The effects of the Protechmasta Infrared leg wraps on the ... · Despite the high incidence of flexor tendon and ligament injury in the ... repair responses. ... to discern the boots

1 | T h e e f f e c t o f P r o t e c h m a s t a I n f r a r e d l e g w r a p s o n t h e s k i n t e m p e r a t u r e o f t h e p e r f o r m a n c e h o r s e – S a n d i e C h a m b e r s

The effects of the Protechmasta Infrared leg wraps on

the distal limb of the performance horse.

Sandie Chambers.

Abstract:

Despite the high incidence of flexor tendon and ligament injury in the modern sport horse, there is little

application of science in the everyday training and competition management of these structures. The role of

cooling therapy in the initial treatment of acute flexor tendonitis is widely accepted and has been scientifically

proven in some cases to reduce cellular and matrix damage of the tendons and ligaments [Smith and

Goodship, 2008]. However, there is little scientific information on the benefits of warming up these structures

pre-exercise and post exercise for the benefit of prevention of the potential for injury during warming up. This

study investigates the benefits of gently warming up the Distal limb (Muscle, tendons and ligaments) prior to

exercise with the use of FAR Infrared therapy, a therapy that has been scientifically proven to gently increase

blood supply to an anatomical region therefore increasing oxygen, improving metabolism and reducing lactic

acid build up and removal of toxins

Horses are mostly used for athletic function and are under a lot of pressure to perform. The distal limb of the

equine consists of bone, tendons and ligaments. The tendons and ligaments are connective tissues that form

part of the equines skeletal system. Collectively, tendons, ligaments, muscle and bone are attached together

to stabilise, support and create movement. Due to the lack of muscle and soft tissue cover of the distal limbs

of the equine their tendons and ligaments in this region are vulnerable to injury. Horses being genetically

adapted for flight can accelerate at speed, turn sharply and quickly over short distances. For that reason, they

are built to maximise efficiency; the muscles are mainly located near the axle skeleton, their limbs are long

with minimum soft tissue cover especially the distal limb which, being furthest from the muscles, improves the

ability of the horse to take longer strides with minimum weight on the end of the limbs, nevertheless this does

procure the risk of injury balanced with the necessity for efficiency. With this improved efficiency, there are

greater forces at the end of the limbs and add to this the rider element, then there are greater loads added to

the forces, potentially increasing further the risk of damage to tendons and ligaments of the distal limb.

Performance horses are open to diverse types and degrees of injury depending on the job that it does, at what

level and for how long. The competency of the rider is also a consideration. For example, the digital flexor

tendons operate at high efficiency, allowing the horse to store energy to take each long stride but because of

this, and the added pressure and weight from the rider, they are operating near their failure limits and

repetitive overstretching and loading is likely to lead to tendon and ligament damage or failure.

Tendon and ligament matrix can be injured in one of two ways, either by overstrain or laceration. Overstrain

injuries have been studied and proven to occur by one of two mechanisms, they are: sudden overloading of

the structures or degeneration. [Goodship AE, Birch HL 1994] Degeneration is normally the first phase to

tendinopathy and unlike clinical injury does not provoke a repair process. Once clinical injury with disruption

to the tendon matrix occurs, a repair process is initiated; there is an initial intratendinous haemorrhage,

immediately followed by an acute inflammatory response resulting in an increase of blood flow followed by

oedema and further repair responses.

It is therefore important that management of the distal limb is carefully considered for prevention of injuries

and to maximise performance longevity. Because tendons and ligaments can undergo unseen accumulative

damage over time, due to repetitive forces, management of these structures needs to be a priority to optimise

the equines health and performance longevity. A crucial part of the management process is the warming up of

these structures pre-exercise and the reduction of lactic build up post exercise. When these structures are not

warmed up then they are exposed to damage especially as the tendons are made up of predominantly

collagen and elastin, when cold and tight they become less elastic and vulnerable to micro damage and even


rupture. A warming up period is therefore advised to ensure maximum injury prevention. This warming up

period can be encouraged using Far Infrared Therapy which has been scientifically proven to provide radiant

heat which encourages blood flow, [Michael R. Hamblin. PubMed.] which in turn favourably warms up

tendons, ligaments and other structure and post-performance encourages the removal of toxin build up.

