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Welcome to Equine Light Therapy
How can little lights
help heal tissue? Light therapy, or phototherapy, as it is
sometimes called, has been researched for over 40 years and
studies show it has very powerful therapeutic effects. Studies
have shown many positive changes at the cellular level with
the use of red and infrared light therapy. Some of those effects
include:
Increased vascularity or circulation by the formation of
new capillaries.
Significant increases in wound healing with less formation
of scar tissue.
Reduction in edema.
Pain relief
Relaxation of muscles
Stimulation of collagen production
Relief of minor aches and pains
Increases RNA and DNA synthesis
Stimulation of trigger and acupuncture points
Many people have asked us how we discovered
this new, cutting edge therapy. You may be surprised to learn
that light therapy has been around for over 100 years! In
the 1800s Dr. Dinshah Ghadiali* did extensive work with phototherapy
but his alternative approaches to healing were met with much
scrutiny and most of his work was destroyed. The 1903 Nobel
Prize in medicine went to Danish doctor Niels Finsen, pioneer
of phototherapy. He set out to find wavelengths that would
best heal the affected skin. He was especially interested
in smallpox and in tuberculosis, which can attack skin as
well as lungs and bones1. Finsen found that ultraviolet radiation
(which he called chemical rays) aggravated smallpox lesions,
so he filtered it out. The leftover red light sped healing
in recovering smallpox victims. But Finsen did use ultraviolet
radiation to heal tuberculosis lesions, and he had enough
success in that area to win the Nobel Prize2. The research
on light therapy was abandoned shortly after Dr. Finsens Nobel
Prize with the discovery of antibiotics. It seems we have
now come full circle, more and more we hear of the overuse
of antibiotics and many other drugs, leading to their ineffectiveness
and again, many are looking for alternatives.
One only has to enter
a search on the internet to find an amazing amount of research
on light therapy. In 1966, a Hungarian physician, Endre Mester,
performed a series of experiments that showed the biostimulatory
effect of visible red and infrared light at low intensity.
Today the most noted research is being done by Dr. Harry T.
Whelan and the NASA Marshall Space Flight Center. Dr. Whelan
and his team were looking for ways to help the astronauts
while in space. Studies on cells exposed to microgravity and
hyper gravity indicated that human cells need gravity to stimulate
cell growth. As the gravitational force increases or decreases,
the cell function responds in a linear fashion. This poses
significant health risks for astronauts in long term space
flight. Muscle and bone atrophy are well documented in astronauts,
and various minor injuries occurring in space have been reported
not to heal until landing on Earth. The use of light therapy
with LED's is an approach to help increase the rate of wound
healing in the microgravity environment, reducing the risk
of treatable injuries becoming mission catastrophes.3
It is believed by some that the energy from the lights actually
affects cells at the mitochondrial level, increasing the energy
within the cell that speeds up the healing process. The lights
must be specific wavelengths and must be delivered at a specific
dosage.
It has been reported
that cells exposed to these specific wavelengths of light
have been found to grow 150% to 200% faster than cells not
exposed.6 Why? It is believed the lights speed up the healing
process by increasing energy inside the cells. Many well known
institutions have been or are currently conducting research
on light therapy such as, The Mayo Clinic, Bethesda Naval
Hospital, Department of Rehabilitation Sciences and Physiotherapy,
Ghent University, Belgium, Medical College of Wisconsin, Stanford
University, Marshall Space Flight Center, NASA.
Low-intensity light therapy, commonly
referred to as "photobiomodulation," uses light
in the far-red to near-infrared region of the spectrum (630-1000
nm) and modulates numerous cellular functions. Positive effects
of NIR-light-emitting diode (LED) light treatment include
acceleration of wound healing, improved recovery from ischemic
injury of the heart, and attenuated degeneration of injured
optic nerves by improving mitochondrial energy metabolism
and production.
LED produced improvement of greater than
40% in musculoskeletal training injuries in Navy SEAL team
members, and decreased wound healing time in crew members
aboard a U.S. Naval submarine.
This is just the beginning,
when you study the research that has already been compiled,
the possibilities are mind-boggling.
Our Equine Light Therapy pads are available in two sizes;
9" X 8-1/2" with 71 LEDs, and our new large pad
which is 13" X 18" with 176 LEDs! We use specific
wavelengths, high quality LEDs and our Equine Light Therapy
pads are manufactured by the leading innovator and manufacturer
of light therapy products right here in the United States.
They are wonderful to incorporate into your daily training
schedule, to use for that unexpected injury or for maintenance
on a chronic problem. We have also found that our Equine Light
Therapy pads are a great asset to use in conjunction with
massage, chiropractic and acupuncture. We have several therapists
that swear using our Equine Light Therapy pads makes their
jobs much easier. We have seen many instances of an agitated
horse who calms dramatically when the light pads are applied.
Gospel actually has opinions on where his light pads should
be placed. Listen, they will tell you.
Now, why should you
use it for your animal friends?
Many studies have reported great results with LED therapy
for the following equine and canine issues:
General:
Arthritis pain, bursitis, bruising, burns, edema, deep muscle
problems, hematomas, inflammation, tight or sore muscles and
infections.
Hoof Problems:
Abscesses, bone spurs, inflammation, navicular, ringbone and
laminitis.
Leg and Body:
Ankle problems, bone chips, hock problems, inflammation, ligament
soreness, tendon problems, sore backs, splints, strains, stifle
issues, sprains, swelling, shoulder pain, hip pain, sore backs,
sore necks, salivary gland problems, wounds, cuts, scrapes
and for stimulating trigger points and acupuncture points.
It's easy to see why
Equine Light Therapy is quickly becoming a regular part of
the daily training program of both professionals and individual
horse owners.
Equine Light Therapy pads are not a substitute for veterinary
care, if you have a concern, always contact your veterinarian
immediately.
Thank you for your
interest in Equine Light Therapy.
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