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When a horse (or a human) exerts themselves by walking, running, jumping, or any sort of movement, it causes the muscles to activate and place tension on the adjoining tendons and bones. This movement triggers the bones, tendons, muscles, and other systems to respond so that all the systems are strengthened. Equine vibration therapy mimics those vertical body movements without the added strain of exertion.
Benefits of Equine Vibration Therapy
Vertical vibration therapy has been a successful treatment for improving bone density and healing in humans for some time now.¹ Drawing from the knowledge gained by use of vibration therapy on humans, Vitafloor developed an equine vibrating floor system that has been shown to improve muscle symmetry and size in certain equine back muscles² as well as offer many other benefits.
The Vitafloor system functions by emitting 30 to 50 vertical vibrations per second while the horse is standing on the platform. This whole-body vibration treatment has been shown to have many benefits for horses³ such as:
- Increase in muscle size, mass and suppleness
- Improved circulation
- Reduces joint inflammation
- Reduces back pain
- Lower incidence of injury
- Increases hoof growth (especially beneficial for founder and laminitis)
- Reduces signs of stress
- Increases bone density
- Speeds up soft tissue healing after injury
Many users report that their horses seem to enjoy their time on the vibrating platform and state that it is also useful in reducing the incidence or preventing symptoms of gas and impaction colic. Many users use equine vibration therapy as part of their warm-up routine and as an aid in removing lactic acid and preventing tying up, as well as recovering from soft tissue injuries.⁴
Equine Vibration Therapy as Part of Your Horse’s Regimen
Regular use of whole-body equine vibration can be used as a part of almost every horse’s regimen. Vibration therapy can be an important part of maintaining peak conditioning throughout the year, as well as being used for injury prevention or rehabilitation for those on stall rest.
Always consult with your veterinarian before implementing any new treatment plan, as vibration therapy is not a cure-all and can be contraindicated for certain conditions. For horses new to vibration therapy, start at a low setting for a short period of time and gradually increase until the desired setting and duration is achieved. Typical session length is between 10 and 20 minutes, usually three to five days per week for training and injury prevention or twice daily between 20 and 30 minutes for rehab..
Researchers compared the size and symmetry of the multifidus muscle (a back muscle important for spine stability) before and after treatment with whole body vibration therapy for 60 days. Using ultrasound imaging, the researchers found significant improvement in the muscle.³
Improving your horse’s topline (the muscles that run along the vertebral column) is important for your horse’s good health and performance. Along with proper exercise and nutrition, equine vibration therapy can help you maintain your horse’s back health.
Vitafloor USA, Inc. Offers Innovation in Equestrian Equipment
Shop Vitafloor for the best in equine vibration plates and accessories. Vibration plates are available as built-in models permanently installed in a dedicated space, or smaller portable models, able to be moved from location to location. Contact us today to learn more about how equine vibration therapy can benefit the horses under your care.
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