Response to Acupuncture Treatment in Horses with Chronic Laminitis

Overview

Journal Can Vet J

Specialty Veterinary Medicine

Date 2017 Aug 2

PMID 28761187

Citations 3

Authors

Babak Faramarzi

Dongbin Lee

Kevin May

Fanglong Dong

Affiliations

Soon will be listed here.

Abstract

There is a need for evidence-based scientific research to address the question of the effectiveness of acupuncture in improving clinical signs of laminitis in horses. The objective of this study was to compare lameness levels before and after 2 acupuncture treatments in horses with chronic laminitis. Twelve adult horses with chronic laminitis received 2 acupuncture treatments 1 week apart. The points were treated using dry needling, hemo-acupuncture, and aqua-acupuncture. Lameness level was objectively evaluated using an inertial sensor-based lameness evaluation system (Lameness Locator), as well as routine examinations following American Association of Equine Practitioners scoring before the first and 1 week after the second acupuncture treatment. Data were analyzed using Wilcoxon signed-rank test and -values < 0.05 were considered statistically significant. Both the Lameness Locator ( = 0.0269) and routine lameness examination ( = 0.0039) showed a significant reduction in lameness severity. Our results support using acupuncture, along with other treatment options, in treating chronic equine laminitis.

Citing Articles

Effectiveness of acupuncture for equine laminitis: Systematic review and meta-analysis.

Fikri F, Purnomo A, Maslamama S, Purnama M Vet World. 2025; 18(1):60-66.

PMID: 40041523 PMC: 11873381. DOI: 10.14202/vetworld.2025.60-66.

Short Communication: changes in gait after 12 wk of shoeing in previously barefoot horses.

Panos K, Morgan K, Gately R, Wilkinson J, Uden A, Reed S J Anim Sci. 2022; 101.

PMID: 36383438 PMC: 9838798. DOI: 10.1093/jas/skac374.

Acupuncture and Traditional Chinese Veterinary Medicine in Zoological and Exotic Animal Medicine: A Review and Introduction of Methods.

Harrison T, Churgin S Vet Sci. 2022; 9(2).

PMID: 35202327 PMC: 8877432. DOI: 10.3390/vetsci9020074.

Obesity Animal Models for Acupuncture and Related Therapy Research Studies.

Zhang X, Val-Laillet D Evid Based Complement Alternat Med. 2021; 2021:6663397.

PMID: 34630614 PMC: 8497105. DOI: 10.1155/2021/6663397.

References

Hinckley K, Fearn S, Howard B, Henderson I . Nitric oxide donors as treatment for grass induced acute laminitis in ponies. Equine Vet J. 1996; 28(1):17-28. DOI: 10.1111/j.2042-3306.1996.tb01586.x. View

Vincent C, Richardson P . The evaluation of therapeutic acupuncture: concepts and methods. Pain. 1986; 24(1):1-13. DOI: 10.1016/0304-3959(86)90022-9. View

Han J . Acupuncture and endorphins. Neurosci Lett. 2004; 361(1-3):258-61. DOI: 10.1016/j.neulet.2003.12.019. View

Hunt R . A retrospective evaluation of laminitis in horses. Equine Vet J. 1993; 25(1):61-4. DOI: 10.1111/j.2042-3306.1993.tb02903.x. View

Cayir Y, Ozdemir G, Celik M, Aksoy H, Akturk Z, Laloglu E . Acupuncture decreases matrix metalloproteinase-2 activity in patients with migraine. Acupunct Med. 2014; 32(5):376-80. DOI: 10.1136/acupmed-2014-010612. View

Heymering H . 80 causes, predispositions, and pathways of laminitis. Vet Clin North Am Equine Pract. 2010; 26(1):13-9. DOI: 10.1016/j.cveq.2009.12.003. View

Pomeranz B . Scientific research into acupuncture for the relief of pain. J Altern Complement Med. 1996; 2(1):53-60; discussion 73-5. DOI: 10.1089/acm.1996.2.53. View

Loftus J, Johnson P, Belknap J, Pettigrew A, Black S . Leukocyte-derived and endogenous matrix metalloproteinases in the lamellae of horses with naturally acquired and experimentally induced laminitis. Vet Immunol Immunopathol. 2008; 129(3-4):221-30. DOI: 10.1016/j.vetimm.2008.11.003. View

Robinson K, Manning S . Efficacy of a single-formula acupuncture treatment for horses with palmar heel pain. Can Vet J. 2015; 56(12):1257-60. PMC: 4668809. View

10.

Zhang Y, Li A, Xin J, Lao L, Ren K, Berman B . Involvement of spinal serotonin receptors in electroacupuncture anti-hyperalgesia in an inflammatory pain rat model. Neurochem Res. 2011; 36(10):1785-92. PMC: 3581079. DOI: 10.1007/s11064-011-0495-1. View

11.

Keegan K, Wilson D, Kramer J, Reed S, Yonezawa Y, Maki H . Comparison of a body-mounted inertial sensor system-based method with subjective evaluation for detection of lameness in horses. Am J Vet Res. 2012; 74(1):17-24. DOI: 10.2460/ajvr.74.1.17. View

12.

Choi D, Lee J, Moon Y, Kim S, Oh T, Yune T . Acupuncture-mediated inhibition of inflammation facilitates significant functional recovery after spinal cord injury. Neurobiol Dis. 2010; 39(3):272-82. DOI: 10.1016/j.nbd.2010.04.003. View

13.

Budak M, Orsini J, Pollitt C, Rubinstein N . Gene expression in the lamellar dermis-epidermis during the developmental phase of carbohydrate overload-induced laminitis in the horse. Vet Immunol Immunopathol. 2009; 131(1-2):86-96. DOI: 10.1016/j.vetimm.2009.03.019. View

14.

Uchida S, Hotta H . Acupuncture affects regional blood flow in various organs. Evid Based Complement Alternat Med. 2008; 5(2):145-51. PMC: 2396473. DOI: 10.1093/ecam/nem051. View

15.

McCracken M, Kramer J, Keegan K, Lopes M, Wilson D, Reed S . Comparison of an inertial sensor system of lameness quantification with subjective lameness evaluation. Equine Vet J. 2012; 44(6):652-6. DOI: 10.1111/j.2042-3306.2012.00571.x. View

16.

Keegan K, Kramer J, Yonezawa Y, Maki H, Pai P, Dent E . Assessment of repeatability of a wireless, inertial sensor-based lameness evaluation system for horses. Am J Vet Res. 2011; 72(9):1156-63. DOI: 10.2460/ajvr.72.9.1156. View

17.

Eades S . Overview of current laminitis research. Vet Clin North Am Equine Pract. 2010; 26(1):51-63. DOI: 10.1016/j.cveq.2010.01.001. View

18.

Coyne M, Cousin H, Loftus J, Johnson P, Belknap J, Gradil C . Cloning and expression of ADAM-related metalloproteases in equine laminitis. Vet Immunol Immunopathol. 2009; 129(3-4):231-41. PMC: 2907504. DOI: 10.1016/j.vetimm.2008.11.022. View

19.

Yang J, Yang Y, Chen J, Liu W, Wang C, Lin B . Effect of oxytocin on acupuncture analgesia in the rat. Neuropeptides. 2007; 41(5):285-92. DOI: 10.1016/j.npep.2007.05.004. View

20.

Tsuchiya M, Sato E, Inoue M, Asada A . Acupuncture enhances generation of nitric oxide and increases local circulation. Anesth Analg. 2007; 104(2):301-7. DOI: 10.1213/01.ane.0000230622.16367.fb. View