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The AST levels for the ten animals that served in the control group were consistently high during the first eight weeks of the study and then gradually dropped to lower levels during the last six weeks of the study.
Initially, seven of the ten animals tested with higher than normal AST levels within the serum. By week eight, eight of the ten animals depicted AST levels higher than normal. After the initiation of treatment at week eight, these levels gradually fell, in all but those animals testing normally, to a level lower than that found at the eight week tests. By week fourteen, six of the ten animals were now testing within normal limits. The results seen within chart one summarize this data.
Those animals that initially received treatment for six weeks and then were left untreated revealed quite different results within their AST levels.
Five of these ten animals depicted higher than normal AST levels at the initiation of treatment. Nine of the ten animals experienced an immediate drop within the first week of treatment. By week six, seven of the ten animals were testing within normal AST ranges. After the cessation of treatments, seven of the ten animals within this group immediately experienced a rise within the AST levels during week seven. At fourteen weeks, eight of the ten animals revealed higher AST levels than those measured initially. The data graphed on chart two reveals this decline in AST levels through week six and then a gradual increase when the use of Thermotex™ blanket was stopped.
The CK levels followed the same pattern as the AST levels within the group of ten animals that was used as a control for eight weeks and then provided treatment.
Initially, five of the ten animals tested within the normal limits for CK levels in the horse. By week eight, six of the animals tested with an increase in CK levels over those initial levels. Over the next six weeks, during treatment with the Thermotex™ therapy blanket, all ten of the animals experienced a decline in CK levels. Eight of the ten animals are now testing within normal limits. The other two animals could even be considered in the high normal range.
Chart three is a summary of all of the averages on a weekly basis. During the control part of the study, the group maintained an even level throughout the first 6-8 weeks. After the initiation of treatment, the CK levels gradually fell.
When the animals initially received treatment and then became the control group, the results mimicked those of the same AST group.
Initially, only four of the ten animals tested within normal limits for CK. After six weeks of treatment with the Thermotex™ therapy blanket, six of the ten animals were within normal limits. By the time fourteen weeks had passed, Seven of the ten animals exhibited higher than normal levels with seven of the ten animals also showing increased levels from the initial testing. Chart four exhibits the gradual decline in CK levels and then the gradual increase after treatment protocols have ceased.
The summary of the blood chemistry analysis revealed that the AST and CK levels were lower during treatment with the Thermotex™ therapy blanket.
As depicted on the data table and corresponding graph, the AST and CK levels increased while the animals were in training and not receiving treatment with the Thermotex™ therapy blanket and decreased when receiving treatment.
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