Aquatic Therapy for Horses: Water Treadmills vs. Swimming
Water Treadmills and Swimming: Choosing the Right Aquatic Therapy for Your Horse
Aquatic therapy, using water treadmills and swimming, offers valuable tools for both rehabilitating injured horses and conditioning healthy ones for optimal performance. The choice between these modalities depends largely on the specific goals, whether it's aiding in recovery or enhancing fitness.
Water Treadmills: Ideal for Rehabilitation
Buoyancy and Resistance: Water treadmills provide adjustable buoyancy, reducing weight-bearing stress on injured tissues. The water's resistance can be tailored to increase the horse's sensory awareness and workload, aiding in muscle strengthening.
Joint Motion and Hydrostatic Pressure: The water level influences joint flexion, while hydrostatic pressure can help reduce inflammation and swelling.
Controlled Environment: Both underground and overground treadmills offer a safe, controlled space for rehabilitation, allowing for close monitoring of the horse's progress.
Swimming: Primarily for Conditioning
Cardiovascular Benefits: Swimming offers excellent cardiovascular conditioning due to its more strenuous nature.
Full-Body Workout: It engages various muscle groups, contributing to overall strength and fitness.
Not Ideal for Rehabilitation: The unnatural swimming motion and potential for respiratory stress make it less suitable for injured horses.
Safety Considerations:
Acclimation and Monitoring: Horses require time to acclimate to aquatic exercise. Close monitoring is crucial to prevent overexertion and potential reinjury.
Emergency Exits: Ensure that the facility has proper safety measures in place, including emergency exits.
Water Quality: Maintain clean water to minimize the risk of infection.
Choosing the Right Modality:
Rehabilitation: Opt for water treadmills with adjustable water levels to tailor the therapy to your horse's specific needs. Start with slow walking in deeper water and gradually increase duration and intensity over time.
Conditioning: Swimming, overground treadmills with incline, or underground treadmills are suitable options for conditioning healthy horses.
Consult with your veterinarian to determine the most appropriate aquatic therapy program for your horse's individual needs and goals.
Read more from: https://thehorse.com/1121825/water-treadmills-vs-swimming-for-horses/
Contact EquiTread today to learn more about how our water therapy can help your horse overcome lameness and achieve optimal health and performance.
