Soft tissue injuries are notoriously slow to heal due to a limited blood supply, repetitive stress, and poor elasticity in scar tissue all make recovery a long road.
But one treatment has consistently stood out in the rehab plans of equine vets, performance barns, and sport horse programs: shockwave therapy.
What is Shockwave Therapy?
Shockwave therapy, officially known as Extracorporeal Shockwave Therapy (ESWT), uses focused sound waves to stimulate healing in damaged tissues. Despite its name, it is not electrical, instead it delivers acoustic energy pulses that penetrate deep into the tissue.
These pulses create microtrauma in the targeted area (which may sound counterintuitive) to jumpstart a controlled healing response. It's a technique used across both human and veterinary medicine to treat chronic, hard to heal conditions.Â
Why It's Effective for Tendons and Ligaments
Tendons and ligaments have low vascularity, meaning they don't get much blood flow. That's one of the main reasons these injuries take so long to heal. Shockwave therapt helps by:
✅ Stimulating new blood vessel growth
This improved circulation helps deliver oxygen and nutrients to damaged tissue—fueling the healing process.
✅ Triggering collagen production
Tendons and ligaments are made of collagen. Shockwave therapy promotes the formation of organized, strong collagen fibers, which helps rebuild damaged tissue properly.
✅ Reducing inflammation and pain
It also affects nerve pathways to reduce pain perception and inflammation, making horses more comfortable during recovery.
✅ Breaking up scar tissue
Shockwave can help remodel dense, inflexible scar tissue—improving elasticity and reducing the risk of reinjury.
When Is Shockwave Used in Equine Rehab?
Veterinarian commonly use shockwave therapy for conditions such as:
- Suspensory ligament desmitis (especially in the hind limb)
- Tendon strains and lesions
- Back soreness and sacroiliac inflammation
- Collateral ligament injuries
- Some cases of osteoarthitis
Treatments are typically spaced out every 1-2 weeks over a course of several sessions. It's non-invasive and often performed stall-side with light sedation.
It's a Tool, Not a Cure-All
Which shockwave therapy is highly effective, it's not a stand-alone solution. It works best as a part of a broader rehabilitation plan that includes:
- Stall rest or controlled exercise
- Physical therapy or stretching
- Proper hoof care and biomechanics
- Nutritional support to fuel tissue recovery
Where Nutrition Comes In
Tendons and ligaments don't just need rest, they need the right building blocks to rebuild. That's where Tendonall plays a key role. It provides daily support with ingredients that:
- Promote healthy collagen synthesis
- Support elasticity and flexibility in soft tissue
- Help reduce inflammation and oxidative stress
- Improve recovery time during and after injury
If your horse is undergoing shockwave therapy, or is prone to soft tissue strain, consider combining shockwave with Tendonall with maximum nutritional support.
Give your horse the best chance at a full recovery, inside and out.
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Shockwave Therapy: Why It Works for Soft Tissue Injuries
Soft tissue injuries are notoriously slow to heal due to a limited blood supply, repetitive stress, and poor elasticity in scar tissue all make recovery a long road.
But one treatment has consistently stood out in the rehab plans of equine vets, performance barns, and sport horse programs: shockwave therapy.
What is Shockwave Therapy?
Shockwave therapy, officially known as Extracorporeal Shockwave Therapy (ESWT), uses focused sound waves to stimulate healing in damaged tissues. Despite its name, it is not electrical, instead it delivers acoustic energy pulses that penetrate deep into the tissue.
These pulses create microtrauma in the targeted area (which may sound counterintuitive) to jumpstart a controlled healing response. It's a technique used across both human and veterinary medicine to treat chronic, hard to heal conditions.Â
Why It's Effective for Tendons and Ligaments
Tendons and ligaments have low vascularity, meaning they don't get much blood flow. That's one of the main reasons these injuries take so long to heal. Shockwave therapt helps by:
✅ Stimulating new blood vessel growth
This improved circulation helps deliver oxygen and nutrients to damaged tissue—fueling the healing process.
✅ Triggering collagen production
Tendons and ligaments are made of collagen. Shockwave therapy promotes the formation of organized, strong collagen fibers, which helps rebuild damaged tissue properly.
✅ Reducing inflammation and pain
It also affects nerve pathways to reduce pain perception and inflammation, making horses more comfortable during recovery.
✅ Breaking up scar tissue
Shockwave can help remodel dense, inflexible scar tissue—improving elasticity and reducing the risk of reinjury.
When Is Shockwave Used in Equine Rehab?
Veterinarian commonly use shockwave therapy for conditions such as:
Treatments are typically spaced out every 1-2 weeks over a course of several sessions. It's non-invasive and often performed stall-side with light sedation.
It's a Tool, Not a Cure-All
Which shockwave therapy is highly effective, it's not a stand-alone solution. It works best as a part of a broader rehabilitation plan that includes:
Where Nutrition Comes In
Tendons and ligaments don't just need rest, they need the right building blocks to rebuild. That's where Tendonall plays a key role. It provides daily support with ingredients that:
If your horse is undergoing shockwave therapy, or is prone to soft tissue strain, consider combining shockwave with Tendonall with maximum nutritional support.
Give your horse the best chance at a full recovery, inside and out.
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