STIFLE JOINT DISEASES IN SPORT HORSE:
THERAPY BY ACUPUNCTURE
STIFLE JOINT DISEASES IN SPORT
HORSE: THERAPY BY
ACUPUNCTURE
Francesco LONGO (*) Margherita GAZZOLA (**)
(*) Veterinary Surgeon, Repr. Spec.
It.V.A.S. – SIAV
longo.agovet@katamail.com
(**) Veterinary Surgeon, Anim. Health Spec.
It.V.A.S. – SIAV
marghegaz@yahoo.com
www.siav-itvas.org
STIFLE JOINT DISEASES IN SPORT HORSE:
THERAPY BY ACUPUNCTURE
THE AIM OF THIS REPORT IS TO
SHOW THE EFFECTIVENESS AND
THE ROLE OF ACUPUNCUTRE IN
REHABILITATION AND IN
PHYSIOTHERAPY
STIFLE JOINT DISEASES IN SPORT HORSE:
THERAPY BY ACUPUNCTURE
ANATOMY
THE STIFLE
IS MADE UP OF THE END OF FEMUR
BONE – BEGINNING
OF THE TIBIA
BOTH SURFACE ARE
COVERED WITH
CARTILAGE
STIFLE JOINT DISEASES IN SPORT HORSE:
THERAPY BY ACUPUNCTURE
RIDING ON THE ANTERIOR SURFACE
OF THE FEMUR IS THE PATELLA TWO
INTERNAL CRUCIATE LIGAMENTS
STABILIZE THE JOINT
STIFLE JOINT DISEASES IN SPORT HORSE:
THERAPY BY ACUPUNCTURE
MENISCI LIE BETWEEN THE CARTILAGE
AND HELP PREVENT CONCUSSION
INJURIES TO THE JOINT SURFACES
STIFLE JOINT DISEASES IN SPORT HORSE:
THERAPY BY ACUPUNCTURE
OUTSIDE OF THE JOINT ARE THE EXTERNAL
COLLATERAL LIGAMENTS
THE FRONT OF STIFLE HAS THREE LARGE PATELLAR
LEGAMENTS (FROM THE QUADRICEPS MUSCLE JUST
ABOVE THE PATELLA AND INSERT ON THE UPPER
TIBIA)
STIFLE JOINT DISEASES IN SPORT HORSE:
THERAPY BY ACUPUNCTURE
THE HINDLIMB CAN BE CONSIDERED A
PENDULUM IN MOTION
THE ROTATION POINT
OF THE HINDLIMB IS
THE ACETABULUM
THE ROLE OF
PELVIC ROTATION
IN HINDLIMB MOTION
DIFFERS BETWEEN
THE SAGITTAL PLANE
AND THE TRASVERSE
PLANE
STIFLE JOINT DISEASES IN SPORT HORSE:
THERAPY BY ACUPUNCTURE
ACCORDING TO TCM
THE MOVEMENT OF THE HORSE ORIGIN
AS AN IMPULSE FROM AN AREA
BETWEEN L 3 – L 4
THIS IMPULSE GOES DOWN THE
HINDLIMB AND IT DETERMINES THE
FLEXION OF THE HOCK AND THE
STIFLE
STIFLE JOINT DISEASES IN SPORT HORSE:
THERAPY BY ACUPUNCTURE
THE HINDLIMB PROPEL THE
HORSE
MOST OF THIS WORK
IS CARRIED OUT
BY THE HOCK JOINT
AND STIFLE
STIFLE JOINT DISEASES IN SPORT HORSE:
THERAPY BY ACUPUNCTURE
X – RAY OF STIFLE JOINT
PROJECTION OF THE LATERAL TROCHLEAR RIDGE OF
THE FEMUR
LATEROMEDIAL PROJECTION
STIFLE JOINT DISEASES IN SPORT HORSE:
THERAPY BY ACUPUNCTURE
X – RAY OF STIFLE JOINT
SKYLINE PROJECTION OF THE PATELLA
STIFLE JOINT DISEASES IN SPORT HORSE:
THERAPY BY ACUPUNCTURE
NORMAL X – RAY OF STIFLE JOINT
(view from front to back)
STIFLE JOINT DISEASES IN SPORT HORSE:
THERAPY BY ACUPUNCTURE
NORMAL X – RAY OF STIFLE JOINT
(view from the side)
STIFLE JOINT DISEASES IN SPORT HORSE:
THERAPY BY ACUPUNCTURE
MAIN PATHOLOGIES:
UPWARD FIXATION OF THE PATELLA
STIFLE JOINT DISEASES IN SPORT HORSE:
THERAPY BY ACUPUNCTURE
UPWARD FIXATION OF THE
PATELLA
NORMALLY THE KNEECAP IS ABLE
TO BLOCK JOINT ALLOWING THE
PLACE DURING THE HORSE REST
PATOLOGICALLY IT GOES UP IN
ABNORMAL POSITION
STIFLE JOINT DISEASES IN SPORT HORSE:
THERAPY BY ACUPUNCTURE
UPWARD FIXATION OF THE PATELLA
COMMON DISORDER THAT DEVELOPS IN
YOUNG HORSES (1 – 4 YEARS OF AGE)
IT MAY HAPPEN COMPLETELY OR
INTERMITTENT
IT OFTEN INVOLVES ONE HIND LIMB
ALTHOUGH IT MAY BE AN INVOLVEMENT OF
THE CONTRALATERAL LEG
(PONY SHETLANDS)
STIFLE JOINT DISEASES IN SPORT HORSE:
THERAPY BY ACUPUNCTURE
UPWARD FIXATION OF THE PATELLA
IT IS DUE TO:
 STRAIGHT LEGGED CONFORMATION
 WEAKNESS IN THIGH MUSCLES
 RELAXATION OR STRETCHING OF THE PATELLAR
LIGAMENTS
 CONGENITAL PREDISPOSITION
 INVOLVEMENT OF POPLITEAL MUSCLE (“STARTER”
MUSCLE FOR THE BENDING)
 BLOCK JOINT OF THE LUMBAR VERTEBRAE
L4–L5
STIFLE JOINT DISEASES IN SPORT HORSE:
THERAPY BY ACUPUNCTURE
UPWARD FIXATION OF THE PATELLA
IN A BIOMECHANICS VIEW IN U.F.P.
THERE IS AN INVOLVEMENT OF THE
CUBOID BONE (TARSAL IV): ONE BRANCH
OF THE PERONEAL MUSCLE III IT BINDS
TO CUBOID

