TECAR (Capacitive and Resistive Energy Transfer) is an evidence-based innovative technology, or therapeutic diathermy modality (deep tissue thermotherapy), that uses electrical currents in the radio waves band of the electromagnetic spectrum, at a longwave frequency of 448KHz.
It is also known as radiofrequency electrical current therapy (RFEC) or by the acronym CRET (capacitive and resistive electric transfer) therapy and this device uses the exact same technology as INDIBA.
It is an electrophysical therapy that has been used for decades in the human sports medicine field, to successfully treat musculoskeletal pathologies and pain, and in rehabilitation, by promoting the body’s natural healing response. In more recent times, it has become available for animals, with equally positive results.
This really is an exciting therapeutic modality, particularly for large animals like horses and it has proven to be a game-changer, as it allows for deep penetration of tissues and structures (10cm – 15cm), without energy loss.
No other electrophysical agent can access such injuries, or penetrate to this depth, making it far superior! TECAR technology is safe, pain-free and non-invasive, without side-effects. It is a comfortable, relaxing and pleasant therapy, with no requirement for sedation.
It has 2 modes of energy transfer, via electrodes moved dynamically against the skin, using a closed loop circuit.
These are:
- Capacitive mode – affects tissues with higher electrolytic content (soft tissues and muscles)
- Resistive mode – affects tissues with higher resistance (joint, bone, tendon).
This revolutionary technology transfers energy at depth, generating endogenous heat directly within the tissues, triggering a bio-stimulating effect, for therapeutic purposes. This bio-stimulating activity promotes tissue-repair and cell metabolism, through increased nutrient and oxygen supply, increased circulation, modulation of inflammation, modulation of cell proliferation and differentiation, and activation of cell functionality.
If you think your horse could benefit from TECAR Radiofrequency Therapy, we would love to hear from you!
Let us give your horse a voice!
Clinical Applications
TECAR radiofrequency therapy is a very effective and soothing treatment, that can aid in the treatment of horses suffering from a wide range of musculoskeletal conditions, both acute and chronic, including, but not limited to the following:
- Sacroiliac (SI) joint dysfunction (other therapies can’t access)
- Deep gluteal muscles and iliopsoas (other therapies can’t access)
- Pelvic dysfunction (other therapies can’t access}
- Back pain e.g. Kissing spines, facet joint OA
- Joint pathologies
- Bone splints
- Fractures
- Muscle pathologies
- Contractures
- Accumulation of lactic acid
- Tendon and ligament injuries, both acute and chronic
- Osteoarthritis
- Degenerative joint disease (DJD)
- Osteochondrosis dissecans (OCD)
- Wound healing
- Contusions
- Hematomas
- Post-surgical recovery
- Myofascial adhesions
- Trigger points
- Scar tissue and fibrosis
- Lymphatic drainage
- Oedema
- Laminitis
- For pre and post competition conditioning
- Can be used with metal implants
Clinical Benefits
TECAR radiofrequency therapy provides both sub-thermal and thermal benefits, as follows:
- Increases cell metabolism
- Significantly increases blood-flow and circulation
- Increases lymphatic drainage
- Enhances the supply of oxygen and nutrients to tissue
- Stimulates and accelerates wound and tissue-healing
- Enhances tendon and ligament healing
- Provides pain-relief
- Modulates inflammation
- Accelerates the recovery of both acute and chronic musculoskeletal injuries
- Accelerates post-surgical healing
- Enhances osteoarthritis management
- Enhances athletic performance
- Reduces fatigue and DOMS (delayed onset muscle soreness)
- Provides pre-exercise conditioning and relaxation, and recovery post-exercise
- Increases stride length
- Improves tissue flexibility
- Improves muscular stability and the recovery of mobility
- Aids in injury prevention
- Supports the facilitation of manual therapy and rehabilitation exercises, as part of a multimodal approach
- Analgesic effect i.e. relieves acute and chronic pain
- Increases blood circulation
- Modulates inflammation and reduces swelling
- Improves vascular activity, with increased formation of new capillaries (angiogenesis)
- Enhances the repair of tendon and ligament injuries
- Accelerates tissue repair, cell proliferation and regeneration
- Accelerates wound-healing
- Reduces scar tissue formation
- Soothes muscle tension
- Improved mobility
- Enhances muscle fibre pattern alignment and function
- Enhances nerve function and regeneration
- Has antibacterial and antiviral effects
- Increases collagen production
- Delays the progression of disease
- Reduces oxidative stress
- Improves immune function
Contraindications
- Pacemakers and electronic implants
- Thrombophlebitis
- Pregnancy
- Internal infection and
- abscesses
- Not to be used over active growth plates
- Not to be used directly over a tumour, or lymph nodes, in patients with cancer
Supportive Veterinary Evidence Links:
- https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/33291357/
- https://bmcvetres.biomedcentral.com/articles/10.1186/s12917-020-2233-x
- https://indiba.com/us/hub-asset/improvement-of-the-locomotive-characteristics-of-the-collected-trot-passage-and-piaffe-in-pre-dressage-horses-before-and-after-application-of-a-radiofrequency-therapy/
- https://indiba.com/us/hub-asset/use-of-capacitive-resistive-monopolar-radiofrequency-at-448-khz-in-the-treatment-of-wounds-due-to-trauma-on-the-mid-face-of-the-pastern-of-the-foot-of-a-horse/
- https://indiba.com/hub-asset/use-of-monopolar-capacitive-resistive-radiofrequency-at-448-khz-in-the-treatment-of-a-horse-with-kissing-spine/
- https://indiba.com/us/hub-asset/horse-lumbar-pain-control-with-448-khz-radiofrequency-first-approach-3-cases-report/
- https://indiba.com/us/hub-asset/use-of-indiba-radiofrequency-in-the-treatment-of-thickening-of-the-rear-superficial-digital-flexor-tendon-due-to-tendinitis/
- https://indiba.com/news/tendon-and-ligament-injuries-in-horses-case-compilation/
- https://indiba.com/hub-asset/use-of-monopolar-capacitive-resistive-radiofrequency-at-448-khz-in-the-treatment-of-a-chronic-injury-of-the-suspensory-ligament-of-the-fetlock/
- https://indiba.com/us/hub-asset/treatment-of-neck-contusion-signs-in-a-dog-with-monopolar-radiofrequency-at-448-khz/
- https://www.researchgate.net/publication/286576620_Diathermia_by_capacitive_and_resistive_energy_transfer_in_the_treatment_of_tendinous_and_ligamentous_injuries_of_sport_horses_Personal_experiences
- https://indiba.com/us/hub-asset/radiofrequency-at-448-khz-for-the-treatment-of-muscle-spasticity-in-a-dog-with-c2-c3-spinal-cord-injury/
- https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC5940481/
- https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/30269963/
- https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/29765189/
- https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/35565117/
- https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/abs/10.1080/21679169.2017.1316310
- https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/33174467/
- https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/26524223/
- https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/34315307/
- https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/25427571/
If you think your horse could benefit from TECAR Radiofrequency Therapy, we would love to hear from you!
Let us give your horse a voice!