What is horse hydrotherapy?
Hydrotherapy of horses is a form of rehabilitation, which includes a reduction in the horse to the puddle of the water and let it walk on the underwater treadmill. This type of therapy is used on horses that helps in healing and strengthening muscles, ties, tendons and bones after injury. It can also be used as a means to increase performance and perseverance to prevent injury in otherwise healthy horses or as a means of exercise. There are four main ingredients for proper horse hydrotherapy: aeration, water depth, temperature and amount of salt concentration in water. All these factors will be dependent on the reason that horse hydrotherapy is used, and if the horse is injured, the location and extent of the injury. After the horse is in place, the running belt begins to move and forces the animal to walk behind Given Pace. The submerged water jets along the sides of the pool are directed to the feet of the horse, creating a massage effect. The buoyancy of water releases the pressure on the horse's body, which only allows sufficient impact to help build the power of bones.
Aerations include the use of underwater nozzles that not only massage horses, but cause enough turbulence in the water to cause a soothing effect. Horses have shown higher heart rate in still water than in the water that moves. Also, oxygen circulation in water is also increased by jets, and this is assumed that this helps in the healing process.
The water depth in horse hydrotherapy will vary depending on many factors. In general, the greater the depth, the greater the pressure on the tissue. This is particularly important when the fluid has accumulated in the event of an injury, as it helps to distract this liquid.
Water used in horse hydrotherapy is cold. It is not so cold that it damages tissue, because the prolonged exposure to ice water can, but is cool enough, that it has a numbing effect and prevents the accumulation of fluids in the event of injury. The water temperature is the usualCage controlled by computer and ranges from 36-39 degrees Fahrenheit (about 2-4 degrees Celsius).
Salt concentration in horses hydrotherapy will vary depending on many factors. The type of salt used also varies. Although it is used sparingly, it can promote open wound healing and helps to pull any fluid accumulation around the injury.