Go back to previous page

  

Panama Equine Spa
How does it work?
 

Racing phenomenon Red Rum was, in his early days, plagued by a potentially crippling foot disease, which could have ended his career. Then Ginger McCain took him on and banished him to the sea. He trained all his horses on Southport beach and within weeks Red Rum was fit and ready to run. The rest is history. Now Panama Spa can bring the healing of the sea to your yard....

Using chilled, aerated, saline water maintained between 2 - 4°C, the Panama Spa helps to reduce swelling and encourage healing of lower leg injuries and also hardens tendons and ligaments. The saline water ensures that the wound is kept thoroughly clean and, together with the oxygenating jets, increases blood circulation, which speeds tissue re-growth and reduces overall healing time.

An Australian manufactured spa was donated to the University of Sydney to facilitate clinical trials and establish an independent verdict on the benefits of cold-water hydrotherapy. The trials were conducted by Professor E R Hunt, MVSc, PhD, G Dip Ed (Tert) who has 30 years equine veterinary experience and described himself as the archetypical sceptic prior to the commencement of the trials. The first trials were conducted during winter and the results were very encouraging. However as winter turned to summer Professor Hunt found it diffi cult to replicate the early positive results. Only when they experimented with different water temperatures was it ascertained that the lower ambient winter temperatures had a major impact on the outcome. Once the optimum temperature of the water was known, further trials established the optimum salination of the water, and it was historically well documented that the salt in sea water had a significant anti inflammatory effect. Having established the optimum conditions required to facilitate heal ing, clinical trials were conducted on 27 horses. Many leg injuries were treated and all responded well showing an improvement after treatment.

“We thought we would have to shoot a young horse and now he is back competing two months later — amazing"
Ellen Blackburn - Customer who had her horse treated in the Panama Spa

"After the initial treatment for the acute phase of the condition, Niamh was referred for four weeks hydrotherapy to the Panama Equine Hydrotherapy Unit. She responded well to this treatment and, in my opinion, the hydrotherapy was a significant factor in reducing her convalescence period and hastening her return to ridden exercise". Elizabeth M Gorse - Rose Cottage Veterinary center. BVetMed, CertEP, MRCVS

Therapeutic Uses of Hydrotherapy:

The Stables Cottage, Gisburn Park, Gisburn, Lancs. BB7 4HU
Tel: 01200 445 687/07802 937 741/07740 796 996

www.panamasporthorses.co.uk
info@panamasporthorses.co.uk

Polo Times May 2004

Go back to previous page