Lameness and Sports Medicine

A thorough lameness evaluation is performed when you bring your horse to Full Circle.

Hoof testers are used to help rule out foot pain.  The foot is also examined for imbalances, extra growth, and for signs of concurrent or previous illness (laminitis, etc.).

We can also lend a hand in proper shoeing and are always more than happy to work with your farrier!  Flexions are performed, which stress joints in the limb.  Tendons and ligaments are also palpated and manipulated to see if discomfort or pain is elicited.

We have a variety of surfaces to watch your horse move, because a certain lameness may be exacerbated on hard, soft, or uneven ground.  Not only do we watch your horse go in a straight line, but we will put them on a lunge line to evaluate how they move in a circle.

Horses may also be watched under saddle, as sometimes a very subtle lameness can be seen under specific circumstances.

All this together helps us in our attempt to narrow down which leg is lame, and where the lameness is arising from.  We can then suggest nerve blocks, radiographs, ultrasound, or other diagnostics to get to the underlying cause of your horse’s lameness and start a treatment plan with you to get your horse sound and back to work!

This is the Class IV therapy laser designed specifically for equine veterinary use!

The laser works through a process called photobiomodulation which stimulates the healing process by reducing inflammation, accelerating tissue repair and cell growth, providing pain relief, improving nerve function and facilitating faster wound healing.

For more information please visit http://www.pegasuslaser.com

Full Circle Equine is proud to offer regenerative medicine therapies.

Regenerative medicine uses the body’s own cells to promote healing, especially in tendons, ligaments and joints.

Regenerative medicine includes PRP, IRAP and Stem Cells. PRP (platelet rich plasma) is a blood product rich in growth factors that recruits healing cells. IRAP (interleukin – 1 receptor antagonist protein) is a blood product that blocks inflammation and is particularly helpful in treating osteoarthritis.

Stem cells can be fat-derived or bone marrow-derived. Stem cells from bone marrow are harvested from your horses sternum and the cells are cultured for several weeks. After an adequate number of cells are cultured, they can be injected into (or around) the lesion. The stem cells aid in tissue regeneration and repair.