Last updated 19/12/2018 by The pain clinics - Interdisciplinary Health

Study: Pressure wave therapy for dogs with hip osteoarthritis is effective

A brand new study (2016) has shown that Shockwave Therapy / shock wave therapy has clinically positive effect for dogs with osteoarthritis of the hip when it comes to clinical improvement and gait. The study was published in January 2016 in the acclaimed "VCOT: Veterinary and Comparative Orthopedics and Traumatology".
Pressure wave therapy is an effective treatment for a variety of ailments and chronic pain. The pressure waves cause microtrauma in the treated area, which recreates neo-vascularization (new blood circulation) in the region.
It is the new blood circulation that promotes healing in the tissue. Pressure wave therapy thus stimulates the body's own ability to cure muscle and tendon disorders.

Pressure wave therapy was developed in Switzerland and proved to be an effective alternative for patients with chronic disorders, avoiding the use of surgery, cortisone injections or the use of medication.The treatment is therefore without side effects, except that the healing process itself can be quite sore and painful.

- 60 dogs participated in the study

Thirty dogs diagnosed with bilateral hip osteoarthritis and 30 dogs with normal hips (control group) participated in the study. In dogs with proven hip osteoarthritis, a random hip was selected for treatment. The untreated hip served as a control to compare treatment efficacy.

- The dogs were evaluated on a motorized pressure plate

3 main measurements were evaluated. 1) Highest vertical force 2) Vertical impulse 3) Symmetry index. Treatment consisted of 3 treatments spread over 3 weeks - and consisted of the settings: 2000 pulses, 10 Hz, 2-3.4 bar. Resheck was performed after 30, 60 and 90 days.

- Positive results on treated hips

The hips with proven osteoarthritis showed improvement in all major measurements. The owners of the same dogs also reported increased levels of physical activity after the treatment setup.

- Conclusion

Pressure wave therapy in this study had a clinically positive effect in the treatment of hip osteoarthritis in dogs. This treatment can therefore be recommended if a dog has significant symptoms due to this joint condition.

Perhaps this form of treatment should also be used more frequently in people with symptomatic hip osteoarthritis? It is at least a safe treatment method - and recommended by our best friend: the dog.

studies:

Souza AN¹, Ferreira MP, Hagen SC, Patrício GC, Matera JM. Radial shock wave therapy in dogs with hip osteoarthritis. Vet Comp Orthop Traumatol. 2016 Jan 20; 29 (2). [Epub ahead of print]

Relevant links:

- The Norwegian Veterinary Association