Suspensory ligament injury is a common ailment in horses. The suspensory ligament contributes to a horse’s natural movement. It supports the fetlock and prevents it from overextending as the horse moves. Injuries to this ligament occur in sport horses because of the strain of training and competing. They are tears in the internal structure of the ligament. How is suspensory ligment injury in horses treated and prevented?
Common treatment options for suspensory ligament injury include surgery, farrier work and corrective shoeing, stall rest, and water therapy. These methods work together to assist the recovery process. Prevention of these injuries involves proper conditioning and consistent, not intense, training, among other things.
Awareness around suspensory ligament injury helps all equestrians provide better horse care. Learn more about suspensory ligament injury by continuing below.
Suspensory Ligment Injury Diagnosis and Treatment
Veterinarians diagnose suspensory ligament injury using clinical signs from horses and radiology, such as X-rays and MRIs. Clinical signs of injury are lameness, poor performance, and swelling to the area around the hock and fetlock. X-ray and or MRI imaging confirm that an injury occurred.
Surgery is reserved for extreme suspensory ligament injury cases and involves removing nerve endings and cutting damaged tissue to reduce pain. A minimum of 3 months of stall rest is required to heal a suspensory ligment injury. Furthermore, handwalking and work on the water treadmill at this time strengthen the injured tendon and aid the healing process. Increasing the intensity of such controlled exercise gradually ensures that the injured ligament can handle its normal load over time.
In acute suspensory ligament injury cases, a platelet-rich plasma infusion into the torn area promotes quick healing. Similarly, corrective shoeing and farrier work reduce strain on suspensory ligment injury. The hoof is the base of the leg, and the frog is its main nerve center. Without proper support for these structures, horses face a greater risk of injury.
PEMF and other electromagnetic pulse therapies are another technique to bring inflammation down and promote healing. The average recovery time for a suspensory ligment injury is 6 to 8 weeks for mild cases. On the other hand, severe cases take up to a year for full recovery. Rehab time depends on the location and severity of the injury, consistency of treatment, and reccourence of injury.
Prevention of Injury to the Suspensory Ligament
Overwork is a key risk factor for suspensory ligament injury. Pushing horses too hard strains the muscles and increases the risk of a suspensory ligment injury. Training on a regular schedule while changing the intensity of training throughout the week produces the desired results without stress.
Additionally, look out for signs of back pain. Pain in the suspensory ligament area will often radiate throughout the back because of connections in the muscular system. An ill-fitting saddle can cause back pain, as well as place unnecessary stress on the ligaments, leading to suspensory ligament injury. Always make sure your saddle is a good fit for your horse’s back.
Immune supplements are an unconventional prevention technique for suspensory ligament injury. Immune cells promote the healing of minuscule tears and prevent larger supensory ligament injury. Introducing a supplement like BioPro Armour during the healing process strengthens immune cells and speeds up the healing process. If your horse needs it, click on the link above to try it out today! Your horse will thank you!
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