Martin B B, Klide A M
J Am Vet Med Assoc. 1987 May 1;190(9):1177-80.
Fifteen horses that could not train or perform their sport at an acceptable level because of chronic back pain of 2 to 24 months' duration, and that did not obtain lasting improvement from other previous treatments, were treated with acupuncture. The treatments consisted of injection of 1 ml of sterile saline (0.9% NaCl) solution, with no preservatives, at 9 acupuncture points. The horses were treated once a week for a mean of 9 treatments. The mean number of treatments before obvious improvement was 4. After treatment, 13 of the 15 horses had apparent alleviation of their signs of pain and could train and compete. Six to 12 months after their last treatment, 2 horses had been removed from competition; one had sustained a fracture and the other had died. The remaining 11 of the original 13 that competed after treatment were still competing.
15匹马因持续2至24个月的慢性背痛而无法以可接受的水平进行训练或参加比赛，且此前接受的其他治疗未取得持久改善，遂接受了针灸治疗。治疗方法是在9个穴位注射1毫升不含防腐剂的无菌生理盐水（0.9%氯化钠）溶液。这些马每周接受一次治疗，平均治疗9次。明显改善前的平均治疗次数为4次。治疗后，15匹马中有13匹的疼痛症状明显减轻，能够进行训练和比赛。在最后一次治疗后的6至12个月，有2匹马退出了比赛；一匹马发生了骨折，另一匹马死亡。最初接受治疗后参赛的13匹马中，其余11匹仍在参赛。
