Treatment began with FES (Functional Electrical Stimulation) therapy to the suspensory ligament followed by cold salt water spa therapy. He received FES treatments three times/week and received Salt water spa therapy daily.
After 30 days, he began with 5 min handwalker twice daily. We continued to treat his ligament with FES and salt water spa therapy.
At the 90 day point, we had the ligament ultrasounded and determined the treatment plan was going wll. We continued with the handwalks and began Underwater treadmill sessions with very shallow water for 5 minutes in duration. We began with a depth of mid-cannon bone and treatments were 3x/week with a day off in between.
At 120 days (4 months), we were able to turn him out in a very small (supervised) paddock. This helped him with his mental well being as he was beginning to get a bit stirred up at this point.
At 150 days (5 months), he had increased his time in the Underwater treadmill to 10 minutes and was now at a depth of hock level. We followed his Underwater treadmill sessions with Salt water spa. The depth of hock level is ideal for suspensory ligaments injuries, because the horse tends to increase his range of motion in the lower limb joints. This helps decrease chances of scar tissue and adhesions.
At 6 months, we began walking under saddle with alternate days in the Underwater treadmill. He was now walking in the Underwater treadmill for 20 minutes and we followed this with Cold Salt Spa.
At 9 months, he was in full work under saddle alternating with Underwater treadmill. We followed his riding work with the Cold Salt Water Spa. At this point, he received another Ultrasound and was cleared to go back into full race training. He returned to his trainer and returned to race training.
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