Equine cryotherapy is a drug-free, and non-invasive therapy used to enhance the health and performance of horses.
This advanced treatment involves the application of extreme cold to specific areas of the horse’s body, providing significant benefits in pain relief, injury recovery, and overall well-being.
At Gold Buckle Equine Performance and Massage, we specialize in delivering this innovative therapy to horses throughout North Georgia.
Cryotherapy is widely recognized in the equine world for its ability to aid in the natural recovery process of horses. This therapy is not limited to injured horses but is also beneficial for those engaged in regular training or competitive activities.
By incorporating cryotherapy into their routine, horse owners can ensure their animals remain at peak performance levels.
Modern research highlights numerous benefits of Equine Cryotherapy, making it a valuable tool for horse owners in North Georgia:
Extreme cold has confirmed efficiency for pain control and inflammation management. Therefore, the most common application of equine cryotherapy is post-exercise and post-injury recovery. However, the cold is known to enhance performance and prevent injury.
Muscle strain relief: Right after the session ends, the blood enriched with oxygen, hormones, and nutrients is actively supplied to the muscles. This helps accelerate the recovery, relax, and nourish muscles.
Pain relief: Extreme cold reduces muscle soreness after strenuous training and competitions.
Anti-inflammatory action: Increased blood flow to overstressed muscles, ligaments, and tendons flushes toxins out and boosts the supply of antioxidants. Sub-zero exposure also helps reduce swelling.
Hormonal release: Extreme cold facilitates the release of testosterone and endorphins. These hormones are critical for the horse’s performance. While testosterone plays a prominent role in building muscle mass, endorphins, aka happiness hormones, make a horse feel better, release stress and tension, balance its mental condition, and improve self-confidence.
Better motion span: Pain and inflammatory processes in muscles, ligaments, and joints frequently produce motion stiffness. Extreme cold sessions limit pain and inflammation, decrease edema, and provide extensive blood flow to the affected area, thus easing stiffness and improving flexibility and coordination.
Better blood circulation: Thanks to an almost 4-fold metabolism boost, the muscles get better nutrition. As a result, muscle cells generate more energy necessary for training. Moreover, a boosted oxygen supply develops aerobic capacity, thus enhancing the ability of a horse to perform both aerobic and anaerobic exercise.
Lowered risk of injury: A series of treatments boost extensive collagen production, making the muscles more flexible and, therefore, more enduring, able to work at the maximum of their potential. Additional collagen also helps reduce potential injury.
Faster recovery after injuries: Extremely cold temperatures help animals recover faster in case of dislocated joints, ligament sprains, or other injuries. Cold treatments block pain, boost blood flow and speed up healing.
Improving inflammatory conditions: Arthritis, rheumatism, bursitis, synovitis, and hematomas are some of the most common equine health issues that cryotherapy can deal with. The number of treatments may be higher in case of chronic conditions.
Although studies have consistently confirmed the efficacy of horse cryotherapy, please consult your veterinarian before using any supplementary therapy, including cryotherapy.
Cold from the liquid nitrogen flow affects the skin and soft tissues. Therefore, it is particularly effective for treating conditions linked to muscles, ligaments and tendons. So what can you expect from a local cryotherapy session?
Pain-killing effect: Spot cryotherapy promptly relieves acute or chronic pain in joints, ligaments or tendons, alleviates muscle pain and relieves muscle spasms. Improved blood flow helps reduce swelling tied to pain. Sub-zero exposure also reduces pain sensitivity.
Anti-inflammatory effect: Cryogenic temperatures decrease the levels of inflammatory proteins at the place of injury, thus suppressing heat and inflammation and promoting faster wound healing and recovery.
Antibacterial effect: The blood rich with oxygen and anti-inflammatory cytokines rushing to the injured place after the treatment prevents the development of infections.
Improved range of motion: Painless and relaxed muscles and joints give more freedom of movement. A horse will more readily carry out tricky maneuvers that would otherwise be impossible.
→ Retired arthritis senior horses
→ Racing and jumping horses experiencing tough training and competition loads
→ Laminitic horses
→ Elite eventers who need to keep fit
→ Horses with painful and injured or overstretched tendons
→ Horses after surgery
→ Horses with wounds and abscesses
Extreme cold has confirmed efficiency for pain control and inflammation management. Therefore, the most common application of equine cryotherapy is post-exercise and post-injury recovery. However, the cold is known to enhance performance and prevent injury.