IPERTENSION OF THESE STRUCTURES

DECREASE HOCK FLEXION
DECREASE STIFLE FLEXION

BLOCK OF THE KNEECAP
STIFLE JOINT DISEASES IN SPORT HORSE:
THERAPY BY ACUPUNCTURE
UPWARD FIXATION OF THE
PATELLA
A BIOMECHANICS VIEW of the
U.F.P.
STIFLE JOINT DISEASES IN SPORT HORSE:
THERAPY BY ACUPUNCTURE
GONITIS
IT IS AN INFLAMMATORY LESION
COMMON REASON FOR STIFLE LAMENESS
THIS COULD INVOLVE THE SOFT TISSUES OF
THE JOINT:
• JOINT CAPSULE
• INTERNAL LIGAMENTS
• MENISCI
• CARTILAGE
RX ARE TAKEN TO EVALUATE THE SIGNS OF
DEGENERATION OR ARTHRITIS (DJD)
STIFLE JOINT DISEASES IN SPORT HORSE:
THERAPY BY ACUPUNCTURE
GONITIS
IT IS DUE TO:
• UPWARD FIXATION OF PATELLA
• INVOLVEMENT OF THE MEDIAL
MENISCUS
• MENISCI TRAUMA
STIFLE JOINT DISEASES IN SPORT HORSE:
THERAPY BY ACUPUNCTURE
GONITIS
IT IS DUE TO:
• BROKEN COLLATERAL LIGAMENTS

MEDIAL IS MORE FREQUENTLY INVOLVED

JOINT INSTABILITY
&
INVOLVEMENT OF THE MEDIAL MENISCUS
STIFLE JOINT DISEASES IN SPORT HORSE:
THERAPY BY ACUPUNCTURE
GONITIS
IT IS DUE TO:
• OCD

