An Investigation Into the Short-Term Effects of Photobiomodulation on the Mechanical Nociceptive Thresholds of M. Longissimus and M. Gluteus Medius, in Relation to Muscle Firing Rate in Horses at Three Different Gaits.

Back pain is a common condition in horses, yet despite this, quantitative assessments of the efficacy of treatment are scarce. Mechanical nociceptive thresholds (MNTs) and acoustic myography (AMG) recordings were obtained, both preinterventionand postintervention, from the left and right epaxial muscles in eight healthy general riding horses (mean age 17 ± 6 yrs). Using an algometer, MNT readings were taken at each of the 6 preselected points along the thoracolumbar M.