Acuscope and Myopulse Therapy Equine Massage (CEMT)
Equanimity Animal Therapy Memorable Cases
2 SDFT tears
𝐒𝐮𝐩𝐞𝐫𝐟𝐢𝐜𝐢𝐚𝐥 𝐅𝐥𝐞𝐱𝐨𝐫 𝐓𝐞𝐧𝐝𝐨𝐧 (𝐒𝐃𝐅𝐓) 𝐫𝐞𝐡𝐚𝐛𝐢𝐥𝐢𝐭𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧 𝐜𝐚𝐬𝐞
Horse was diagnosed with SDFT injury September 18, 2025, Acuscope/myopulse treatment started September 23, 2025, recheck ultrasound performed November 6, 2025.
This horse was diagnosed via ultrasound on September 18, 2025 as having 𝐭𝐰𝐨 𝐥𝐞𝐬𝐢𝐨𝐧𝐬 along the SDFT on the RF, one lesion at the musculocutaneous junction in the carpal canal and one peripheral irregularity in the fibers at level of the proximal metacarpus. The horse has been on stall rest, began treatment with me on September 23, 2025, with a hand walking regimen. The owner was in full compliance with the veterinary and my protocol of a moderate to aggressive rehabilitation program and kept the horse controlled to ensure she did not reinjure or disturb the fibers further. She also provided quality forage based, balanced diet (VERY important), along with omegas and vitamin e. In this case the owner works in vet med, but is also a farrier. The owner provided diligent hoof care to ensure the horse’s angles were correct as to not put any more strain on the tendon.
Over the course of 6 weeks this horse received 20 Acuscope and Myopulse therapy treatments. As per the statistics for this therapy, 25% of the patient population recovers or reaches a balanced state in 3-6 treatments, 50% in 6-12 treatments, and the other 25% in 12-24 treatments. With an injury such as this the horse was likely to fall in the 12-24 treatment range for a full rehabilitation case.
During the FIRST recheck on November 6, 2025 in summary, the veterinary noted that now there is no significant injury within the carpal canal, except for some thickening of the flexor retinaculum. The SDFT is normal size along its length. There is only a thin hypoechoic area along the palmar margin of the SDFT in the proximal metacarpal region with minimal irregular fibers, with the remainder of the SDFT being “unremarkable” (aka nothing wrong). Evidence of 𝒆𝒂𝒓𝒍𝒚 𝒉𝒆𝒂𝒍𝒊𝒏𝒈 was noted of the SDFT with some remaining inflammation that needs to dissipate.
This is visually seen within the ultrasound depicted. The arrows are signifying where the initial lesions/tears were on Sept. 18th and below is the new ultrasound of the same area from Nov. 6th where you can see 𝐧𝐨 𝐞𝐯𝐢𝐝𝐞𝐧𝐜𝐞 𝐨𝐟 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐥𝐞𝐬𝐢𝐨𝐧𝐬 (except for possibly a very tiny area if we are being picky). These ultrasounds are from the proximal aspect of the SDFT, there was nothing left to compare images of the lesion within the carpal canal.
The horse has been cleared to continue increasing her hand walking regimen and also start to slowly return to ridden work. This is a process and cannot be done quickly, but in increments. The horse will continue with treatments to dissipate any remaining inflammation and ensure the integrity of the tendon stays strong and healthy while the horse returns to her previous level of work.
𝐓𝐡𝐢𝐬 𝐰𝐚𝐬 𝐝𝐨𝐧𝐞 𝐰𝐢𝐭𝐡𝐢𝐧 𝟔 𝐰𝐞𝐞𝐤𝐬. For reference, for a SDFT tear (keep in mind this case being 2 lesions) normally the rehabilitation time generally falls somewhere between 6-12 months depending on the severity of the injury and remodeling (final phase of healing) of the SDFT generally doesn’t take place until at least 4 months if not more. Horses are generally not allowed ridden work until around the 4 month time frame due to this fact, pending the healing is improving. Whereas in this case my client is starting to gradually return her horse to load bearing (ridden) exercise after the 1st recheck at only 6 weeks of rehabilitation.
Medial Suspensory branch tear
𝗗𝗶𝗮𝗴𝗻𝗼𝘀𝗶𝘀: LH medial 𝙨𝙪𝙨𝙥𝙚𝙣𝙨𝙤𝙧𝙮 𝙗𝙧𝙖𝙣𝙘𝙝 𝙩𝙚𝙖𝙧 with moderate synovitis of the tendon sheath. Inflammation of the digital tendon sheath causing impingement of the annular ligament.
Diagnosis obtained on January 26, 2026 via ultrasound. A rehabilitation program was made immediately following diagnosis that consisted of Acuscope treatment 4x a week with the vets hand walking protocol.
𝗥𝗲𝗰𝗵𝗲𝗰𝗸 appointment on March 11, 2026, roughly 𝟲 𝙬𝙚𝙚𝙠𝙨 after initial diagnostics were performed revealed that the medial suspensory branch tear was filling in substantially along with a big reduction in the synovial fluid. The tendon sheath inflammation is also substantially reduced. There was no heat or reluctance in movement that was present during the initial appointment. The owner was cleared to start introducing load bearing exercise (riding) again at a gradual incrementation to begin to strengthen the ligament.
