The story of McKelvey so far.....

Doncaster : 2.25pm, Saturday 1^st March 2008

Eleven months on, and after his first run over hurdles a mere 47 weeks after he broke down, connections are delighted that McKelvey came through the race incredibly well.

Trainer Peter Bowen is completely blown away by the speed in which McKelvey has returned to racing fitness. “It's truly amazing, I still can't quite believe it, the scans are something else, the lay down of type one collagen is well defined, his legs are cold and there is no swelling. Of course there is a slight bow, but there is also clearly definition when you run your hand down the leg and the horse is sound. I'm amazed.”

Although the device was used in conjunction with other therapies Peter Bowen stated : “the tendon fibres have laid down correctly rather than in the zig zag of fibres that usually occur after a tendon injury. We have done absolutely everything we would do normally in a similar injury, but I've never seen a horse come back to race fitness so quickly.”

McKelvey broke down in the final stages of the 4 mile chase, memorably chasing Silver Birch to the finish line only to be beaten by ¾ of a length.

His recovery has been somewhat of a miracle, defying all the odds, and comments from professionals and veterinarians alike. On completing the race on 14^th April 2007 such was the extent of the injury that his hock was touching the ground, and veterinary advice at the time was that he would never be ridden again.

This did not, however, take into account the love and attention that was to be lavished on him by Peter, Karen and their entire staff, and the inestimable value of using Micro-Current Technology on even this most severe of soft tissue injuries

“He is a tough horse with guts, he carried on when most horses would have pulled up I'm sure he will come through the National well. If he comes home safe and jumps around clear I'll be pleased, but winning the National has been a lifelong dream of mine.” reflects Bowen.

We’re bombarded with the latest tendon treatment or tendon therapy each one claiming to be ‘revolutionary’ and to work, only to discover, a few months down the road the promises made by the manufacturers pale into insignificance and you’re back to square one.

A new device called MicroVet which has recently steered Grand National runner up McKelvey back to work within an unbelievable 12 weeks following the rupture of a tendon has seriously given this new product some credit. His Trainer Peter Bowen who was delighted with the progress said, “The tendon scans are quite incredible, far beyond what I ever imagined they would look like. We could start treating McKelvey with the MicroVet almost immediately following his injury as alongside cold water therapy, the MicroVet could eliminate swelling.”

At £250 a piece, with its easy application, this product seems to work and is already turning heads with some of the leading physiotherapists and vets in the eventing world. Howard Newitt partner to Nick Mills at Cinque Ports Veterinary practice in Hawkhurst in Kent has used MicroVet on an International Event horse aimed at an autumn three day who had suffered a haematoma on his inside foreleg, “We used the MicroVet because time was limited. The horse’s recovery was a lot quicker than my self and the physiotherapist Leana Pearson Wood far expected. It reduced the swelling enough for the horse to be sound enough to stay in training and fit for the autumn three day.”

Howard also added that they are looking at using it following the cross country phase to reduce swelling and following veterinary advice with your vet, the Microvet would be an invaluable tool.

Where did it begin?
A few years ago, using Microcurrent technology, MicroDoctor was designed to treat world class sportsmen including premiership footballers. The device was used to eliminate scar tissue, regenerate damaged tendon and ligaments amongst other injuries. The sports players that used it found it to be an invaluable tool, so much so that the Wasp rugby team proceeded to purchase one for each player and endorse the product with great success.

Tendon Scan - 19 April 2007 (left)

It was introduced to the racing world three years ago and was re-branded as MicroVet and it has been used with huge success by some highly prolific competition horses.

But, how does it work and why is it so effective?
It works by sending a minute electric charge throughout the body, nothing like tens or shock wave. It is completely pain free and non evasive it doesn’t dull or numb the nerves it works with the cells. Gel pads are applied to the skin (preferable if the horse’s leg is shaved) and the Microvet device which can be held in the hand clips onto the horse’s rug.
It has been proven in humans that we produce an electrical charge that can be scientifically measured. The amount of current or electrical charge used in Micro current Technology is approximately the same level as what the cells in our body normally produce. This amount of electrical current is far below are ability to perceive any stimulus via our "sensory nerves." Our sensory nerves are those nerves that allow us to feel anything that touches our skin, allows us to sense heat, etc. If our sensory nerves were able to react at those extremely low levels of electrical charge, we would be feeling nerve sensations all the time, instead of at the appropriate times. This difference accounts for the reason why microcurrent is "sub sensory." The electrical charge produced by microcurrent is below the level at which our sensory nerves can perceive.

A benefit of causing healthy electrical changes at the cellular level is an increase in cellular activity. Cases such as azotoria are significantly reduced in these instances. This enhanced cellular activity causes a 500% increase in ATP production from the cells treated with Microcurrent Technology. (ATP is the "fuel" your body manufactures for use and / or storage of energy.) In addition to the dramatic increase in ATP production, enhanced cellular activity also causes an excitement by your cells to dump old stored toxins into the bloodstream; toxins that may have been accumulating over years. As the released toxins enter the bloodstream, they will eventually reach and be processed by your liver in a detoxification pathway, then dumped out of your body. Your liver has enzymes that can normally process all toxins, however such a dramatic increase in toxins all at once is like rush hour traffic on the motorway.

Tendon Scan - 3 July 2007 (right)

Although still in it’s infancy in the equestrian world, scientific research has proven that microcurrent technology works in treating humans. The transition to the equestrian world has so far created a huge interest with horses like McKelvey returning to work after such a career even life threatening injury.
With Microcurrent therapy using the delivery system MicroVet, it has so far succeeded to work time and time again. Ian Thirkell who has been instrumental in bringing the device to the equestrian world believes it really will serve a place in maintaining so many competition horses in work saving valuable money and time. “I have yet to see a horse who has not responded to this treatment. We are working with Vets to seek veterinary approval worldwide but we feel very positive about the future of this product.”

Written by Heledd Phillips for Event Riders ( www.eventriders.com  )