SUBCHONDRAL CYSTES ON MEDIAL CONDILE
OF THE FEMUR
STIFLE JOINT DISEASES IN SPORT HORSE:
THERAPY BY ACUPUNCTURE
GONITIS
SYMPTOMATOLOGY:
 STRAINING OF THE JOINT
 ATROPHY OF THE FLEXOR MUSCLE
 WEAR OF THE SHOES
 PAIN IN ADVANCING PHASE
 IRREGULAR GAITING
 JOINT KEEPING IN BENDING
 STRAINING and THICKENING OF THE
JOINT CAPSULE
 LAMENESS DEGREE PROPORTIONAL
TO THE SERIOUSNESS OF THE LESION
STIFLE JOINT DISEASES IN SPORT HORSE:
THERAPY BY ACUPUNCTURE
THE TRADITIONAL CHINESE
VETERINARY MEDICINE
(TCVM)
HAS A THOUSAND YEARS
HISTORY IN PREPARING
HORSES TO SPORT
COMPETITION
STIFLE JOINT DISEASES IN SPORT HORSE:
THERAPY BY ACUPUNCTURE
ACUPUNCTURE WORKS IN THESE
DISEASES BY LOCAL TREATMENT
BY GENERAL
HOLISTIC
OVERALL TREATMENT TOO!!
STIFLE JOINT DISEASES IN SPORT HORSE:
THERAPY BY ACUPUNCTURE
IN HIPPIATRICS THERE IS A
CONSOLIDATED SYSTEM OF
DIAGNOSTIC ACUPOINTS

IT POSSIBLE TO IDENTIFY THE
ORGANS INVOLVED IN THE DISORDER
OR THE SEAT OF LIMB DISEASE

IT IS THUS PARTICULARLY USEFUL IN
SPORT MEDICINE

IT IS POSSIBLE TREAT
THE “FOLIAGE” AND
THE“ROOT” OF THE DISEASE
STIFLE JOINT DISEASES IN SPORT HORSE:
THERAPY BY ACUPUNCTURE
E.C.I.W.O. (Embryo Containing the
Information of the Whole Organism) THEORY

TING POINTS (WHICH ARE AMONG THE ANTIQUE SHU POINTS – WU SHU)
BEI SHU POINTS
MU POINTS
POINTS ON THE EAR

DIAGNOSTIC SYSTEM

PALPATION EXAM
STIFLE JOINT DISEASES IN SPORT HORSE:
THERAPY BY ACUPUNCTURE
IT IS ESSENTIAL TO FORMULATE A
CORRECT
ENERGY DIAGNOSIS

THE STATE CRITERIA
CONDITIONS OF EXCESS OR
DEFICIENCY EXPRESS THROUGH
PHYSICAL AND FUNCTIONAL SIGNS
STIFLE JOINT DISEASES IN SPORT HORSE:
THERAPY BY ACUPUNCTURE
TREATMENT ACUPOINTS ARE SELECTED ON
THE BASIS OF THE TRADITIONAL
INDICATION REGARDING THEIR ENERGY AS
WELL AS EXPERIMENTAL EVIDENCE

THEIR ACTION MANIFEST ITSELF AT
DIFFERENT LEVELS

 ANTALGIC
 ANTI – INFLAMMATORY
 NEUROENDOCRINE
 TROPHIC
 VASOMODULATOR ACTIVITY

INTEGRATED SYSTEM THAT ELICITIS
SPECIFIC FUNCTIONAL RESPONSES
STIFLE JOINT DISEASES IN SPORT HORSE:
THERAPY BY ACUPUNCTURE
DIFFERENT WAYS OF STIMULATING
ACUPOINTS

 TRADITIONAL ACUPUNCTURE
(CHINESE NEEDLES)
 HYDROACUPUNCTURE
 ELECTROACUPUNCTURE
 LASERPUNCTURE
 MOXIBUSTION
 TUINA (CHINESE MASSAGE)
STIFLE JOINT DISEASES IN SPORT HORSE:
THERAPY BY ACUPUNCTURE
DIFFERENT WAYS OF STIMULATING
ACUPOINTS

