Effectivness the Acupuncture and Electroacupuncture in the Treatment of Delayed Onset Muscle Soreness in Racing Horses: Comparative Study

Abstract

This study aimed to investigate the efficacy of acupuncture and electroacupuncture on the symptoms of Delayed Onset Muscle Soreness DOMS in racing horses through diminishing inflammation and decreasing pain. Unpredictable allocation to (10) racing horses with (DOMS), were assigned randomly to two groups, namely Acupuncture (A group) and Electroacupuncture (EA group). Both groups were performed the treatment three times every week for four sequential weeks. Measurement of pain with both front legs was used as indices of their efficacy by using the VAS (Visual Analogue Scale). Significant differences in visual analog scores for pain were found between (A group) and (EA group) immediately after treatment. The results show that stimulation points of Acupuncture and Electroacupuncture relieved muscle pain of DOMS.