Very Common
Less Common
Related Observations
This treatment might be used for a horse exhibiting these signs.
Treatment
A way to improve or resolve a condition or diagnosis. This might include resolving the underlying cause or treating the signs of disease (symptomatic treatment).
Cost: $100 to $500
These cost ranges are approximate and may vary from region to region.
Additional charges may also apply.
YOUR VET MAY Recommend
Graded Exercise Protocol for Tendon & Ligament Healing
Cost: $100 to $500
These cost ranges are approximate and may vary from region to region.
Additional charges may also apply.
Summary
Tendon, muscular and ligament injuries tend to heal better with consistent light and gradually increasing exercise that starts soon after injury. Progressively increasing load on these structures provides the best chance for optimal healing.
Consistent forced exercise stimulates blood flow to healing areas. Movement reduces adhesion formation of tendon to tendon sheath and other tissues. Increasing load encourages tendon and ligament strengthening as long as overload does not take place. Exercise is also always good for a horse's psychological well-being.
Strict stall confinement does not encourage healing in the same way, and can result in poor outcomes for tendon and ligament injuries and re-injury when the horse is returned to work or turnout.
Pasture turnout provides inconsistent and uncontrolled load, and tends to result in overload of healing structures and re-injury. While pasture turnout works in some cases, it has a higher failure rate than controlled exercise. Horses put out to pasture tend to protect the injury for several weeks, then after the pain dissipates they exercise at speed, resulting in overload and fiber tearing, and re-injury.
So neither stall or paddock rest, nor pasture turnout are equivalent to progressive increase in controlled exercise.
On average, significant tendon and ligament injuries take 6-12 months to heal to the point that the structure can tolerate full load of the horse at speed with a rider up.
YOUR VET'S ROLE
Your vet makes an accurate diagnosis and determines the degree and severity of the injury. Based on this, the horse is prescribed one of several different specific exercise protocols.
Periodically, your vet rechecks the injury using clinical exam (and ultrasound in most cases) to assess healing progress. They then modify the plan as needed according to the horse's response to exercise.
YOUR ROLE
Your role in this treatment plan is very important. You must work very closely with your vet to ensure careful adherence to the protocol and to monitor the horse's progress. In addition, you must ensure that the horse's other needs are being met - including basic stall care, appropriate nutrition, grooming and socialization.
Consistent forced exercise stimulates blood flow to healing areas. Movement reduces adhesion formation of tendon to tendon sheath and other tissues. Increasing load encourages tendon and ligament strengthening as long as overload does not take place. Exercise is also always good for a horse's psychological well-being.
Strict stall confinement does not encourage healing in the same way, and can result in poor outcomes for tendon and ligament injuries and re-injury when the horse is returned to work or turnout.
Pasture turnout provides inconsistent and uncontrolled load, and tends to result in overload of healing structures and re-injury. While pasture turnout works in some cases, it has a higher failure rate than controlled exercise. Horses put out to pasture tend to protect the injury for several weeks, then after the pain dissipates they exercise at speed, resulting in overload and fiber tearing, and re-injury.
So neither stall or paddock rest, nor pasture turnout are equivalent to progressive increase in controlled exercise.
On average, significant tendon and ligament injuries take 6-12 months to heal to the point that the structure can tolerate full load of the horse at speed with a rider up.
YOUR VET'S ROLE
Your vet makes an accurate diagnosis and determines the degree and severity of the injury. Based on this, the horse is prescribed one of several different specific exercise protocols.
Periodically, your vet rechecks the injury using clinical exam (and ultrasound in most cases) to assess healing progress. They then modify the plan as needed according to the horse's response to exercise.
YOUR ROLE
Your role in this treatment plan is very important. You must work very closely with your vet to ensure careful adherence to the protocol and to monitor the horse's progress. In addition, you must ensure that the horse's other needs are being met - including basic stall care, appropriate nutrition, grooming and socialization.
my vet's role
Related Diagnoses
This treatment might be used to treat these conditions or ailments.
Very Common
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Flexor Tendon Injury, Tendinitis, Bowed Tendon
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Collateral Ligament Injury or Rupture, Generally
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Suspensory Ligament Branch Injury
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Proximal Suspensory Ligament Injury, Hind Limb
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Suspensory Ligament Body Injury
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Bucked Shins
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Deep Digital Flexor Tendinitis in Hoof
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Deep Digital Flexor Tendon Rupture
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Wound or Laceration involving Lower Limb Flexor Tendon
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Upward Fixation of Patella, Locking Stifle or Patella
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Intermittent Upward Fixation of Patella
Less Common
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Proximal Suspensory Ligament Injury, Front Limb
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Aorto-Iliac Thrombosis
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Back Pain, Generally
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Upward Curvature of Spine, Lumbar Kyphosis
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Obesity, Overweight or Fat
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Breakdown Injury, Traumatic Disruption of Suspensory Apparatus
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Obesity, Overweight or Fat
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Overriding Dorsal Spinous Processes
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Navicular Syndrome
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Joint Capsulitis, Synovitis, Tenosynovitis
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Lymphedema, Chronic Progressive
Know Related Treatments
Your vet considers other treatments that might be used along with or instead of this treatment.
Less Common
CONSIDER POTENTIAL SIDE EFFECTS & COMPLICATIONS
A main pitfall of this approach is premature overload of the tendon fibers and re-injury.Should this treatment plan fail, you may unnecessarily waste time with no significant results to show for your efforts.
CONSIDER REASONS NOT TO USE THIS TREATMENT
There are injuries, such as fractures, for which strict stall confinement is indicated.Horses wearing casts and certain types of bandages cannot be exercised.
your role
Related Skills
These are skills you might need if your horse is getting this treatment.
Is it working? Timeframe for effect.
There are several parameters that need to be monitored in any horse undergoing a graded rehabilitation protocol. The first is lameness. Is the horse lame? If so, is the lameness improving? Is there swelling? is the swelling improving? Heat in the overlying skin, and pain to pressure over the injured area are also indicators of re-injury. These parameters should steadily improve over time.
Generally, over weeks there should be gradual reduction in swelling, lameness and pain to pressure over the area. This should not worsen during the course of treatment.
When there is worsening in any of these parameters, immediately reduce exercise and contact your vet.
Questions To Ask Your Vet:
- Can you provide a specific exercise protocol or calendar to explain the details of the rehabilitation period?
- How can I ensure the best results from this treatment plan?
- What should I look for and how often should we talk?