Far Infrared (FIR)

Far infrared (FIR) radiation (λ = 3–100 μm) is a subdivision of the electromagnetic spectrum that has been

investigated for biological effects. [2. Vatansever F, PubMed]

FIR transfers energy purely in the form of heat which can be perceived by the thermoreceptors in Equines skin

as radiant heat.

Not only is Far Infra-red (FIR) absorbed by the Equines body but it is also emitted by the body in the form of

black body radiation. FIR also can be described as “biogenetic radiation” Its therapeutic effect is the result of

local hyperaemia (excessive blood flow) and the positive heating impact which will favourably and not

excessively warm up the tendons and ligaments to reduce pain perception (due to increase of endorphin

secretion), immunological reactions, acceleration of metabolism, and regulation of activity of autonomic

nervous system in the aspect of controlling muscle tension. At the cellular level the mechanism of infrared

radiation is based mainly on the interactions with water molecules

An especially interesting part of IR is far infrared (FIR) which is alternatively called biogenetic radiation or

biogenetic rays. This is the part of the IR which has the pure heating effect on the mammals cells due to

marked sensitivity of their thermoreceptors. It penetrates up to 5 cm beneath the skin surface. [3. Michael R.

Hamblin. PubMed.]

Protechmasta Infrared Leg Wraps

This study investigates the beneficial effects of the Protechmasta Infrared (IR) leg wraps when applied to the

equine distal limbs at rest. The Protechmasta IR leg wraps contains a special ceramic powder (filaments) that is

blended with the yarns of the lining fabric, these filaments are impregnated with Far InfraRed (FIR) emitting

nanoparticles designed to deliver thermal radiation effects and keep those effects at a regulated temperature.

Materials and Methods.

Preparation of horses and environment.

This study was performed in a professionally designed scanning room for use with Thermography, selected for

its enclosed and controlled environment and to minimise external artefacts such as wind, sunlight and

distraction from other elements. The horses were scanned on a hard, dry, and level surface.

Four adult dressage horses with no known current abnormalities on physical examination of the distal limb

were used. Horses in this study were all close in competition level, height, age and weight. All horses are

ridden by the same rider and have the same daily routine. All Horses for this study were housed in 12' x 12'

stone stables on the same yard and cared for by the same grooms. All horses had a normal spring coat

including limbs. Pre-scanning the horses were not exercised for 24 hours before hand, this was to ensure no

artefacts from rider, boots, bandages, wind, sunlight, mud, water, sweat, and to prevent evaporative cooling, conduction, convection and solar radiation from exercise and environment.

NOTE: One horse was withdrawn from this study after contracting thrush infection in its foot.

The horses were fasted for 2hrs prior to and during the imaging procedure to avoid postprandial thermal

variation.

The ambient temperature during this study were recorded and stayed constant at 20 degrees Celsius. Horses

were not rugged or bandaged overnight prior to the research. As the horses had their spring coats the ambient


temperature at 20 degrees Celsius, an hour was all that was required to bring their superficial skin temperature to normal and to prevent excessive conduction and hyperthermal reactions from the stone floor.

Leg Wraps:

Full size Protechmasta leg wraps were used in this study.

Handling during research:

A designated handler restrained the horses with a halter and rope during each stage of image capture. In

between the 30 minute stages the horse were tied up in the scanning area.

Equipment used.

Research was conducted using a thermal imaging camera to discern the boots ability to induce physiological

changes in horse’s limbs at rest and to ascertain the thermal effects of the ProTechmasta Infrared leg wraps.

The wavelength of the FIR is too long for human eyes therefore an Infrared camera’s special filters will allow us

to visualise the Infrared radiation and to measure it.