 TRADITIONAL ACUPUNCTURE
(CHINESE NEEDLES)
STIFLE JOINT DISEASES IN SPORT HORSE:
THERAPY BY ACUPUNCTURE
DIFFERENT WAYS OF STIMULATING
ACUPOINTS

 HYDROACUPUNCTURE and
HAEMOACUPUNCTURE
STIFLE JOINT DISEASES IN SPORT HORSE:
THERAPY BY ACUPUNCTURE
DIFFERENT WAYS OF STIMULATING
ACUPOINTS

 MOXIBUSTION
Artemisia vulgaris
Artemisia argyi
Artemisia sinensis
STIFLE JOINT DISEASES IN SPORT HORSE:
THERAPY BY ACUPUNCTURE
DIFFERENT WAYS OF STIMULATING
ACUPOINTS

 PLUM BLOSSOM
STIFLE JOINT DISEASES IN SPORT HORSE:
THERAPY BY ACUPUNCTURE
DIFFERENT WAYS OF STIMULATING
ACUPOINTS

ELECTROACUPUNCTURE
STIFLE JOINT DISEASES IN SPORT HORSE:
THERAPY BY ACUPUNCTURE
DIFFERENT WAYS OF STIMULATING
ACUPOINTS

 LASERPUNCTURE
STIFLE JOINT DISEASES IN SPORT HORSE:
THERAPY BY ACUPUNCTURE
DIFFERENT WAYS OF STIMULATING
ACUPOINTS

 TUINA (CHINESE MASSAGE)
STIFLE JOINT DISEASES IN SPORT HORSE:
THERAPY BY ACUPUNCTURE
ACUPUNCTURE IN DOG
STIFLE JOINT DISEASES IN SPORT HORSE:
THERAPY BY ACUPUNCTURE
TCVM
STIFLE IS THE LOINS’ PALACE
THE JOINT WORK IS CONNECTED TO KIDNEY
ENERGY
STIFLE JOINT DISEASES IN SPORT HORSE:
THERAPY BY ACUPUNCTURE
TCVM
THE JOINT FUNCTION IS CONNECTED
TO STOMACH MERIDIAN (CHANNEL)
STIFLE JOINT DISEASES IN SPORT HORSE:
THERAPY BY ACUPUNCTURE
TCVM
IT IS POSSIBLE OBTAIN AN
IMPROVEMENT OF THE JOINT
FUNCTION IF THERE IS A CHANGE IN
FEEDING
SOMETIMES IT IS ENOUGH
ADMINISTER MEAGER YOGURT OR
YEATS TO IMPROVE JOINT WORK
STIFLE JOINT DISEASES IN SPORT HORSE:
THERAPY BY ACUPUNCTURE
ACUPUNCTURE SESSIONS
ON AVERAGE

3 SESSIONS
EVERY 5 – 7 DAYS
***
THE AIMS OF THE ACUPUNCTURE
TREATMENT ARE

ELIMINATE PAIN
ELIMINATE INFLAMMATION
FUNCTIONAL RECOVERY OF THE JOINT

HORSES RETURN TO SPORT COMPETITIONS QUICKLY
STIFLE JOINT DISEASES IN SPORT HORSE:
THERAPY BY ACUPUNCTURE
RESULTS
ABOUT 30 CASES A YEAR

FUNCTIONAL RECOVERY IN ABOUT 90% OF THE CASES

LOCAL ANTALGIC ACTION
LOCAL ANTI - INFLAMMATORY ACTION

(PAIN HAS A NEGATIVE IMPACT ON THE HORSE’S
PERFORMANCE AND QUALITY OF LIFE)

GENERAL EFFECT ON BIOLOGICAL FUNCTIONS

COMPLETE WELL BEING OF THE HORSE
STIFLE JOINT DISEASES IN SPORT HORSE:
THERAPY BY ACUPUNCTURE
RESULTS
GENERAL EFFECT ON BIOLOGICAL
FUNCTIONS

