| Infrared light therapy as a medical technique is not new | | | | target area; for horses these include blankets and |
| - it's been in use for preventative and therapeutic | | | | wraps. One type of material - 'bioceramics' - contains |
| treatments, mainly for muscular injuries, since the 1990s. | | | | ceramic particles that can be 'charged' to emit infrared |
| Its applications for both veterinary and human | | | | light for a period of time before being recharged. Other |
| conditions have been the subject of lots of research | | | | textiles actually emit the infrared light themselves using |
| and experimentation, so we can be confident that it | | | | 'nanotechnology'. |
| can really work. | | | | What is this type of therapy best used for? |
| So what is it? Basically, light travels in different | | | | This type of therapy works in a number of different |
| wavelengths, which affect how well it permeates | | | | ways. The increase in blood flow and other metabolic |
| different substances and the amount of visibility and | | | | functions from the infrared stimulation works best on |
| heat it creates. For example, ultraviolet light has | | | | superficial tissues. This is why it is ideal for improving |
| wavelengths that can penetrate many substances - | | | | joint mobility and suppleness. After injury or trauma, it |
| even skin, hence sunburn! X-rays permeate into the | | | | can help to ease muscle spasms Best of all, unlike |
| body even further, and their reflections form denser | | | | anti-inflammatory drugs, it has few side effects, and |
| substances like bone are what we use to make X-ray | | | | you don't risk your horse testing positive to any |
| images. Infrared light is also highly permeating, but it is | | | | controlled or restricted medications. It may even be |
| best known for its ability to carry heat deep into soft | | | | that this therapy has a neurological effect, stimulating |
| tissues of the body. | | | | the release of endorphins for an analgesic effect. And |
| This means that infrared light therapy is most effective | | | | unlike pain relieving medications, it not only may ease |
| for its deep heat properties, where it stimulates blood | | | | pain, it is also contributing to the healing process. |
| flow to the targeted areas. It is also effective on soft | | | | The same principles make it ideal for more routine, |
| tissues like muscles and blood vessels, but it doesn't | | | | preventative treatments. Using infrared light therapy |
| permeate bone very well. That said, the stimulation it | | | | after strenuous exercise or even a fall or other |
| creates to blood flow can speed up bone repair and | | | | trauma can help prevent delayed onset muscle |
| recovery from bone injuries, but the infrared isn't | | | | stiffness (called 'DOMS), which is the muscle stiffness |
| working directly on the bone itself. And of course, how | | | | and pain that occurs 24 to 48 hours after a hard |
| far and how well it permeates the body depends on | | | | workout. |
| the density of the skin and the underlying tissues; this is | | | | Infrared light therapy has a role in superficial |
| why therapy for horses needs to be more intensive | | | | treatments, such as wound therapy. Again, by |
| than that used for people (that used for horses is | | | | stimulating blood flow to the injured area,it can speed |
| called Far Infrared or FIR) - it's simply harder to get the | | | | up wound healing, and reduce inflammation, infection, |
| light waves through the thicker skin of a horse. | | | | and scarring. |
| How does it work? | | | | When not to use it |
| Getting the infrared light to where it is needed most is | | | | Infrared light therapy is very safe and effective in most |
| literally space age technology. NASA began | | | | cases. Unlike ultraviolet rays, infrared won't burn - |
| developing fabrics for use in infrared therapies, and | | | | infrared that is at the 'wrong' frequency won't be |
| now there are several high-tech commercial products | | | | absorbed by the body, and infrared that doesn't get |
| being developed for both equine and human use. Most | | | | absorbed simply passes through the cells without |
| of these are textiles that can be easily applied to the | | | | causing any harm. |