Simple Summary
In the current era, sport horses face the challenge of increasingly rigorous workouts, overtaking, and, at times, certain physiological thresholds, leaving them susceptible to injury. This shift underscores the significance of prioritizing the exercise preparation quality and post-care to proactively mitigate the risk of injuries. Despite these measures, injuries may still occur, thus requiring a nuanced understanding of the most effective therapeutic approaches for various types of lesions. In the dynamic field of equine sports medicine, keeping abreast of the expansive therapeutic options proves challenging, especially when aiming to address injuries comprehensively, restore organ function, and sustain the horse’s athletic life. The present endeavor seeks to elucidate the array of available therapies, encompassing both conservative and regenerative methods, for the effective management of musculoskeletal injuries in sport horses.
Abstract
Musculoskeletal injuries such as equine osteoarthritis, osteoarticular defects, tendonitis/desmitis, and muscular disorders are prevalent among sport horses, with a fair prognosis for returning to exercise or previous performance levels. The field of equine medicine has witnessed rapid and fruitful development, resulting in a diverse range of therapeutic options for musculoskeletal problems. Staying abreast of these advancements can be challenging, prompting the need for a comprehensive review of commonly used and recent treatments. The aim is to compile current therapeutic options for managing these injuries, spanning from simple to complex physiotherapy techniques, conservative treatments including steroidal and non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, hyaluronic acid, polysulfated glycosaminoglycans, pentosan polysulfate, and polyacrylamides, to promising regenerative therapies such as hemoderivatives and stem cell-based therapies. Each therapeutic modality is scrutinized for its benefits, limitations, and potential synergistic actions to facilitate their most effective application for the intended healing/regeneration of the injured tissue/organ and subsequent patient recovery. While stem cell-based therapies have emerged as particularly promising for equine musculoskeletal injuries, a multidisciplinary approach is underscored throughout the discussion, emphasizing the importance of considering various therapeutic modalities in tandem.