Shockwave Therapy in Horses: What It Is and Why It Helps

Shockwave therapy—clinically referred to as Extracorporeal Shockwave Therapy (ESWT)—is a non-invasive treatment commonly used in equine sports medicine to support healing and reduce pain. At Kinetic Equine Medicine, shockwave is used as part of a broader diagnostic and rehabilitation strategy, not as a standalone fix.

Shockwave therapy delivers high-energy acoustic waves into targeted tissues, creating a controlled mechanical stimulus. This stimulus encourages the body’s own healing response, particularly in tissues that are slow to heal or stuck in a chronic, low-grade inflammatory state.

Shockwave therapy (ESWT) supports healing by improving blood flow, stimulating cellular repair, reducing pain sensitivity, and promoting tissue remodeling—most effective when paired with accurate diagnosis and a structured rehabilitation plan.

How Shockwave Therapy Works

In simple terms, shockwave therapy helps “wake up” stalled healing processes. The acoustic waves interact with tissue in several beneficial ways:

• Improves local blood flow and tissue metabolism

• Stimulates cellular repair, especially in chronic or non-healing injuries

• Modulates pain by influencing nerve signaling and reducing pain sensitivity

• Supports tissue remodeling, helping healing fibers organize more effectively over time

Rather than masking pain, shockwave aims to improve the tissue environment so more durable healing can occur.

Common Uses and Benefits in Horses

Shockwave therapy can be helpful in a range of musculoskeletal conditions, depending on diagnosis and case selection, including:

• Tendon and ligament injuries, such as chronic strains, proximal suspensory-type pain patterns, and certain desmopathies

• Bone stress and enthesopathy, where tendons or ligaments attach to bone

• Back pain patterns, including thoracolumbar soreness, epaxial muscle pain, and focal pain at ligament–bone interfaces (case dependent)

• Rib and sternum pain patterns, where reducing local sensitivity and supporting soft-tissue recovery at attachment sites can improve comfort (case dependent)

• Return-to-work support, helping reduce discomfort and improve tolerance to progressive loading when paired with a structured rehabilitation plan

For many horses, shockwave therapy offers meaningful benefits with minimal downtime and without surgery.

An Important Note on Expectations

Shockwave therapy is not a one-and-done solution. While it can significantly reduce pain and support healing, long-term success depends on:

• Accurate diagnosis

• Appropriate rest and controlled loading

• A progressive, case-specific rehabilitation plan

The goal is not short-term pain relief alone, but durable tissue change and improved function.

How Kinetic Equine Medicine Uses Shockwave

At Kinetic Equine Medicine, shockwave therapy is integrated into a comprehensive approach that prioritizes biomechanics, tissue health, and long-term soundness. When used thoughtfully and in the right cases, it can be a powerful tool to support healing and safe return to work.