Common soft tissue disorders of the lower forelimb

The Thermotex™ Infrared Therapy System Leggings reach to the coronary band of the foot. This allows the application of therapeutic infrared heat to both the fetlock and pastern. Disorders such as sesamoiditis, osselets, osteochondrosis, degenerative joint disease of the fetlock joint and ringbone can be addressed using this physical therapy method.

Sesamoiditis

Constant repetitive concussive forces result in a stress and strain to the proximial sesamoid bones and their associated ligamentous structures. This in turn causes an inflammatory reaction within these tissues termed sesamoiditis. These animals exhibit a mild lameness and exhibit pain upon touch. Rest and corrective shoeing help alleviate this condition but they will recover faster with an aggressive physical therapy program. In the acute stage cold therapy is very beneficial for the first 24 to 48 hours. After this time, alternating cold and infrared therapeutic heat will speed the healing process. As well, after recovery, pre-exercise warming of these tissues helps prevent reinjury.

Osselets

Osselets are a traumatic arthritis of the metacarpophalangeal joint. This results from a capsulitis and synovitis at the dorsal aspect of the metacarpophalangeal joint. When these cases become chronic, there is ossification that will develop within this capsule. This condition results from athletic competition and training where there is a constant concussive trauma to the fetlock joint. When this disorder is in the acute stage, it is referred to as "green osselets." There is swelling and pain along the dorsal aspect of the fetlock. When the condition progresses, there will be a thickening within the joint capsule. Aggressive physical therapy techniques coupled with systemic treatment, corrective shoeing and a change in the training program will greatly aid in the management of this disorder.

Osteochondrosis

Osteochondrosis of the fetlock arises from a genetic predisposition, rapid growth rates and nutritional imbalances. It is simply cartilage that fails to develop into healthy solid bony tissue. These areas are therefore weak and easily injured from the trauma of normal athletic activity. There are two basic categories of osteochondrosis within the fetlock. Concussive trauma from athletic exercise results in these weakened areas to form subchondral bone cysts whereas shearing forces applied to these weakened areas result in a flap of cartilage within the joint itself, which is referred to as osteochondritis dissecans lesion or OCD.

These animals often exhibit an intermittent lameness or are very lame. There is swelling within the joint and pain upon flexion. An accurate diagnosis is made using radiographic techniques. Treatment regimens include: rest, intraarticular medications, systemic medications, arthroscopic surgery and aggressive physical therapy programs.

In mild early-diagnosed cases, rest coupled with physical therapy may allow this disorder to heal. Cold therapy is used for the first 24 hours to alleviate swelling and break the inflammatory cycle. After this time, alternate cold and infrared heat therapy is used to speed the recovery period. Maintenance of these animals should always include infrared heat therapy. Before any exercise, pre-event warm-up procedures should be undertaken for a minimum of 30 minutes.

If arthroscopic surgery is needed, recovery from this procedure can be accelerated through the use of infrared therapeutic heat. Just a few days after surgery, infrared heat sessions should be conducted along with guidance from the attending surgeon.

Ringbone

Ringbone is new bone growth that originates and forms on the dorsal, dorsolateral, and dorsomedial surfaces of the first and second phalanges and the extensor process of the third phalanx. There are four forms of ringbone: high, low, periarticular and articular.

Ringbone is caused by concussive trauma to the tissues. Disordered animals are pre-disposed to this condition if asked to perform at a high level within their athletic discipline.

If this disorder is detected in the early stages, aggressive physical therapy protocols and modified training schedules yield good results. However, the prognosis for these animals to ever reach their full genetic athletic potential is often guarded.

When detected early, the animal is rested immediately and cold therapy is initiated. After 24 hours, alternating cold and infrared therapeutic heat sessions are applied. When exercise is again an option, pre-warm the animal first before any exercise is undertaken.

Chronic cases have to be maintained with an aggressive infrared therapeutic heat program. Pre-warm the animal before exercise and repeat the infrared therapy sessions numerous times throughout the day. Those cases that are periarticular or articular are usually not helped by these treatments.