Originally used in the racing industry to help with recovery after fractures, equine Pulsed Electromagnetic Field (PEMF) therapy is gaining popularity with both sport and pleasure horse owners who are using it for the prevention, recovery, and maintenance of many different types of injuries. It’s also completely non-invasive.
Crystal Pascoe is a certified PEMF practitioner and owner of Freedom Equine Therapy and Bodywork in the Temiskaming region of northern Ontario. She says she was initially drawn to PEMF to treat her 26-year-old gelding who was experiencing mild, intermittent back pain, but still loved to be ridden. She became hooked on PEMF when she saw his immediate improvement.
“I wasn’t getting far with other kinds of bodywork, but with PEMF I saw results right away. The pain seemed to reverse, and my older gelding was finally getting stronger. If not for my horse’s treatments, he’d be labelled as a grumpy old man,” Pascoe says, laughing.
“Sometimes he still has the expected aches and pains, but his quality of movement has never been better, and he’s back to really enjoying his exercise. In fact, I went from not riding much to being able to go farther than I could before. Some days I think he can still out-trot anyone.”
After her practitioner stopped travelling to northern Ontario and she was forced to halt treatments, Pascoe got the push she needed to seek her own certification. Several years later, she has now built a thriving therapy practice teaching and practicing PEMF in conjunction with other alternative therapies.
How Does it Work?
EMF pulses produced by the PEMF coil manipulate the bioelectromagnetic waves that are generated by the bodies of all living things, including horses and humans. The EMF pulses stimulate the mitochondria, the “powerhouses of the cell” and because the mitochondria are responsible for cells’ metabolic regulation and cell division, their stimulation facilitates healing at the cellular level.
“If you think about a Dr. Ho machine using electrical pulses to stimulate the movement of muscles, PEMF uses a subtle electromagnetic field to stimulate the cells,” says Pascoe. “By stimulating the cells, you can increase whole body health.”
As low-frequency EMF is pulsed through the body, the cell membranes become more permeable, allowing cells to increase their oxygen intake and release toxins.
“Primarily, it increases oxygen levels in the blood and also increases circulation,” says Pascoe. “By bringing fresh, healthy blood into under-functioning cells, it kick-starts the nervous system.”
Cell fatigue and increased inflammation are the primary causes of injuries that never seem to heal, or recovery that stretches longer than it should. “By allowing for the maximum functioning of cells, PEMF can aid in cell regeneration after injuries or intense exercise.”
Because healing these kinds of injuries relies on good circulation to provide nutrients to the affected areas, “PEMF can even help with things like the regeneration of bone tissue or healing fractures,” Pascoe says. “For older horses or those recovering from an illness, it can even increase the absorption of nutrients and make supplements more bioavailable.”
Best of all, Pascoe says, “It’s a natural analgesic. It’s like taking a painkiller.”
What a Typical Session Looks Like
Pascoe begins each session by assessing her patient with touch, and then moves on to a scan using a handheld PEMF loop, looking for irregular muscle movement that could indicate pain.
Pascoe always begins sessions by using a smaller loop to assess horses for sensitivities. The PEMF loop can be used draped over the shoulder to create a field that reaches deep into the soft tissue, or used on the topline to help treat compensation patterns created by tension in the head and shoulders. (Charlie Fiset photo)
“We start slow and treat until the horse begins to show visible signs of comfort. We never push. Using this method, we can peel back the layers of pain to get at the underlying root issue.”
Throughout treatment, the intensity of the field can be modified and the treatment area localized for pinpointing specific problem areas depending on the requirements of the particular horse.
The electromagnetic field generated by the PEMF machine is eighteen inches in circumference, so various placements of the treatment loops can garner different effects. For example, “When the loop is resting on the horse’s topline, it can penetrate into the soft-tissue deep inside the barrel. I typically start at the head-shoulder junction, and move back to the hip.”
The loops can also be used to treat general pain found throughout the body. “Because of compensation patterns, sometimes it’s more beneficial to focus on the entire body rather than localizing treatment to the specific problem area. For example, if your horse has a compensation injury, you’re going to see it in the opposite leg from where the injury is, but the good leg still needs treatment.”
Most horses find treatment very relaxing. Some get a sleepy look with a drooping lower lip, relaxing so much that they begin to yawn and stretch.
Sessions typically last one to one-and-half hours and for best results, treatments can be done daily or bi-weekly, decreasing to one hour every three to four weeks for maintenance.
What Kinds of Horses Benefit?
“All horses are good candidates,” says Pascoe. “Horses love it. It’s good for old horses, young horses, sport and pleasure horses.”
Older horses in particular experience increased quality of movement, something Pascoe says is directly linked to horses’ quality of life. “Not only does it help with general mobility, but also with any arthritis, stiffness, fascial tension, or inflammation he might be feeling as a natural part of growing older.”
“Because PEMF excites the cells, we often see increased muscle movement in areas where the tissue has lost mobility, like the muscle of the neck-shoulder junction, where many older horses have difficulties because most of the weight of the head falls on these muscles.”
It can also reportedly help with conditions like navicular, especially when used in conjunction with tendon support therapy, says Pascoe. “Tendon support therapy can help to redistribute and support the weight of the body while PEMF aids circulation in the hoof as it adapts and recovers.”
PEMF also works well in conjunction with other therapies, such as myofascial taping, cupping, and red-light therapy. Pascoe often finds that tailoring a combination of these therapies offers the best results for the horses she works with. “For example, it’s really great before a chiropractic visit because it makes it easier to adjust the horse and the adjustment will last longer. With message, there’s also a huge difference.”
If you think PEMF might be right for your horse, Pascoe recommends trying it with a certified practitioner who specializes in your horse’s specific needs. While existing research surrounding PEMF therapy is limited or inconclusive, the potential benefits and minimal side effects make it an appealing treatment option for horse owners wanting to support healing and recovery.
“There’s no downside to it, no ill effects, and no recovery time. There’s lots we’re still learning about why PEMF is so effective, but because it’s non-invasive, the therapy cannot harm your horse. …You’ve truly got nothing to lose,” says Pascoe, “and a lot to gain.”
(Note that the rules for FEI events allow supportive therapies such as low-frequency PEMF machines including battery-powered magnetic rugs and leg wraps, only if their electromagnetic field is below 0.1 Tesla (1000 Gauss).)
