| Infrared therapy's preventative and therapeutic | | | | infrared helps to distribute oxygen and fluids around |
| capabilities have been well known for several years. | | | | the body, and although it feels warm, deep inside it is |
| The deep penetrating heat and metabolic stimulation | | | | helping to regulate the horse's body temperature. Once |
| infrared treatment supplies is used on humans as well | | | | your horse has had time for the initial recovery from |
| as animals for the treatment of chronic conditions like | | | | hard fast work, and his heart rate and breathing are |
| arthritis, and for preventing injuries and muscle | | | | returning to normal, adding an all-over infrared blanket |
| soreness in animal and human athletes. | | | | will speed up the removal of toxins like lactic acid from |
| How can it prevent injuries? | | | | the muscles, and help the body return to normal |
| Infrared therapy is a valuable tool for preventing | | | | temperature and functions. |
| overuse injuries in horses. Basically, infrared stimulates | | | | How can it help with chronic conditions? |
| the blood flow to the treated areas. Applied after hard | | | | Infrared therapy's benefits for treating chronic equine |
| exercise or work in tough conditions (such as on hard | | | | conditions like arthritis are two-fold. Just as with |
| ground), this increased circulation draws oxygen and | | | | preventative applications, the increased circulation deep |
| healing nutrients to the affected areas, speeding up the | | | | within the muscles - much deeper than you can get |
| repair of microscopic muscle tears or bone fractures. | | | | with topical ligaments - aids healing. The infrared rays |
| Used in the lower legs, this can help prevent chronic or | | | | can penetrate much further into soft tissues and |
| stress-related bone problems like shin splints, as well as | | | | muscles than any surface preparations, and you don't |
| speeding up repair of minor, routine damage to | | | | run the risk of skin irritation. |
| ligaments and tendons. In larger muscular areas, | | | | Infrared doesn't penetrate bone very well, so it works |
| infrared treatment increases blood flow to repair the | | | | best for treating chronic muscular conditions, although |
| tiny tears in muscles that are essential for strength | | | | there is evidence that it can aid healing of some bone |
| development and muscle building, allowing the horse to | | | | conditions, especially conditions affecting the bone |
| return to work comfortable much faster. This repair | | | | surface or near the surface of the skin (such as |
| process, left to its natural course, is called 'delayed | | | | capped knees or hocks). In any case, for horses with |
| onset muscle soreness' or DOMS. Human athletes | | | | chronic conditions affecting their mobility, infrared can |
| know too that applying heat or stimulating circulation in | | | | prevent swelling and stocking up due to poor circulation |
| the hours after exercise is one of the best ways to | | | | from standing still for long periods. |
| speed up healing, allow the muscle to repair and grow, | | | | Best of all, there is some evidence that infrared |
| and prevent the discomfort of DOMS in the following | | | | therapy actually has an analgesic effect too. The |
| days. | | | | metabolic stimulation also increases neurological |
| Infrared therapy's circulatory benefits also help your | | | | responses. In pain management, this means that |
| horse to feel comfortable sooner after a workout. | | | | infrared increases the release of endorphins, helping |
| Believe it or not, infrared therapy can actually help your | | | | your horse to feel better too. |
| horse cool down - the increased metabolic action from | | | | |