Effects of High Intensity Laser Therapy in the Treatment of Tendon and Ligament Injuries in Performance Horses

Paulina Zielińska ¹, Jakub Nicpoń ¹, Zdzisław Kiełbowicz ¹, Maria Soroko ², Krzysztof Dudek ³, Daniel Zaborski ⁴

PMID: 32751968 PMCID: PMC7459490 DOI: 10.3390/ani10081327

This study evaluated the effects of high intensity laser therapy (HILT) on tendon and ligament injuries in horses. Twenty-six horses with tendinopathies were randomly assigned to either a HILT-treated or control group, all following the same rehabilitation programme. The treatment group received fifteen HILT sessions. Clinical and ultrasound assessments were conducted before, during, and after treatment. HILT significantly reduced pain, swelling, and lameness compared to controls, and improved lesion percentage. However, no significant changes were observed in lesion echogenicity. HILT demonstrated analgesic and anti-oedema effects, supporting its use in equine rehabilitation.

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