{"status":"ok","message-type":"work","message-version":"1.0.0","message":{"indexed":{"date-parts":[[2026,8,7]],"date-time":"2026-08-07T15:28:03Z","timestamp":1786116483177,"version":"build-2736575974"},"reference-count":54,"publisher":"MDPI AG","issue":"15","license":[{"start":{"date-parts":[[2026,8,6]],"date-time":"2026-08-06T00:00:00Z","timestamp":1785974400000},"content-version":"vor","delay-in-days":0,"URL":"https:\/\/creativecommons.org\/licenses\/by\/4.0\/"}],"content-domain":{"domain":[],"crossmark-restriction":false},"short-container-title":["Animals"],"abstract":"<jats:p>We aimed to investigate the effects of an 8-week 448 kHz radiofrequency (RF) on multifidus cross-sectional area (CSA) and thoracolumbar differential range of motion (ROM). Eight Thoroughbred horseball horses received four RF treatments (T9\u2013L6) at 2-week intervals. Multifidus CSA (T10\u2013L5) and differential spinal ROM between the withers (W), T13, T18, L3 and sacrum (S) were measured before treatment, immediately after the first session, 24 h after the first session, and at 8 weeks (15 days after the last session). Linear mixed models with Tukey post hoc comparisons were used. Significant effects of timepoint for CSA were significant with CSA increased at 8 weeks at all sites (T10\u2013L5; all p &lt; 0.001). No significant Time \u00d7 Side interactions were identified for CSA (all p \u2265 0.334), demonstrating bilaterally consistent responses. Absolute increases versus baseline were greatest at T18 (+2.52 cm2), L5 (+1.90 cm2), and T16 (+1.77 cm2) (all p &lt; 0.001). Axial rotation ROM increased transiently between W\u2013T13 at 24 h (+4.8\u00b0, p &lt; 0.001) but returned toward baseline at 8 weeks. Caudal thoracolumbar motion (T18\u2013L3) decreased at 8 weeks (\u22124.2\u00b0, p = 0.004), suggesting improved segmental stability. Flexion\u2013extension increased immediately post-treatment at W\u2013T13 (+2.29\u00b0, p = 0.009) before reducing below baseline at 8 weeks (\u22122.49\u00b0, p = 0.005). Lumbosacral ROM showed minimal change. RF therapy was associated with multifidus hypertrophy alongside region-specific modulation of spinal motion, characterised by transient mobility increases followed by reduced caudal thoracolumbar motion, consistent with improved neuro-muscular dynamic stabilisation via multifidus hypertrophy.<\/jats:p>","DOI":"10.3390\/ani16152437","type":"journal-article","created":{"date-parts":[[2026,8,6]],"date-time":"2026-08-06T09:46:38Z","timestamp":1786009598000},"page":"2437","update-policy":"https:\/\/doi.org\/10.3390\/mdpi_crossmark_policy","source":"Crossref","is-referenced-by-count":0,"title":["Eight Weeks of 448 kHz Radiofrequency Therapy Increases Multifidus Muscle Cross-Sectional Area and Modulates Thoracolumbar Range of Motion in Horses with Chronic Back Pain"],"prefix":"10.3390","volume":"16","author":[{"ORCID":"https:\/\/orcid.org\/0009-0004-9248-3819","authenticated-orcid":false,"given":"Marc","family":"Beaussart","sequence":"first","affiliation":[{"name":"School of Agriculture, Animal and Environmental Sciences, Anglia Ruskin University, Lordship Road, Writtle, Chelmsford CM1 3RR, UK"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"given":"Roland","family":"Perrin","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Clinique Equine Desbrosse, Chemin de Mallebranche, Les Petites Yvelines, 78610 Les Br\u00e9viaires, France"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"ORCID":"https:\/\/orcid.org\/0000-0003-3410-4329","authenticated-orcid":false,"given":"Eva","family":"Marunova","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"School of Agriculture, Animal and Environmental Sciences, Anglia Ruskin University, Lordship Road, Writtle, Chelmsford CM1 3RR, UK"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"given":"Fanny","family":"Moraine","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Clinique Equine Desbrosse, Chemin de Mallebranche, Les Petites Yvelines, 78610 Les Br\u00e9viaires, France"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"given":"Delphine","family":"Fourteau","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Clinique Equine Desbrosse, Chemin de Mallebranche, Les Petites Yvelines, 78610 Les Br\u00e9viaires, France"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"ORCID":"https:\/\/orcid.org\/0000-0003-0037-5286","authenticated-orcid":false,"given":"Roberta","family":"Blake","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"School of Agriculture, Animal and Environmental Sciences, Anglia Ruskin University, Lordship Road, Writtle, Chelmsford CM1 3RR, UK"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]}],"member":"1968","published-online":{"date-parts":[[2026,8,6]]},"reference":[{"key":"ref_1","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"131","DOI":"10.1016\/S0749-0739(17)30169-4","article-title":"Ultrasonographic evaluation of back lesions","volume":"15","author":"Denoix","year":"1999","journal-title":"Vet. 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