Research highlights benefits of infra red treatment

Infra red treatment in progress In 2007 a research project was conducted to explore the potential beneficial effects on horses treated with quartz halogen infra red. The project was carried out by Victoria Townsend as part of an MSc in McTimony Animal Manipulation, and was supported by Equine SunSwitch who supplied the required equipment.

Horse owners, riders and trainers are becoming increasingly aware of the importance of treating their equine athletes with the same careful consideration given to human athletes. The ideal equine athlete is light and balanced, economic with energy, and posessing a loose action that is free from stiffness or discomfort, with good coordination and with no compensations in his movement.

Attention paid to correct warm up and cool down procedures can help to optimise performance and reduce the risk of injury. Heat application can play a key role in both preventing injury and alleviating any symptoms of injury.

The aim of this study was to evaluate some of the claimed beneficial effects of infra red radiation on ten Thoroughbred and ten Sports Horses. Specifically, it looked at the effects of 20 minutes exposure to infra red on (i) the extent to which it calms and relaxes the horse, and (ii) the ability of infra red heat to increase stride length as an indicator of back muscle relaxation.

Specialist equine literature suggests that raising muscle tissue temperature by just 1-2°C is sufficient to be relaxing. Heating by 2.78°C is sufficient to stimulate an increase in metabolic activity, while 3-4°C will increase collagen extensibility. The aim of a warm up prior to exercising a horse is to increase core temperatures by 0.56°C – 1.12°C (1 - 2°F) and muscle temperature by approx 2.8°C (5°F)

For the study an Equine SunSwitch heater was installed approximately 50-60cm away from the horses. Heat output was set to approximately 60% on the Equine SunSwitch controller. Horses were acclimatised to the loose box before treatment commenced and were constantly monitored to ensure they were comfortable. The light emitted by the heater enabled the researcher to see exactly where the infra red was directed.

Horses in the study were exposed to 20 minutes under a single Equine SunSwitch set at 60% output, followed by temperature readings. The research concluded that infra red heat treatment coupled with a brief active warm up and stretch, would provide an efficient and effective preparation for exercise. It also concluded that the use of more than one Equine SunSwitch (as recommended) would widen the treatment area of the horse, thus increasing effectiveness.

Stride length
Horses utilise a large number of muscles when walking.The single Equine SunSwitch heater used in the MSc research was set to warm only the main muscles in the hindquarters. Muscles treated included the gluteals and biceps femoris, which are the main muscles involved in protraction of the hind limbs. The purpose of warming them would be to provide increased soft tissue extensibility and to ensure blood flow to the muscles thus delivering the nutrients necessary for muscle contraction.

Tests were carried out after treatment to measure stride length. The results are interesting. All of the Sports horses tested showed an increase in stride length after 20 minutes of infra red treatment, in one case by as much as 21cm.

The horses used in the study were exercised and turned out as usual during the four-day trial. The researcher observed that the regular application of infra red heat eased muscle soreness generally, restoring normal elasticity sooner than would otherwise be expected.