Trainer Martin Keighley’s racing yard has almost eliminated the use of pain and joint medication for his horses, replacing their use with INDIBA radiofrequency therapy.

“We hardly ever use medication now,” explains Keighley at his Gloucestershire base, “we lost a race at the Cheltenham Festival because there was still a trace of cortisone in our horse despite it being administered 40 days beforehand and we don’t want to be in that position again. I think we get improved results with INDIBA and it has to be better to cut down on medication and replace it with the therapy — the horses are more relaxed and happy now. It does make a difference to their wellbeing.”

At the entrance to the Condicote stables is a Cheltenham Roll of Honour where the latest victory at Prestbury Park, scored by Back on the Lash at the Festival Trials last month (January), is the 20th addition. “He had a nasty injury at Worcester, last season, when he was knocked sideways at a hurdle and tore his back muscles. We treated him with INDIBA and got him back to his old self – that would never have happened without the treatment. My vet’s fully supportive of our approach.”

Hannah Ashton is the veterinary physiotherapist who administers INDIBA’s patented 448 kHz radiofrequency treatments for Martin’s stable of elite equine athletes: “Martin has a fantastic team at his yard, and they tell me if they feel even the slightest thing wrong with their horse and Hollie, Martin’s assistant checks all of their legs every single night. Horses are relaxed, very few horses become anxious during treatment as it’s not painful or invasive in any way, unlike some treatments which require sedation.”

“We’ve got to the stage where horses with any issues are treated up to a couple of days before they run,” said Martin, “Our job is very much focused on maximising their wellbeing and giving them the opportunity to perform to the best of their ability. For me and my team therapy and not drugs is the way forward.”

INDIBA has been cited by Rafael Nadal’s longstanding doctor as working well for the tennis supremo, Chris Froome was seen in his latest video update receiving treatment with INDIBA supporting his rehabilitation and it’s a regular treatment in Premier League and Champions League football clubs across Europe. Physiotherapists to the world’s most expensive athletes have used INDIBA technology for performance, improving recovery, reducing pain and tissue healing for years. Now the patented technology is available for four-legged elite athletes to deliver the same benefits on the racecourse, in the arena and cross country.

What is INDIBA?

INDIBA is an electromagnetic current which is delivered to the body via electrodes at a radiofrequency of 448kHz. This current gradually increases the treated tissue temperature. The temperature rise triggers the body’s natural regeneration, repair and defence responses. For the current frequency of 448 kHz other effects can also be obtained without heating the body’s tissues, demonstrated via molecular research and bio-stimulation.

What are the main biological effects of INDIBA therapy?

Depending on the reached temperature, different effects are obtained.

At non-heating intensities, because of the unique 448kHz current, bio-stimulation occurs. This can help in the early stages of an injury by accelerating the body’s action. It can also help with pain relief and accelerate through the inflammatory pathway through to repair.

At mild temperature increase the main action is vascularization, increasing deep blood flow delivering more oxygen and nutrients for repair. Muscle spasms reduce and there is a reduction in pain. Oedema can be dramatically reduced.

At high temperatures there is a hyperactivation effect, which increases both deep blood flow volume and intensity (Kumaran & Watson 2017).