Three Keys to Equine Joint Health and The Triple-Action Approach of Joint Impact
Apr 24th 2020
When it comes to your horse’s joint function, there are three components that must be addressed for optimum mobility. Those components are internal joint condition, joint capsule inflammation and the surrounding joint ligament condition. Your joint maintenance plan, including supplemental support and veterinarian administered joint injections, must address all three to allow your horse to train and perform at their highest level.
The Metabolic Condition of the Joint
The design of your horse’s joints is complex, composed of the joint capsule, cartilage, synovial fluid, and surrounding ligaments. A breakdown in any one of these areas may inhibit joint function, flexibility, and cause associated pain.
Joint injections can address both inflammation of the joint capsule, as well as provide lubrication around your horse’s joint cartilage. The type of injection used will be determined by your veterinarian, depending on your horse’s individual needs. Experience tells us that any intra-articular injections are time limited and a program of repeated injections is required to maintain peak function over a show season.
The goal of the maintenance program is to maintain the horse’s performance level throughout their training and performance season.
Over the long term it is cost-efficient to add an effective supplementation program to add comfort and extend the time between joint injections. Glucosamine and Chondroitin Sulfate supplementation has been scientifically shown in studies to improve synovial fluid in horses. Better than supplying Hyaluronic Acid from an external source, Glucosamine and Chondroitin Sulfate in combination have a strong stimulatory effect on the horse’s own Hyaluronan production, thereby increasing synovial fluid viscosity.
In a 2006 study, 10 horses were followed to assess the efficacy of oral Glucosamine Sulfate and oral Chondroitin Sulfate. During the 6 years of supplementation, the overall number and frequency of joint injections dropped dramatically. Horses that had required 2 to 3 distal inter-tarsal joint injections per year to maintain performance prior to the oral therapy were able to perform well with one injection or less per year while taking oral Glucosamine Sulfate and Chondroitin Sulfate supplementation. ( Click here to read the study.)
Joint Impact contains Glucosamine HCL, Glucosamine Sulfate and Chondroitin Sulfate in just the right combination to maximize the production of Hyaluronan to help your horse’s joints move freely, as well as potentially lengthen the amount of time between joint injections depending on your horse’s condition and veterinarian’s recommendations.
The Inflammatory Condition of the Joint capsule
Inflammation of the joint capsule precipitates pain and can inhibit overall joint function and mobility. Capsulitis is often evident as effusion surrounding the area of the joint. Joint injections containing corticosteroids help to immediately reduce surrounding inflammation and reduce pain. NSAIDs are useful in relieving the pain associated with joint inflammation because they quickly reduce the body’s inflammatory response. Unfortunately there are numerous side effects from NSAID use that must be managed, making long term NSAID maintenance challenging.
Joint Impact contains a proprietary blend of natural ingredients called BW1. These ingredients are shown to reduce the inflammatory process in soft tissue like the joint capsule and surrounding structures. They produce a level of comfort by limiting the infusion of pro-inflammatory agents to the site of soreness or injury. (Read the study here.) By improving healing and limiting swelling, joint function and mobility are improved and horses can train or perform more comfortably.
Pain Management
Pain and restricted movement is the net result of inflammation and arthritic joints. Periodic joint injections are well-known to be effective for pain management. Used between scheduled injections, NSAIDs are effective pain relievers and horses train and perform better when less painful. However, their extended use is limited by their associated side effects and competition regulations.
Joint Impact provides a unique amino acid compound, PP1, which provides visible extended relief for exercise-related joint soreness. Coupled with the anti-inflammatory effect of BW1, the presence of PP1 offers extended benefits that enhance joint function, suppleness and comfortJoint Impact supports the pyramid of joint health and allows the horse to train and perform more comfortably between scheduled joint therapies.
Feed JOINT IMPACT According to Your Horse’s Work Schedule.
Pre-Event Level: For horses in strenuous training or while performing. 3 scoops per day for a minimum of 5 days before event. Costs as little as $4.29 per day!
Training Level: For horses in a consistent training program. Load for 7 days with 3 scoops per day. Follow with 2 scoops per day thereafter. Costs as little as $2.86 per day!
Maintenance Level: For horses in maintenance care. Load for 7 days with 3 scoops per day. Follow with 1 scoop per day thereafter. Costs as little as $1.43 per day!
Ready to support your horse's joint health?