IN-DEPTH: COMPLEMENTARY MEDICINE
tion examination (DAPE) was performed on all horses. The acupuncture treatments included dry needling, hemo-acupuncture, and aqua-acupuncture, depending on the nature of the problem and the location of the acupuncture points treated. For consistency, hemo-acupuncture (Triple Heater 1, Small Intestine 1, Large Intestine 1, QIAN-TI- TOU, and QIAN-TI-TOU mirror point) and dry needling (Lung 11, Pericardium 9, Heart 9, QIAN- TI-MEN points) were used as the basic treatment formula for all the horses in this study, with other acupuncture points added as indicated by the DAPE. Each horse received two acupuncture treatments,
one week apart. While acupuncture treatments were performed by one veterinarian, all lameness examinations were performed by another veteri- narian. In addition to a routine visual lameness examination (following AAEP grading), an objec- tive lameness examination was also performed us- ing a wireless, body-mounted inertial gyroscope and accelerometer system.a Lameness examinations were performed before and 10 minutes, one day, and one week after each acupuncture treatment. The lameness levels between each measurement
were statistically analyzed via calculation of paired t-test and Wilcoxon signed rank test with P values 0.05 considered statistically significant.
3. Results
The statistical differences among the lameness levels at each lameness examination were evalu- ated. Data revealed that one week after the sec- ond acupuncture treatment, the degree of lameness was significantly reduced (P 0.027) from baseline (before first acupuncture treatment). Moreover, the level of lameness 10 minutes after the second acupuncture treatment significantly decreased (P 0.042) compared with 10 minutes after the first treatment. The DAPE results varied with no set pattern of diagnostic points revealed for patients with chronic laminitis.
4. Discussion
Due to a lack of strong research studies and a grow- ing interest in holistic medicine from both clinicians and clients, there is a great need for advancing re- search in veterinary acupuncture.6 The results of this study support the anecdotal evidence that acu- puncture can alleviate the level of lameness and pain and that more than one acupuncture treatment is significantly effective in horses with chronic lami- nitis. Acupuncture works by modulating function throughout different levels of the nervous system.7 It influences several organs and tissues that are commonly involved in laminitis, such as those in the musculoskeletal, gastrointestinal, and im- mune systems.5 The complex nature of laminitis suggests acupuncture as an appropriate treat- ment, as acupuncture influences several body sys-
338 2018 Vol. 64 AAEP PROCEEDINGS
tems and modulates complex pathways.5,8 As the results of this study have shown, in chronic lami- nitis, acupuncture can be effective in treating myofascial pain syndromes that normally do not respond to routine conventional therapies. Acu- puncture treatments do not interfere with other treatments (e.g., therapeutic shoeing, medica- tions, and dietary restrictions); thus, it can be offered simultaneously as a complementary mo- dality for chronic laminitis. Like any other study, this study suffered from
several limitations. Given the limited number of horses in this current study and the fact that lami- nitis has a multifactorial and complicated etiology and pathophysiology, it was not possible to utilize a significant number of horses with the same etiology and severity. This limitation also applied to using horses of the same breed and sex and similar age. Thus, given these limitations, it was not possible to include a control group. This study offered two acupuncture treatments, one week apart, and the lameness examinations were performed from be- fore the first treatment until one week after the second treatment. Nonetheless, further research is needed to determine the optimum number and fre- quency of acupuncture treatments to achieve the maximum benefit of this modality for this condi- tion, as well as how long the therapeutic effects of the acupuncture continue after the last treat- ment. Our data suggest that acupuncture is ef- fective in improving lameness in horses with chronic laminitis.
Acknowledgments
This study was supported by the American Holistic Veterinary Medicine Foundation, the National Re- search Foundation of Korea (NRF), Ministry of Ed- ucation (2015R1A6A3A03016859), and Western University of Health Sciences, College of Veterinary Medicine.
Declaration of Ethics
The Authors have adhered to the Principles of Vet- erinary Medical Ethics of the AVMA. This study was approved by the Institutional Animal Care and Use Committee (IACUC) and horse owners’ consents were obtained.
Conflict of Interest The Authors have no conflicts of interest.
References and Footnote
1. USDA. Lameness and Laminitis in U.S. Horses. Fort Col- lins, CO: USDA:APHIS:VS, CEAH, National Animal Health Monitoring System, 2000;#N318.0400.
2. Hunt RJ. A retrospective evaluation of laminitis in horses. Equine Vet J 1993;25:61–64.
3. Faramarzi B. Morphological spectrum of primary epidermal laminae in the forehoof of Thoroughbred horses. Equine Vet J 2011;43:732–736.
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