Equipment that was used included one Flir T1030 Thermal Imaging camera with a resolution of 480 x 360.

The infrared image analysis required the Flir Tools software to download the final scans to and interpret the

scans for their quantitative data.

The final temperature data was transferred to an excel sheet created to calculate the maximum. Minimum and

average temperatures within each single scan at the different stages of analysis.

Image capture:

A designated highly qualified thermographer was used to capture all scans for all horses and at all stage of this

study.

Anatomical Regions of the distal limbs scanned:

• Dorsal view of forelimb

• Palmer view of forelimb

• Nearside/offside later view of forelimb

• Nearside/offside medial view of forelimb

• Dorsal view of hindlimb

• Plantar view of hindlimb

• Nearside/offside view of hindlimb

• Nearside/offside view of hindlimb

See Table 1.0


Table 1.0

Dorsal Forelimbs + boots Dorsal Forelimbs - boots Dorsal Hindlimbs + boots Dorsal Hindlimbs - boots

Palmer forelimbs +

boots Palmer forelimbs - boots Plantar hindlimbs +

boots Plantar hindlimbs - boots

Nearside lateral &

offside medial forelimb + boots

Nearside lateral & offside medial forelimb -

boot

Offside lateral & medial nearside forelimb + boot

Offside lateral & medial nearside forelimb - boot

Nearside lateral &

offside medial hindlimb + boot

Nearside lateral & offside medial hindlimb -

boot

Offside lateral & medial nearside hindlimb + boot

Offside lateral & medial nearside hindlimb - boot

Extrinsic factors:

Emissivity = 0.98 Ambient temperature = 20ºC Relative humidity = 50% Distance from target = 2 meters Reflective temperature = 20 ºC


Protechmasta rug In Situ.

When the Protechmasta IR leg wraps are in-situ, the wraps are positioned in a 360-degree diameter over the

following regions:

• top to the bottom of the cannon bone

• over the fetlock joint

• pastern region

• coronet band

• top of hoof

The wraps are fixed with Velcro to Velcro. No pressure was applied to keep the wraps in place and they sat

evenly and without movement during the full scanning period. The absolute temperatures of both boot and

distal limb were recorded prior to application and post application.

The study

Phase one:

To establish baseline temperatures all four horse’s distal limbs, thermal images (thermograms) of the skin

surface temperature of the selected anatomical regions were taken from each horse at rest and in an ambient

temperature of 20 ºC. Two minutes was given to capture all anatomical regions of each phase of this study.

(See table 1.0)

Anatomical Regions scanned see Fig 1.

Phase two:

(a) Before application, the Protechmasta IR leg wraps were scanned inside and outside at 20 Celsius to

ascertain a baseline temperature of the leg wraps. Three regional measurements were selected on

each view of the leg wraps. (see table 2.0 ) These were taken prior to the leg wraps being place in situ

on the limbs.

(b) Once in situ a scan of the inside and outside of the leg wraps was taken at each temporal increment (

30,60,90,120,150, 180) in an ambient temperature of 20 Celsius. This was to ascertain the thermal

reaction of the leg wrap material and its properties.

Table 2.0


Phase three:

The Protechmasta IR leg wraps were placed in situ on each horse initially for 30 minutes and removed for 2

minutes while scan capture of the selected (see Fig 1) anatomical regions were taken. The leg wraps were

immediately re-applied post scan capture for a further 30 minutes and the sequence continued until 180

minutes of leg wrap application was recorded.

Sequence:

Thermal images were taken at the following temporal increments: 30, 60, 90, 12, 150 and 180 minutes.

Storage:

The thermograms were stored on high-resolution SD card and transferred to a HP laptop for post imaging

processing and evaluation. Flir tools analytical software was used to analyse each scan. Each thermograms

level and span was change to 14 and 40 to ensure standardisation of each thermogram. Effective mean surface

temperature (MAST) for the targeted anatomical regions was calculated from an approximately 2000-pixel

(each pixel contains an individual temperature) area selected over the regions of the lateral, medial dorsal,

palmer and plantar cannon bone regions.

