What is INDIBA Animal Health?

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INDIBA® Animal Health is a technology based on a specific

Monopolar Radiofrequency Capacitive/Resistive at a fixed

frequency of 448 kHz. INDIBA is the market leader in non-invasive radio

frequency devices, and accumulated over 35 years of

research and experience in this technology.

INDIBA benefits the health and recovery of patients using two main effects:
The first is its ability to increase the heat of body tissues, a process called diathermy.
The second is that INDIBA®’s technology generates unique and clinically proven effects on cell structure, stimulating and accelerating tissue repair mechanisms.
The energy passing into the body promotes tissue repair, reduces pain and increases the blood flow intensity and volume, delivering vital nutrients and oxygen.

How it works?

The INDIBA works by the application of radiofrequency, this produces electrical effects to the tissues working at 448kHz frequency, using a rigid circular metallic electrode (65mm) and an active large rectangular electrode (200x260mm) is used as an inactive electrode. The radiofrequency is delivered by two modes: the captive (CAP) and the resistive (RES). The CAP electrode has a polyamide coating, which is the dielectric medium, protecting the skin surface from the metal surface. The RES node is uncoated to allow the radiofrequency to travel through the body directly into the inactive electrode this allows the deeper penetration of heat and improved effect of healing in deeper tissues (Kumaran & Watson, 2015). This specific electrode isn't seen in any other modalities and what sets it aside from the others, allowing for that deeper penetration that is needed for larger animals. How it manages to reach the deeper tissues, is due to the closed-circuit mechanism. Meaning that the current moves from the treatment head to the sternum plate, and then back to the treatment head for the process to be repeated, allowing treatment to deeper regions such as the SIJ and deep gluteal muscles which are unreachable by manual therapies. INDIBA technology can be completely integrated with manual therapy and exercise. Reducing the time it takes to generate a thermal response and lasting beyond 45 minutes after you stopped application, this is scientifically proven to last longer than other EPA’s focus on getting the most out of mobilisation stretching and exercises.

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Why 448kHz?

INDIBA works at the specific stable frequency of 448 kHz, which is the optimum frequency for biological effectiveness (Hernández-Bule, Trillo, Martinez-Garcia, Abilahoud, & Úbeda, 2017). It has been described that radiofrequency currents at 448 kHz have the ability to promote the proliferation of stem cells, with activity that is key to tissue regeneration (Hernández-Bule et al, 2014) which jointly with analgesic activity (Labanda 2009) justify the interest in various conditions and use in horses. Research by Kumuran, Herbland, & Watson (2017), determine that INDIBA has one of the deepest penetration potentials when comparing to other electrotherapies such as shockwave.

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Biological effects of INDIBA?

Electric effects

Unique 448 kHz biostimulation

 

• Stimulates replication and favours stem cell differentiation.

• Stimulates tissue regeneration.

• Stimulates the synthesis of cartilaginous matrix.

• Increases microcirculation: immediate drainage effect.

 

Thermal effects

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• Vascularization

• Additional to the Electric Effect

• Increased tissue temperature

• Increased basal metabolism

• Local vasodilation

• Increased lymphatic drainage

• Collagen and elastin synthesis stimulation.

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​Evidence in horses (research articles):

 

• Enhanced power and elongate stride at both walk and trot (Becero et al, 2020). Thermal effects using the resistive mode of INDIBA, has shown to increase muscle flexibility and therefore increase spinal range of motion (Yokoto et al, 2017).

• Treatment of knee OA which shows to have significant effects on pain and function with 4  weeks worth of treatment (Kumaran & Watson, 2019).

• Notable anti-inflammatory effect, as well as regeneration of broken tendon fibres, which after treatment course showed to be more organised and consistent in superficial digital flexor tendon in horses (Campos, Aguera & Requena).

• The effect on haemoglobin saturation was higher in the radio-frequency (INDIBA) than in the thermotherapy group (Tashiro et al, 2017).

• Enhancing repair of the peritendinous region, of the Achilles’ tendon, with significant improvement of blood circulation (Tsubasa Bito et al, 2019)

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Could your horse benefit?

Horses recovering from injury, or that have long lasting compensatory issues due to previous injury can benefit from INDIBA treatment. INDIBA can also be used to enhance and improve performance and function in horses without injury. INDIBA is suitable for a wide range of conditions or performance-based enhancements, and is approved by the International Federation for Equestrian Sports (FEI).

Conditions treated with INDIBA:

 

• Joint conditions – osteoarthritis (OA), Osteochondrosis dissecans (OCD)

• Capsulitis/Synovitis

• Tendon injuries – acute/chronic, tears, avulsions, ruptures

• Ligament injuries – acute/chronic, ruptures, desmitis

• Fibrillar rupture

• Splints/Periostitis

• Fractures and fissures

• Sacroiliac joint conditions

• Desmitis/Bursitis

• Laminitis

• TMJ conditions

• Spinal Pathology – Kissing spines, Facet joint OA

• Muscles tension/Contracture/Trigger points

• Pre-surgical therapy

• Post-surgical therapy – can be used with metal implants

• Oedema/Haematoma

• Wounds

• Scar tissue

• Pain management

• Improved performance