cold spa therapy

The ECB Cold Spa is an integral facility in our rehabilitation programs at Peasebrook. The water is maintained at between 2 and 4 degrees Celsius and has a high concentration of salt. Jacuzzi jets  pummel the tissues to help reduce swelling. The extreme cold leads to profound vasoconstriction which reduces inflammation and when the legs warm up after treatment the re-perfusion effect promotes healing.

We have treated a wide variety of inflammatory limb conditions ranging from superficial flexor tendon and suspensory ligament injuries to laminitis, lymphangitis and bone oedema. When horses are progressing in their treadmill and ground-schooling work, potentially leading to tissue inflammation, the cold spa is used post-exercise to keep everything settled. We feel strongly that the combination of a dry treadmill followed by the cold spa is much more beneficial than a water treadmill where there is a real danger of just building upper body strength and reducing stride length.

Horses are introduced slowly to the spa and are usually mildly sedated on the first occasion.