Treatments will be continued at a reduced rate slowly tapering back but enough to support her while she is beginning to be ridden again to help prevent regression and to continue accelerating the production of linear fibers within the tear and keep reducing the tendon sheath inflammation. As a reminder, tendon and ligament tears fill with scar tissue so it is imperative to properly rehabilitate a soft tissue injury to ensure the scar tissue is as strong as possible to lower the chances of reinjury. Linear fibers = stronger, erratic fibers = weaker. It is imperative to teach the newly formed scar tissue to be as flexible as possible, which is why ridden work is slowly introduced again and in a certain formation. For example, no small circles that would put more weight on one side of the body versus the other, mainly straight lines in this phase.
To note, during the first recheck for a tendon or ligament injury the vet is generally checking to ensure the injury has not gotten worse, usually there is NO improvement at all let alone filling of the tear as what was accomplished in this case. This accelerated healing rate is what makes the Acuscope and Myopulse therapy system so valuable.
Bilateral DDFT tears
Diagnosis: bilateral deep digital flexor tendon tears (front limbs) in zone 2A
On September 30th, 2025 a clients horse was diagnosed with bilateral DDFT tears RF worse than LF, but the LF having some possible suspensory issues at the region as well.
Began treatment on October 2, 2025. This horse was put into a partial rehabilitation and only treated 2x a week for 60 days per the owners financial comfort level and this was the minimum frequency of treatments prescribed by the vet. This horse also was allowed to stay out in pasture like he usually is and had minimal stall rest (only when it was raining/muddy out was he stalled).
Recheck was performed on December 3, 2025
During the recheck it was found that both lesions are 50% healed in 60 days even with a minimalist approach.
After the first vet recheck was done at the 60 day mark with positive feedback saying the tears were 50% healed, the horse had to be tapered to 1 treatment per week for the 2nd half of the rehab, then at the 2nd recheck around the 5 month mark from initial diagnosis, the vet completely cleared him, and during the 2nd phase of rehab he had already been getting back in shape.
Even though we took a modified approach to fit my clients budget, this horses rehab was still completed in half the time. For reference, a DDFT tear rehab can take 9-12 months to heal based on severity,
CCL tear (tripod dog)
𝑺𝒖𝒈𝒂𝒓 𝒕𝒉𝒆 𝒕𝒓𝒊𝒑𝒐𝒅’𝒔 𝒔𝒕𝒐𝒓𝒚 🐾
Diagnosis: 𝐂𝐂𝐋 𝐭𝐞𝐚𝐫 𝐨𝐟 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐋𝐇, made more severe by the fact that she is a tripod, 𝐑𝐇 𝐥𝐢𝐦𝐛 𝐡𝐚𝐬 𝐛𝐞𝐞𝐧 𝐚𝐦𝐩𝐮𝐭𝐚𝐭𝐞𝐝.
In July of 2025 Sugar was diagnosed with a CCL tear. The option of 𝒔𝒖𝒓𝒈𝒆𝒓𝒚 𝒘𝒂𝒔 𝒇𝒐𝒓𝒈𝒐𝒆𝒅 and she was put on strict rest and anti-inflammatories and the owners contacted me to assist her recovery.
On July 30, 2025 Sugar began her treatment within my program. Sugar already had a disadvantage with her RH being amputated so initially she was started within an aggressive program outline for the first 30 days then moved to a more moderate program outline to support her recovery over a longer span of time. Since she was not able to compensate her weight to another hind leg we knew that we had to spread her treatment schedule over a larger span of time than usual so we could support her as she began to try to walk again. Most dogs will compensate to the other limb to take weight off the injured limb as they begin to slowly bear weight on the injured leg, but Sugar had no choice. She was assisted with a use of a sling to alleviate some of the pressure on the limb as she slowly started to maneuver again.
In September/October she was moved to a minimal treatment outline to see how she would handle the reduction of support from the treatments then in December/January her progress was maintained and she was moved to a maintenance program outline.
Initially, when she was far enough along in her recovery to begin to walk she of course struggled to put pressure on the limb due to her physical state of lacking a compensatory limb, but in December she began to get up and walk about on her own without consistent assistance then at her last appointment this week I was informed she is basically back to her normal capacity and wants to move around without assistance.
Sugar has a few other ailments that hindered her recovery, but overall she had around 𝟐𝟕 𝐭𝐫𝐞𝐚𝐭𝐦𝐞𝐧𝐭𝐬 𝐢𝐧 𝐚 𝟓 𝐦𝐨𝐧𝐭𝐡 𝐬𝐩𝐚𝐧. With the complications presented by her physical state of being a tripod and her 1 hind limb having a CCL tear this is a great accomplishment and a testament to the owner’s consistency and compliance to her needs between treatments.
