title: A pilot study of the effects of acupuncture treatment on objective and subjective gait parameters in horses.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To investigate whether acupuncture can alter gait in horses as assessed by objective and subjective parameters.
  
  
  METHODS
  Prospective, randomized, singleblinded, crossover study.
  
  
  METHODS
  Eight adult horses.
  
  
  METHODS
  Horses were randomly assigned to a treatment (three acupuncture treatments in 8 days) or control group. Subjective and objective gait analyses were performed before and after each treatment and at 1, 3 and 7 days after the last treatment (time-points 1-9, respectively). Horses were assessed at the trot in a straight line on a hard surface and on the lunge on the left and right reins on a soft surface (conditions 1-3, respectively). After 12 weeks, groups were reversed. Objective gait analysis was performed using inertial sensors and subjective analysis by two board- certified surgeons who reviewed video-recordings. Each limb was assessed for lameness before and after treatment. Lameness and global scores were assigned using 4-point scales. Assessors were blinded to treatment status. The effects of treatment (yes/no), time (1-9) and horse under conditions 1 -3 were compared using a linear mixed-effects model and a generalized estimating equation.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Treatment decreased hip hike difference under all conditions [condition 1: control, 6.3 ± 6.4 mm versus treatment, -0.2 ± 6.4 mm (p = 0.007); condition 2: control, 9.7 ± 7.8 mm versus treatment, 2.8 ± 7.8 mm (p = 0.032); condition 3: control, 7.3 ± 6.3 mm versus treatment, -2.7 ± 6.4 mm (p = 0.003)]. Other parameters also improved significantly under conditions 1 and 3. Based on subjective gait analysis, treatment decreased lameness [odds ratio (OR) 0.51, 95% confidence interval (CI) 0.34-0.78; p = 0.002] but not global (OR 0.53, 95% CI 0.24-1.10; p = 0.12) scores.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Acupuncture can change horses' gaits to a degree appreciable by objective and subjective analyses.
authors.affiliation: Department of Clinical Science and Services, Royal Veterinary College, North Mymms, UK. Electronic address: bdunkel@rvc.ac.uk.
authors.forename: Bettina
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Dunkel
authors.affiliation: Department of Clinical Science and Services, Royal Veterinary College, North Mymms, UK.
authors.forename: Thilo
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Pfau
authors.affiliation: Department of Clinical Science and Services, Royal Veterinary College, North Mymms, UK.
authors.forename: Andrew
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Fiske-Jackson
authors.affiliation: Department of Clinical Science and Services, Royal Veterinary College, North Mymms, UK.
authors.forename: Kata O
authors.initials: KO
authors.lastname: Veres-Nyeki
authors.affiliation: Department of Clinical Science and Services, Royal Veterinary College, North Mymms, UK.
authors.forename: Harriet
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Fairhurst
authors.affiliation: Department of Clinical Science and Services, Royal Veterinary College, North Mymms, UK.
authors.forename: Katrina
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Jackson
authors.affiliation: Research Support Office, Royal Veterinary College, North Mymms, UK.
authors.forename: Yu-Mei
authors.initials: YM
authors.lastname: Chang
authors.affiliation: Department of Clinical Science and Services, Royal Veterinary College, North Mymms, UK.
authors.forename: David M
authors.initials: DM
authors.lastname: Bolt
mesh_terms: D015670:Acupuncture Therapy / Q000662:veterinary*; D000818:Animals; D001696:Biomechanical Phenomena; D018592:Cross-Over Studies; D005260:Female; D005684:Gait; D006734:Horse Diseases / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000628:therapy*; D006736:Horses; D007794:Lameness, Animal / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000628:therapy*; D008297:Male; D010865:Pilot Projects; D011446:Prospective Studies; D016896:Treatment Outcome
keywords: acupuncture; alternative medicine; equine; lameness; musculoskeletal pain