Cold from the liquid nitrogen flow affects the skin and soft tissues, making it particularly effective for conditions linked to muscles, ligaments, and tendons. Here’s what to expect from a local cryotherapy session:
Spot cryotherapy promptly relieves acute or chronic pain in joints, ligaments, or tendons, alleviates muscle pain, and relieves muscle spasms. Improved blood flow helps reduce swelling tied to pain. Sub-zero exposure also reduces pain sensitivity.
Cryogenic temperatures decrease the levels of inflammatory proteins at the injury site, suppressing heat and inflammation and promoting faster wound healing and recovery.
Blood rich with oxygen and anti-inflammatory cytokines rushing to the injured area after treatment prevents infection development.
Painless and relaxed muscles and joints give more freedom of movement, allowing a horse to perform tricky maneuvers that would otherwise be impossible.
Cryotherapy effectively treats ligament and tendon injuries by reducing inflammation and pain, enhancing blood circulation, and speeding up the healing process. This allows for a quicker recovery, getting horses back to their routine faster.
For muscle sprains and joint injuries, cryotherapy provides immediate relief from pain and swelling. The therapy’s cold application constricts blood vessels, reducing inflammation and promoting faster recovery, helping horses regain mobility and strength more rapidly.
Cryotherapy is particularly beneficial for managing arthritis and other joint diseases. It reduces inflammation and alleviates pain, providing long-term relief and improving the quality of life for horses with chronic conditions.
Regular cryotherapy sessions enhance blood circulation, promoting better mobility and overall health even in non-injured horses. This preventative care keeps muscles and joints in optimal condition, helping to prevent injuries.
Incorporating cryotherapy into a horse’s care routine reduces the risk of future injuries. The therapy relieves muscle tightness and improves flexibility, making horses more resilient and less prone to strains and sprains.
At Gold Buckle Equine Performance and Massage, we pride ourselves on delivering expert and professional care tailored to meet the unique needs of each horse. Our team is highly experienced in equine health and therapy, utilizing the latest techniques and state-of-the-art equipment to provide the best possible outcomes for your equine companions.
We offer a wide range of equine health services designed to enhance the well-being and performance of your horses. From cryotherapy and massage to specialized treatments, our comprehensive approach ensures that every aspect of your horse’s health is addressed.
We are proud to serve a broad range of communities across North Georgia, including:
At Gold Buckle Equine Performance and Massage, we take pride in the positive outcomes our clients experience with equine cryotherapy. Check out what our past clients have to say:
During a cryotherapy session at Gold Buckle Equine Performance and Massage, your horse will be treated with a controlled application of CO2 gas to the targeted areas. The session typically lasts 10-20 minutes, during which the cold temperature rapidly reduces inflammation and pain. Our experienced team ensures that your horse is comfortable and monitored throughout the process.
Yes, cryotherapy is a safe and effective treatment for most horses. It is a non-invasive, drug-free therapy with no known adverse side effects. However, it is always recommended to consult with a veterinarian or our experienced team to determine if cryotherapy is suitable for your horse’s specific condition.
The frequency of cryotherapy sessions depends on the individual needs of your horse’s natural recovery process. For acute injuries, more frequent sessions may be necessary to achieve optimal results. For preventative care and maintenance, regular sessions can be scheduled as part of your horse’s overall health regimen. Our team will work with you to develop a personalized treatment plan that meets your horse’s specific needs.
Disclaimer
Gold Buckle Equine Performance and Massage does not diagnose medical conditions. Our role is to observe and treat muscle and performance issues as they present themselves, working in collaboration with veterinarians and other equine health professionals. While massage therapy can assist with injuries diagnosed by a vet and support overall equine health, it should not be considered a substitute for professional veterinary care. We encourage regular consultations with your veterinarian to ensure the best care for your horse.
To learn more about our equine cryotherapy services or to schedule an appointment, please contact Gold Buckle Equine Performance and Massage. Our team is dedicated to providing exceptional care and helping your horse achieve optimal health and performance. We look forward to serving you and your equine companions.
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