Generally speaking for this modality research states that 25% of the patient populations reach resolution or balance in 3-6 treatments, 50% in 6-12 treatments, and the other 25% in 12-24 treatments. We knew Sugar would be more toward the 24 range since she has physical complications; even with the challenges within her recovery she was not far off the predicted treatment amount.
OCD
60 day difference on an OCD case of the pastern. This horse also had medial collateral ligament damage/inflammation due to the OCD. This horse is being treated 1x a week with specific treatments to heal the surrounding soft tissue and help the body to break down the OCD non-invasively. The goal is to avoid surgery, improve the OCD, heal the collateral ligament damage, and maintain this horses athletic career. During these 60 days she was conditioned and hauled as normal. No changes were made to her routine besides her weekly treatments.
A quick overview of OCD. OCD (osteochondrosis dissecans) is a developmental bone disease that can cause lameness, mobility issues, and inflammation of surrounding tissue. There are many factors that can cause this abnormal formation of bone, including genetics, nutrition, growth rate, and trauma.
This horse was brought into their performance vet the beginning of August for examination of the pastern. The vet diagnosed OCD and wanted to see the horse back in 60 days to ensure the OCD was not getting worse. The vet wanted the horse to continue its regular exercise routine. Once the horse returned from the vet we started up treatments on the OCD around the end of August with only once a week treatments up until the 60 day mark. This horse received 11 treatments that include the initial 3 day start up. At 60 days the horse was brought back into the vet and given the green light that the OCD looks fantastic and to just do rechecks every 5 months or so to monitor.
Here’s a breakdown of these radiographs above. In the “before” image the OCD is larger and white/bright. This indicates that the bone is very dense. The lines are crisp outlining how large the OCD is. In the “after” image you can see that the OCD is smaller, the outline is not as crisp, and the appearance of the OCD has transitioned to have gray areas. This means that the bone is less dense and less distinct, the OCD is merging with the surrounding bone. This is a healthy and positive response to treatment where the pathology is improving. It indicates the body is successfully resolving the defect without invasive treatment such as, surgery. For a 60 day difference this is a very positive outline for this horse’s career. A conservative program approach was taken, yet big results were still achieved.
Broken Ilium & Sacrum
These are the side by sides of Peetu who sustained a broken sacrum and ilium. She was advised by her vet to contact a rehabilitation specialist, which is when we came into contact.
I met Peetu in July 2023. She had sustained the broken sacrum and ilium earlier in the year. My client had come to obtain Peetu through a rescue type scenario and has worked hard with gaining Peetu’s confidence. She was very wary of treatment for the first few times. But as her program has progressed she now loves her treatment time and approaches my equipment willingly… which before she would not. In saying this, we had to take Peetus treatment schedule very slow as to not overwhelm her until she gained trust in me and my services. In October 2023 she had only had 12 treatments since July, which is very minimal for an injury like this. The main goal of my client was to ensure she could have quality of life and be a pasture horse, so we took a conservative approach based on my clients goals and a few other factors we discussed. As you can see Peetu did very well with her minimal course of treatment, imagine if we had the opportunity to be aggressive with our approach and put her in a full rehabilitation program!
Over the course of treatment we witnessed Peetus muscle atrophy start to fill, she began alternating resting her hind legs, which before she would only rest the injured limb, she started to lay down and roll again, she was walking with better range of movement, standing straighter and more square, whereas before her hind legs were always close together and she would sway to one side, which you can see in the second photo, and her demeanor has become much calmer.
This is a case that could have been life or death with this type of injury, but Peetu has persevered and now has a great pasture life with the rest of her herd without any restrictions!
I still see Peetu to maintain her forward progress and keep the body balanced.
Pelvic soft tissue injury & capped elbow
Diagnosis: Pelvic soft tissue strain with a large capped elbow that developed secondary
This horse was dropped off for an extended stay of 2 weeks for a pelvis injury and a very large capped elbow that had developed due to compensation from the primary injury. Upon arrival he was visibly dragging his hind toes and stiff. The capped elbow was very large and making him land toe side on his right front. After his 2 week stay his movement was fluid and injuries seemed resolved after around 12 treatments. Upon my request, he was taken directly to his primary veterinarian for a recheck on his injuries and to our surprise he was completely cleared to start being conditioned for competition again after only 2 weeks of treatments.
SDFT & DDFT tears
Diagnosis: SDFT & DDFT tears on same front limb.
In September 2022 a horse sustained a trauma that led to the tearing of both the deep digital flexor tendon and the superficial flexor tendon. The horse was put into a full rehabilitation program for 60 days. 3 weeks after initial diagnosis the horse started to do slow and controlled weight bearing exercise per veterinarians protocol. After the initial 60 days of full rehabilitation (4-5 treatments per week), the horse was slowly tapered back on treatments and more exercise was introduced. At 5 months the horse had been cleared and was already back in shape and went back into the rodeo pen 5 1/2 months after diagnosis. The horse continued with treatments weekly to ensure support of the previous injury site since the area will be compromised throughout the horses career and for overall wellbeing of compensatory areas.