Table 3.0 Flir tools analysis software used to measure high, low and average temperatures of each scan.

Results

Each horse tolerated the leg wrap applications and infrared imaging without complication or resistance.

Unfortunately, one horse had to be withdrawn from the study, due to the development of thrush in its foot.

(not related to the effects of the leg wraps). No environmental complications were encountered and ambient

temperatures were held steady at 20°C. Infrared images were obtained successfully for each horse at all time

intervals.


Table 4.0 Level and span values of 14 – 40 (circled) and the target area measured in this case the dorsal

forelimbs

The analytical software utilizes the mean of the pixels composing the targeted area within each image to

determine the surface temperature of the limb. Effective mean temperature for the areas was calculated to

allow comparison of changes in MAST, as affected by the time increments post the leg wrap applications and

protocol.

Regional surface temperature changes in each limb in relation to the baseline images were noted and

recorded. The mean temperatures of the baseline were then compared to the mean values of the scans post

application of each horse from each temporal increment. Infrared thermographic imaging, imaging storage,

and analysis were similarly repeated.

Statistical Analysis

Stage 1 & 3 results are the mean average surface temperature (MAST) of the replicated 8 thermal images of

each horses selected anatomical regions after the Protechmasta IR leg wrap applications. Each timed

Protechmasta IR leg wrap application was initially considered a separate application for analysis. The mean

values of 8 scans taken of each horse at each temporal increment were calculated and recorded. The final

mean values from each temporal increment were then compared together to acquire the final mean values

and results of the research. We have then compared the baseline MAST of all the horses with the maximum

180-minute application.

Stage 2. All Temperature data from the inside and outside of the Protechmasta IR leg wrap baseline and

temporal increments post application were calculated in the same way and MAST from each increment were

compared to acquire their mean values.

Data analysis was completed by using a the Flir Tools analysis software that captured the high, low and

average temperature of the anatomical regions measured in this research. Excel electronic software was used

to store and calculate this data from the Thermograms and tables were used to plot and evaluate the data

and achieve significance of the results.


Table 5.0 Example of the average high/low/average temperatures for the temporal timings of the distal limbs

of a horse post leg wrap application.

