| The Electro-Acuscope has been referred to as "the
best kept secret in equine therapy". The instrument has
successfully treated common equine problems such as
pulled muscles and ligaments, inflammation, abscessed
feet and nerve paralysis. It is particularly successful in
relieving or greatly reducing the swelling and pain of
tissue damage occurring from athletic injury. In
addition, the Acuscope has proven effective in the
treatment of conditions thought to be life threatening
or crippling, such as laminitis, navicular problems,
deep puncture wounds and deteriorating coffin bone.
The body is made up of a vast number of cells. In
many ways these cells are like tiny batteries, storing
and releasing energy, doing their work of taking in
nutrients, releasing waste products, repairing and
reproducing themselves, etc. Each cell, I like any
battery, has a measurable electrical charge that must be
maintained in order to function properly.
What
is the Electro-Acuscope/Myoscope Therapy System?
The Electro-Acuscope is a highly sophisticated electronic
medical instrument which is designed to scan and treat many
types of painful conditions. It is one of a class of electrical
stimulators called TENS (Transcutaneous Electrical Nerve Stimulation).
TENS means that the instrument uses electricity to reduce
pain by stimulating the nervous system of the body without
puncturing the skin in any way. The Myoscope, companion instrument
to the Acuscope, gently stimulates the muscles, tendons and
ligaments, reducing spasm and inflammation, and strengthens
tissue that has been damaged by traumatic injury. Together
they comprise the most technologically advanced and effective
electronic physical therapy equipment available in health
care today.
Another unique feature of the Acuscope is the microchip
circuitry that is designed to scan and monitor the
tissue. Other electrical stimulation units gather no
feedback and produce only a simple fixed output
according to preset specifications. The Acuscope reads
neurological impedance (resistance) in the circuit
created through the tissue placed between the two
probes. Based on the information it gathers, the unit is
programmed to calculate appropriate corrective
waveforms. Acuscopes used on horses are specially
calibrated to take into account their level of conductivity
which is higher than humans. Computerized circuitry
picks up abnormalities in nerve fiber impulses (input)
and modifies its infinitely variable square wave signal
(output) appropriately. Its self-correcting mechanisms
continually adjust the current until normal patterns are
being conducted without resistance through the tissue
between the probes. The readings then tell the therapist
when an area has been successfully treated and the
probes can be moved to another location. This feedbackmodulated
procedure eliminates the possibility of overtreatment
or harm to the cells.
Remarkably, results are usually noticeable immediately,
with continued improvement over the next few days.
Within a week, most conditions will have progressed
dramatically. Chronic conditions may take several
treatments before initial results are observed; yet
Acuscope treatments are known to resolve serious
conditions, which would otherwise never improve.
Enhanced alertness, calmness, definite changes
in gait, coordination, and balance are typically some of
the immediate results along with reductions of pain,
swelling, and relief from muscle tightness. It has been
consistently observed that the animal becomes extremely
relaxed from this pain-free, non-intrusive procedure. A
typical response by the horse during and after treatment
is to lower his head, bend a rear leg, give a deep sigh of
relaxation, lick and chew, and yawn. |
Energy flows constantly between all cells throughout the
electrical circuitry of the body. When damage or trauma
occurs to living tissue, there is a disruption in the
electrical capacity of the involved cells and after an initial
surge, there results a measurable decrease in the
production and flow of energy through the electrical
network of the involved tissues.
This condition is generally
accompanied by pain in the area
and often results in the body's
inability to completely repair
itself. Thus, lengthy rest
periods and inactivity are often prescribed
in order to attain eventual restoration of normal function.
At this point, the Acuscope is frequently introduced.
Since the instrument has both feedback and
therapeutic functions, it actually provides auditory and
numerical readouts, which indicate the locations where
tissue is damaged, unhealthy. Once abnormal areas are
located, the Acuscope can then treat the tissue
according to its needs. An experienced therapist can
interpret the sounds and numbers, which reflect the
amount of conductivity passing through the tissue
between treatment probes, and can determine a course
of therapy based upon these readings. The Acuscope
readings tell the therapist where the problem is most
severe; it can pinpoint precise areas of excessive heat
and fluid in acutely damaged sites. It can also identify
tissue that has become chronic, i.e., an area of
deficiency in an energy depleted state. In addition, the
Acuscope can help locate problem areas in other parts
of the body that have become sore or painful as a result
of compensating for the original cause.
Acuscope therapy is a modality applied primarily for
pain relief, to improve soft tissue function, and to
increase range of motion. The Acuscope differs from
other electrical stimulation devices in that it delivers its
treatment in micro-amps. Most nerve stimulation
devices (ordinary TENS) produce milli-amperage
current designed to bombard the tissue and simply
block pain signals from reaching the brain. The
Acuscope, in contrast, generates only the level of
current required to gently encourage nerve and muscle
fiber to return to conduction of normal electrical
impulses. In contrast also, ordinary TENS devices
provide only temporary relief, whereas a series of
Acuscope treatments has a cumulative, long-term
healing effect.
The Acuscope's therapeutic capabilities go well
beyond the treatment of horses which are "off" or just
"not quite right". Its advanced and sophisticated
technology has been used extensively over the past
twenty years, by and under the supervision of many
veterinarians to deal with the most serious injuries and
acute life threatening conditions of the equine athlete.
In numerous recent scientific studies, micro-current
stimulation has been proven to have a profoundly
beneficial effect of living tissue. Micro-amperage
(below 1 milliamp) is the naturally occurring level of
current generated by cells throughout the body. In
technical terms, some of the benefits of micro-current
stimulation at the cellular level are: opening of voltagesensitive
calcium ion channels, normalizing cell
membrane, potential, restoring the sodium pump
function, enhancing protein synthesis, and increasing
ATP production. With this in mind, it is easy to
understand why supplying the kind of current
naturally occurring in healthy tissue promotes
regenerative metabolic activity.
Questions/Inquiries - Contact Stephanie |
