27/09/2026
Addressing the elephant in the room… Particularly in the equine physiotherapy world right now.
There’s been a lot of discussion recently around a particular pulsed electromagnetic therapy device being used in equine rehabilitation.
I’m certainly not against the use of technology — I use several electrotherapy modalities myself. But I do believe that with powerful equipment comes responsibility.
My Winback system was supplied after I provided my professional qualifications, completed in-person training and lectures, and obtained appropriate insurance before using it clinically. I use it alongside clinical assessment and under veterinary guidance.
What I’d like to encourage is a conversation around training, clinical reasoning and appropriate use of these technologies.
I’ve heard first-hand reports of this particular PEMF device being available to riders and trainers without previous therapeutic training. I can’t comment on individual circumstances, but if this is the case, I think it’s worth considering how we ensure appropriate operator training, case selection and awareness of contraindications.
I’m particularly interested in its use around the head and cervical region, where there are many sensitive neurological and vascular structures…
And one thing I think we should all be careful about is interpreting yawning, licking or chewing as an automatic sign of “release.”
These behaviours can occur in different contexts, so I believe it’s important to look at the whole horse — eyes, ears, respiration, posture, muscle tone, head and neck position and any attempts to move away.
A horse can yawn and still be holding significant tension.
This isn’t about dismissing a particular technology or saying it has no place in rehabilitation. In the right hands it could be very useful.
It’s about asking whether the technology is being used appropriately for the individual horse, by someone with the appropriate knowledge and training.
Technology can be a fantastic addition to rehabilitation.
But it should complement clinical assessment — not replace it.
