New Study Shows Acupressure May Reduce Back Sensitivity in Horses. Research by Animalweb Expert Dr Roberta Blake and colleagues reveals promising early results
A new peer-reviewed study has provided the first scientific evidence that a single session of manual acupressure can immediately reduce back sensitivity in horses. The research, led by Anna Chinn and supervised by Dr Roberta Blake, Chartered Physiotherapist, lecturer at Writtle University, and Animalweb Expert, offers an important step forward in understanding whether acupressure has measurable physical effects in horses.
Published in the International Journal of Equine Science, the study explored how a 10-minute acupressure treatment affected the mechanical nociceptive threshold (MNT) of the back, essentially, how much pressure a horse tolerates before reacting.
Back discomfort is common in ridden horses, yet objective, non-invasive tools to support management are limited. While acupressure is widely used in equine practice, there has been little scientific evidence in horses to validate its effects. This new research begins to fill that gap.
What the researchers did
Ten adult horses at Writtle University College took part in a randomised, controlled crossover study. Each horse received:
- One real acupressure treatment (nine acupoints commonly recommended for back pain)
- One sham session (the therapist held a finger near the points but did not touch the horse)
For both treatments, the team measured MNTs:
- Before treatment
- Immediately after
- 24 hours later
Pressure was measured using a handheld algometer at six points along the spine, allowing the team to objectively assess changes in sensitivity.
What they found
The results showed clear, statistically significant differences following real acupressure, compared with no meaningful change after the sham treatment.
Key findings include:
- Immediate increase in MNTs at the T18 region (both left and right sides)
Horses tolerated significantly more pressure, meaning reduced sensitivity, straight after acupressure. - A further increase at the L6 region (left side) one day later
Suggesting the effect may persist beyond the treatment session. - No significant changes at any point after the sham treatment.
The increase in pressure tolerance at T18 was particularly notable, with a median improvement of 16.3% compared with 6.2% after the sham condition.
While the study had a small sample size, the results align with early human research and previous equine studies on acupuncture or electro-acupuncture.
What does this mean for horse owners and practitioners?
This study suggests that acupressure may have an immediate and measurable effect on back sensitivity in horses, potentially supporting comfort and movement. However, the authors emphasise the need for larger studies before clinical recommendations can be made.
The research also highlights the complexity of back pain — and the value of objective tools like algometry when assessing treatments.
Dr Roberta Blake, co-author and Animalweb Expert, commented: “Acupressure is widely used in equine practice, but robust data has been lacking. These early results give us a foundation for further research and offer some encouraging signs that manual acupressure may influence back sensitivity in horses.”
To read the full Open Access paper – Effect of a Single Acupressure Treatment on the Mechanical Nociceptive Thresholds (MNTs) of the Equine Epaxial Back Musculature