Diablo Baseline Dorsal

Palmer Fore

Lft lat Fore

Lft med Fore

Rgt lat Hind

Rgt Med Hind

Dorsal Hind

Plantar Hind Mean

Max 17 19 22 18 21 19 18.5 18 153 19

Min 14 14 16 18 15 19 14 13 123 15

Average 15 16 18 18 18 19 16 16 136 17

Diablo 30 mins Dorsal

Palmer F

Lft lat F

Lft med F

Rgt lat H

Rgt Med H

Dorsal H

Plantar H Mean

Max 24 26 26 22 26 23 24 24 195 24

Min 18 20 22 22 23 23 19 19 166 21

Average 21 23 24 22 24.5 23 21.5 21.5 181 23

Diablo 60 min Dorsal Palmer F

Lft lat F

Lft med F

Rgt lat H

Rgt Med H

Dorsal H

Plantar H Mean

Max 26 28 28 24 27 24 25 25 207 26

Min 20 22 24 23 25 25 22 22 183 23

Average 23 25 26 23.5 26 24.5 23.5 23.5 195 24


Palmer F

Lft lat F

Lft med F

Rgt lat H

Rgt Med H

Dorsal H

Plantar H Mean

Max 26 28 28 25 28 25 25 25 210 26

Min 21 23 24 24 25 25 22 22 186 23

Average 23.5 25.5 26 24.5 26.5 25 23.5 23.5 198 25


Palmer F

Lft lat F

Lft med F

Rgt lat H

Rgt Med H

Dorsal H

Plantar H Mean

Max 26 28 27 25 27 25 24 25 207 26

Min 21 22 23 23 24 24 21 22 180 23

Average 23.5 25 25 24 25.5 24.5 22.5 23.5 194 24


Palmer F

Lft lat F

Lft med F

Rgt lat H

Rgt Med H

Dorsal H

Plantar H Mean

Max 26 28 27 25 27 25 24 25 207 26

Min 21 23 23 23 24 24 22 22 182 23

Average 23.5 25.5 25 24 25.5 24.5 23 23.5 195 24

Diablo 180 Dorsal Palmer F

Lft lat F

Lft med F

Rgt lat H

Rgt Med H

Dorsal H

Plantar H Mean

Max 28.5 24.5 29.2 28 28.2 28 29.5 25.5 221 28

Min 23 17.5 23.1 28 20 28 24 19.5 183 23

Average 26.5 25 26.3 28 25 28 28 22.5 209 26


Table 6.0. Average high/low/Average of both temperatures of each whole horse

Average high/low/Average of both temperatures of each whole horse

1 2 3 MEAN

Baseline HIGH Temp

LOW Temp

Average temp

Diablo 19 17 17

Zidane 21 17 17

Gold 21 15 17

20 16 17 18

30 mins

Diablo 24 21 23

Zidane 25 20 22

Gold 24 18 21

24 20 22 22

60mins

Diablo 26 23 24

Zidane 26 22 24

Gold 26 20 23

26 22 24 24

90 mins

Diablo 26 23 24

Zidane 26 22 24

Gold 26 20 23

26 22 24 24

120mins

Diablo 26 23 24

Zidane 25 21 23

Gold 24 19 22

25 21 23 23

150mins

Diablo 26 23 24

Zidane 25 21 23

Gold 24 20 22

25 21 23 23

180mins full stage

Diablo 28 23 26

Zidane 27 23 26

Gold 25 21 23

27 22 25 25


Results of Stage 1 and 3.

Column 3 Average Temperature

(Translated the average temperature represents the average of 3,000 pixel temperatures of each 8 anatomical

regions measured within the selected region within the Thermogram for each horse. This figure equates to

189,000 temperatures measured to achieve the overall average result).

• When comparing the MAST (mean average surface temperature) of the Baseline Average

Temperatures of the selected points for all horse’s distal limbs with the 30-minute temporal stage,

there was an initial increase of 4 degree Celsius - from 18ºC to 22ºC. Whilst it would be expected on

insulating the distal limb that the largest increase in limb temperature would occur in the initial

stages of the Protechmasta leg wraps application, an increase of 4ºC is a significant increase. It is the

largest increase in temperature recorded in any single 30-minute period in the study, but would be

expected as perfectly normal given that the air temperature around the limb has been retarded and

an insulating property has been applied restricting airflow to the skin.

• Between 30 minutes and up to 60 minutes the MAST for the average temperature of these temporal

stages increased by 2ºC, to reach 24ºC at the 60 - minute mark. This increase of 2ºC is not as

significant for this second 30-minute period as that recorded for the first 30-minute period, but in

combination means that the MAST of the study area has increased by an overall 6ºC between

baseline and 60 minutes.

• The MAST readings for the average temperature of all 3 of the horses in the study plateaued and

remained the same at the 60 and 90-minute temporal stage.

• The significant readings at 60 minutes and 90 minutes were that all 3 horse’s highest temperature

readings all reached the same temperature of 26ºC at 60 minutes and remained there until 90

minutes.

• Diablo's highest, lowest and mean temperature readings at 120 and 150 minutes remained at the

same temperatures of 26ºC, 23ºC and 24ºC. This means that once the 60-minute mark had been

reached Diablo's distal limb temperature points in his highest, lowest and mean temperatures stayed

the same throughout the study. The other 2 horses, Zidane and Gold, remained consistent but did

exhibit a 1 degree drop in Limb temperature at the 120 and 150 minute marks.

• The MAST readings for the average temperature of all 3 horse’s readings at the 120 and 150-minute

mark show a drop-in temperature of 1ºC. The MAST readings for the average temperature for all 3

horses at 60 and 90 minutes were 24ºC, but for the 120 and 150 minute readings they dropped by

1ºC to 23ºC.

