Dr. Elena Chatcuff, owner of Aloha Equine, practices regenerative medicine in the North Bay and serves as an associate veterinarian for Washington Square Veterinary clinic in Petaluma, CA. She volunteers with CANTER, The Communication Alliance to Network Thoroughbred Ex-Racehorses. The organization provides retiring thoroughbred racehorses with opportunities for new careers.
Dr. Elena earned her B.S. in Animal Science from UC Davis in 2009. During that time she worked for the UCD Center of Equine Health as Herd Health Manager. She assisted with various research projects including reproduction, epidemiology, and stem cell therapy. She graduated from Ross University School of Veterinary Medicine in 2014, after finishing her clinical rotations at Texas A&M. She received her veterinary acupuncture training from the Chi Institute of Traditional Chinese Veterinary Medicine. In 2021, she completed her Electro-Acuscope and Myopulse Therapy certification from Animal Therapy Systems.
Dr. Elena and her horse are featured left competing at Galway Downs, Temecula CA. His competition name for the sport of Eventing is Sumbody To Love. He is the inspiration behind finding a non-invasive way to alleviate pain and maintain a happy, healthy, sport horse.
Integrative Veterinary Physiotherapy
The combination of eastern and western veterinary medicine has a synergistic effect for the patient. Acupuncture has been effectively used to treat pain and inflammation, nerve dysfunction, and mobility issues in humans and animals for centuries. It taps into the myofascia network as described in Dr. Vibeke S Elbrønd's paper as "Myofascia - The Unexplored Tissue."
Microcurrent therapy (MCT) is a regenerative medicine modality that accelerates nerve, muscle, tendon, ligament, bone, and wound repair.
MCT instruments send a low level of electricity through the area of interest via metal plates, recording areas of abnormal electrical activity. The computer analyzes the data and delivers corrective signals until the tissue reflects normal activity.
MCT electrodes are placed at acupuncture points to combine the positive effects of acupuncture with the regenerative capabilites of the MCT instruments.
The MCT Electro-Acuscope / Myopulse instruments are FDA approved, Class II Medical Devices, designed specifically for use in animals.
Microcurrent Therapy: Treatment Overview
Utilizing animal calibrated instruments, energy is directed through the horse’s body to enhance tissue regeneration.
MCT can be applied to fresh injuries such as bowed tendons and wounds. It is highly effective for joint disease, osteoarthritis, back pain, and hind end weakness.
It is an efficient way to dissipate pain and inflammation without using pharmaceutical anti-inflammatory drugs.
The number of treatments depends on the condition being addressed. The effects of MCT treatments are cumulative. Once an area has been treated, the tissue responds faster to treatment the next time and the positive effects last longer.
There is no risk of overstimulating the tissue. The instruments continually take readings from the patient, then send corrective signals based on the individual's needs.
Featured Above: Sumbody To Love, formerly known as Sumday Sumday on the racetrack, doing what he does best at Rebecca Farms, MT.
Myofascia - The Unexplored Tissue: Myofascial kinetic lines in horses, a model for describing locomotion using comparative dissection studies derived from human lines
In 2015 Dr. Vibeke S Elbrønd published her research on the properties of equine fascia, a.k.a. connective tissue. The image featured left shows how energy travels through the fascia, spreading from the neck to the back and down to the hoofs.
MCT engages the myofascial network to effectively treat a variety of performance inhibiting conditions including back soreness, arthritis, hind end weakness, joint disease, soft tissue injury, and nerve damage.
The Basis for Microcurrent Electrical Therapy in Conventional Medical Practice. Joseph M. Mercola, DO & Daniel L. Kirsch, PhD, DAAPM. Journal of Advancement in Med V.8 (1995)
Electrotherapy, especially microcurrent therapy, is useful for a variety of clinical conditions. It may be the best treatment for many pain-related disorders, providing fast relief of symptoms and quickly promoting healing. It has significantly less side effects than drugs in chronic conditions.
Career Highlights
2023 Twin Rivers Fall International Open Intermediate 1st: Le Top F and Amber Birtcil
2023 Children's Jumper High 16-17 Champion, Desert Circuit IX WCHR/CSI 4*: Tanqueray and Sofia Harper
2022 USEA Intermediate Championship 1st: Joshuay MBF and Tommy Greengard
2022 USEA Training Horse Championship 1st: Shannondale Fionn and Tommy Greengard
2022 USEA Training Amateur Championship 1st: Chosen One DF and Amber Pearson
2022 USEA Training Amateur Championship 3rd: Kramer VD Falieberg and Morgan Wenell
2021 Regional Adult Amateur L1 Dressage Championship 1st: Face Book Texel and Kari Ontko
2021 CCI 2* Long Rebecca Farms 1st: Joshuay MBF and Tommy Greengard
2021 Twin Rivers Summer Horse Trials SR Novice 1st: Sumbody To Love and Dr. Elena Chatcuff
Equine Research: A review of emerging use of MCT as a potential management option for stress in horses. Madelieine Bryant, Jack Thirkell. Journal of Veterinary Behavior V.36 (2020)
As pain and stress have shown to be linked in recent research, the focus of this study is on competition horses, which are regularly exposed to an array of stressors.
Owing to the effects of microcurrent therapy for pain management and tissue repair, microcurrent therapy may effectively be used to mitigate chronic stress linked to pain.
Thank you for taking the time to learn about regenerative medicine. May you and your horse feel balanced and connected.
Dr. Elena Chatcuff, DVM
Owner of Aloha Equine
Regenerative Medicine Specialist
“Dwell on the beauty of life. Watch the stars, and see yourself running with them. . Look well into thyself; there is a source of strength which will always spring up if thou wilt always look.”
Marcus Aurelius, Meditations