in horses (Ramey 2005). This pilot study tested the hypothesis that acupuncture treatment would result in alterations in gait in horses and that these would be appreciable by objective and subjective gait analyses
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