Column 1. Highest Temperature.

• Of the three horses in the study all three saw an increase in their mean average highest temperature

point of between 4 and 5 degrees from baseline to 30 minutes and a total of 5 and 7 degrees from

baseline to 60 minutes.

• The only decreases in average highest temperature were recorded in two horses at 120 and 150

minutes and these decreases were of 1 and 2 degrees.


Column 2. Lowest Temperature.

• Of the three horses in the study all three saw an increase in their mean average lowest temperature

point of between 3 and 5 degrees from baseline to 30 minutes and a total of 5 and 7 degrees from

baseline to 60 minutes.

• Of the three horses the lowest mean average temperature plateaued at its highest MAST

temperature point between 60 and 90 minutes.

• Two of the horses saw a decrease of 1 degree in their lowest mean temperature point from 120 to

150 minute, while one stayed the same from 60 minutes to 150.

The 180 Full application

For the sake of this study we did a separate full 180-minute application to all the horses without removal of

the leg wraps at 30-minute temporal stages.

• Of the three horse the highest MAST reached at the 180-minute stage was 27 ºC this is 7 ºC higher

than the baseline highest MAST

• Of the three horse the lowest MAST reached at the 180-minute stage was 22 ºC this 6 ºC higher than

the baselines MAST.

Between the 150-minute stage and the 180-minute stage there was an overall 2 ºC increase in the overall

MAST of the three subjects, however there was an overall 7 ºC increase from Baseline to 180 minutes.

Points to note:

It is not possible to get all the horses at the exact starting point temperature for several factors these are due

to the following:

• Level of activity while tied up.

• Level of musculature

• Adipose fat levels

• Bone size

Results of stage 2.

• When comparing the MAST (mean average surface temperature) of the leg wraps Baselines Exterior

temperatures with the exterior temperature at the 30-150-minute temporal stage, there was no increase in

MAST across all leg wraps therefore maintaining an Exterior temperature of 15 ºC.

• When comparing the MAST of the Baselines Interior temperatures with the interior temperatures of

the 30-minute temporal stage, there was an initial increase of 2.25 ºC across all leg wraps.

• When comparing the MAST temporal stages of the internal portion of the leg wraps between 30 & 60,

there was an overall rise of 1 degree for all three horses and stabilising up to 120, then we see a drop of 1

degree for all three horses up to the 150 temporal stage.

The independent 180 minutes’ stage saw a 1 degree increase in the internal portion of the Leg wraps MAST

across all three horses. (see table 6.0).


Table 6.0

Protechmasta IR Leg wrap Results

Dorsal Palmer Lateral Medial 4 MAST Mast whole Wrap

Baseline

Exterior 15 15 15 15 60 15

15 Interior 15 15 15 15 60 15

30 mins

Exterior 15 15 15 15 60 15

16 Interior 17 17 17 18 69 17.25

60 mins

Exterior 15 15 15 15 60 15

16 Interior 18 18 18 19 73 18.25

90 mins

Exterior 15 15 15 15 60 15

16 Interior 18 18 18 19 73 18.25

120mins

Exterior 15 15 15 15 60 15

16 Interior 17 17 17 18 69 17.25

150 mins

Exterior 15 15 15 15 60 15

16 Interior 17 17 17 18 69 17.25

180 mins

Exterior 15 15 15 15 60 15

16 Interior 18 18 18 19 73 18.25

Total Collective MAST

Total MAST of all 4 Leg Wraps 16 Exterior 15

Interior 17

Total MAST 16


Horses distal limbs did not just increase in temperature but also decreased in temperature which indicates the

leg wraps ability to absorb heat and emit heat allowing a more stable and regulated temperature effect,

therefore preventing the horse’s legs from heating up beyond that of a safe level.

Documents

The effects of the Protechmasta Infrared leg wraps on the ... · Despite the high incidence of flexor tendon and ligament injury in the ... repair responses. ... to discern the boots