Shockwave therapy offers a drug-free, non-invasive dog physiotherapy option. Through acoustic sound waves, shockwave therapy accelerates healing by boosting metabolism and increasing blood flow to an injured area. Shockwave therapy can reduce pain and improve mobility in conditions such as osteoarthritis, tendinopathy, post-surgery recovery, and hip dysplasia.
Osteoarthritis
A study evaluated the effectiveness of shockwave therapy on the hindlimb function of dogs suffering from hip osteoarthritis. Researchers treated eighteen dogs with shockwave therapy compared to a control group of six that didn’t receive treatment. They used a treadmill for force plate analysis the dogs’ hindlimb function. The shockwave therapy group saw significant improvements in vertical force and vertical impulse compared to the control group
Tendinopathy
Many large-breed dogs can develop forelimb lameness due to supraspinatus tendinopathy (ST) and biceps tendinopathy (BT). A study examined the association between shoulder lesion severity and outcome, and to compare the outcomes of dogs treated with shockwave therapy with and without therapeutic exercise. Researchers analyzed medical records of twenty-nine dogs diagnosed with ST and twenty-four dogs diagnosed with either unilateral BT or both BT and ST. Owner assessment eleven to 220 weeks after treatment showed 85 per cent of dogs had good or excellent outcomes. Moreover, outcomes improved as tendon lesion severity increased regardless of whether shockwave therapy was performed with therapeutic exercise.
Post-TPLO Surgery
A tibial plateau leveling osteotomy (TPLO) repairs a cranial cruciate ligament rupture in a dog’s back leg. One study published in Veterinary Surgery showed that shockwave therapy decreases patellar ligament desmitis after TPLO. Researchers examined dogs using radiographs and ultrasonography preoperatively and then four, six, and eight weeks after TPLO. Dogs were divided into a control group and a treatment group using shockwave therapy four and six weeks after TPLO. Researchers assessed the dogs by thickening of the ligament and ligament fiber disruption. They noticed a significant difference between the groups at the six- and eight-week marks, concluding shockwave therapy was effective.
Hip Dysplasia
A case study from Vienna looked at a two-year-old female golden retriever. The owner regularly took the dog on cross-country runs for two hours or longer, and the dog was starting to show lameness of the hind legs. Shockwave therapy was used to treat both hips at seven to ten-day intervals for a total of three sessions. After the owner agreed to reduce the dog’s exercise by half, one month following the last treatment orthopedic follow-up showed no signs of lameness or pain. The dog was able to resume full exercise. Further examinations three and six months after therapy confirmed the dog no longer had any problems.
Shockwave therapy also has many applications in horse medicine as well as other small animals. Our machines are lightweight and mobile, ideal for on-location treatment in stables, events, or remote areas. Veterinarians and practitioners looking to take advantage of shockwave therapy’s long-term benefits can learn more by calling 1 (888) 741-SHOC(7462) or by visiting our website.