HIGH PERCENTAGE OF RECOVERY

GENERAL (HOLISTIC) EFFECT OF
ACUPUNCTURE TREATMENT

THE ALL OF ORGANISM OBTAIN ITS
GLOBAL BALANCE AND ITS COMPLETE
WELLBEING

THESE CONDITIONS REDUCE OR STOP
THE RELAPSING
STIFLE JOINT DISEASES IN SPORT HORSE:
THERAPY BY ACUPUNCTURE
DIAGNOSTIC ACUPOINTS
YINMEN
FUXI
WEIYANG
SHUITU
STIFLE JOINT DISEASES IN SPORT HORSE:
THERAPY BY ACUPUNCTURE
LOCAL THERAPY
YANGLINGQUAN
DUBI
ZU SANLI
FENGLONG
QICHONG
TAICHONG
QUQUAN
XUEHAI
YINGU
GENERAL THERAPY
WEISHU
WEIZHONG
TIANSHU
SHENMAI
FUYANG
HOUXI
STIFLE JOINT DISEASES IN SPORT HORSE:
THERAPY BY ACUPUNCTURE
TIANSHU
ZU SANLI
LOCAL THERAPY
QICHONG
DUBI
FENGLONG
TAICHONG
QUQUAN
XUEHAI
YINGU
GENERAL THERAPY
WEISHU
WEIZHONG
SHENMAI
FUYANG
HOUXI
YANGLINGQUAN
STIFLE JOINT DISEASES IN SPORT HORSE:
THERAPY BY ACUPUNCTURE
COMPLEMENTARY THERAPY
PATELLA LIGAMENTS PROBLEMS

GELSEMIUM SEMPERVIRENS
STIFLE JOINT DISEASES IN SPORT HORSE:
THERAPY BY ACUPUNCTURE
THE TRUE THERAPY IS THE
PREVENTION

 FUNCTIONAL GYMNASTICS

BODY MOVEMENTS ASSURE THE ENERGY
FLOW

THE BEST MOVEMENTS ARE THUS NATURAL
IT IS POSSIBLE SUGGEST TO THE OWNER SPECIFIC
MOVIMENTS IN TRAINING
STIFLE JOINT DISEASES IN SPORT HORSE:
THERAPY BY ACUPUNCTURE
THE TRUE THERAPY IS THE
PREVENTION

 FEEDING

CORRECT IN
QUALITY
QUANTITY
STIFLE JOINT DISEASES IN SPORT HORSE:
THERAPY BY ACUPUNCTURE
ACUPUNCTURE
HAS AN IMPORTANT ROLE AND
SPECIFIC ROLE IN
PHYSIOTHERAPY AND IN
REHABILITATION
STIFLE JOINT DISEASES IN SPORT HORSE:
THERAPY BY ACUPUNCTURE
REFERENCES
• O.R. ADAMS: Les Boiteries du Cheval, Maloine Paris 2005
• P. EVRARD: Introduction à l’Ostheopathie Structurelle
appliquée au Cheval, Oliveir Éditeur Thy le Chateau 2002
• M. Gazzola: Impiego dell’Agopuntura nel Cavallo geriatrico,
http://www.siav-itvas.org/italiano/clinicapratica/2009/AGOPUNTURA_CAVALLO_GERIATRICO.pdf
• F. Longo: L’Esame della Palpazione in Agopuntura
Veterinaria, Yi Dao Za Zhi n. 18, Laveno Mombello 2002
• F. Longo: Diagnosi e terapia delle patologie ortopediche nel
Cavallo; in Atti del I Congresso V.A.M., 29 – 30/Set – 1/Ott
2006, Barcelona 2006
• W. McCormick: The origins of Acupuncture Channel
Imbalance in Pain of the Equine Hindlimb
STIFLE JOINT DISEASES IN SPORT HORSE:
THERAPY BY ACUPUNCTURE
STIFLE JOINT DISEASES IN SPORT
HORSE: THERAPY BY ACUPUNCTURE
Francesco LONGO - Margherita GAZZOLA
谢谢
www.siav-itvas.org