University of Kentucky
College of Agriculture-Veterinary Science
108 Gluck Equine Research Center
Lexington, KY 40546
This study was conducted to determine the therapeutic benefits and mode of action of magnetic
therapy in horses. In the initial preliminary experiment the analgesic aapaaity of magnetic
therapy was investigated. This part was conducted with five horses in a repeated measures
design experiment.
The magnets uscd for this study were Bioflex magnets which had been
designed with the magnetic fields circularly arranged around the alternate
magnetic poles. The dimensions of the magnets were 5Omm X 175mm X 1.5mm.
The magnetized magnets
and placebo magnets were wrapped around each pastern and fastened in place.
Magnets were placed on limbs approximately 12 hours before the first reflex
test was given.
To measure analgesic capacity of the magnets a hoof withdrawal pain reflex
test was used. This test elicited a minimal pain response in each horse, and the elapsed
time from
the onset of the pain to hoof withdrawal was measured for both the magnet and placebo
treatments.
The preliminary results from this experiment showed that each limb receiving magnetic
therapy had
a longer elapsed time before pain reflex was elicited. This suggests that these magnets
provided
some analgesia to each treatment site on the forelimbs. The mode of action for magnetic
therapy however remains to be determined. These results are very promising and further study
warranted.
I have enclosed two graphs summarizing some of the data which we have generated to date.
The graph entitled "Thermography Examination" shows the difference in temperature of the
equine lower limb in the normal (anterior and lateral surface) and endotoxin treated horses
with and without the magnets. The slightly higher temperature at the limbs with magnets would
seen to be related to vasodilation.
The second graph entitled "Hoof Removal Reflex Test" demonstrates what seems to be an analgesic
effect of the magnets. In this test the magnets were left on for 12 hours. The magnets were
then removed until the magnetic effect dissipated. The magnets and placebos were placed back
on the horses and measurements made at 15 and 45 minutes post application. As you can see there
is a very large difference (12 hours) which drops off after the magnets are removed. The effect
seemed to return (45 minutes) when the magnets were replaced. These data are very intriguing
and these studies will be repeated to confirm this finding.
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