INFLUENCE OF WHOLE BODY VIBRATION ON BONE DENSITY IN THE STALLED HORSE

Abstract

High frequency mechanical accelerations resulting from whole body vibration (WBV) have a strong osteogenic effect. It is hypothesized that WBV will maintain bone density in stalled horses equal to that of a stalled control group receiving light exercise. Radiographs of the third metacarpal were taken on d 0, 28, 56 of a stalled control receiving light exercise (n=6), and a stalled treatment group receiving WBV (n=6) for determination of bone mineral content (BMC) via radiographic bone aluminum equivalence (RBAE). No differences were observed in BMC due to treatment in the medial (P = 0 .98), lateral (P = 0.93), dorsal (P = 0.69), or palmar (P = 0.90) cortices. These results suggest that this level of WBV did not increase BMC, but maintained a baseline level similar to that of a horse in low intensity exercise, thus vibration therapy should be considered for horses subjected to stalling without exercise.