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VIBRATION THERAPY
The outer workings of the vibrating floor
observed reactions. Under the watchful eye of Broström, veterinary student Marianne Tingbö discovered no adverse effects. In her report Tingbö wrote, “the idea is that vibration will stimulate healing of injuries, relax rigidities and make the horse more variable. According to users of the floor, it has also had a very positive effect on horses showing colic symptoms. No negative effect has been observed with the treatment of horses and the horses seemed to like the treatment.” Broström agreed. He wrote, “The study concentrated on Thermographic imaging. It showed a significant decrease in skin and hoof wall temperatures in front legs after vibration for 45 minutes. No significant changes were observed in rectal temperature, heart rate and in several blood parameters. The horses did not reject repeated vibration periods. On the contrary, they seemed to like it.” There didn’t seem to be any reason why youngsters could not also benefit from vibration therapy; growing bones, according to Broström, were not at any risk from the treatment, especially “if the young horse has a correct constitution.” This was fantastic news to Bö and backed up what he believed about the vibrating floor. The Norwegian trainer first had the idea about the therapeutic properties of a vibrating floor when travelling a horse to a race in Milan, Italy, in 1992. The horse, Prairie, had tendon problems, but after a bumpy journey he came out of the trailer looking visibly better, according to Bö. The sprinter won his race. “I spent some time thinking about it.” Bö said. “Then in 2001/2002 it from went from idea to product and we developed and made it in 2003.” Bö and his family patented and sold their first vibrating floor in February 2004, so it’s relatively new to the marketplace and still a novel concept as a preventive and healing tool. Bö, his brothers, and their wives often discuss ideas for inventions and seem to have a few up their sleeves, but they chose to proceed with vibration therapy because of the positive effects it has on horses. Due to Bö’s profession as a trainer and formerly a jockey it was a subject close to his heart; he clearly has an affinity with the equine and a good eye for a happy one. But getting the product off the ground was hard. Bö said, “It’s not simple like if you develop a new screw which you screw in the wall to show people. It is effective for horses in all ways, but the horse business has been up and down and it takes a lot to convince people.” Bö, who lives and used to train in Sweden, then enlisted the help of the SLU to run clinical trials, keen to know if there could be
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