Tecatherapy in horses: analgesic effects on dorsal spinous process impingement (‘kissing spines’) in show jumpers.

Abstract

Tecatherapy is described as a treatment of impingement of dorsal spinous processes, which is a common cause of back problems. The diagnosis was made by clinical examination by three different veterinarians and by ultrasonography. Treatment involved tecatherapy, in a series of five applications with a day in between. After each application the progress of the horse was observed. Two weeks after the last application of tecatherapy, the horses were examined for the last time. Positive effects of the therapy could be seen after the second application. First, the pain response to palpation disappeared, followed by a disappearance of lameness. Finally, the problems with jumping disappeared. After the five applications all horses were free of lameness and pain and only two out of fifteen horses (13%) remained having problems with jumping.