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Nankervis KJ, Tranquille CA, Chojnacka K, Tacey JB, Deckers I, Newton JR, Murray RC. Effect of speed and water depth on limb and back kinematics in Thoroughbred horses walking on a water treadmill. Vet J 2023; 300-302:106033. [PMID: 37783310 DOI: 10.1016/j.tvjl.2023.106033] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/26/2022] [Revised: 09/03/2023] [Accepted: 09/27/2023] [Indexed: 10/04/2023]
Abstract
Water treadmill (WT) exercise may induce limb and back kinematics that meet specific training and rehabilitation goals. The study aimed to investigate the effects of walk speed, at different water depths (WDs), on limb and back kinematics of six Thoroughbreds exercising on a WT. Horses walked at 2.8/4.3/5.5/6.0 km/h (i.e. 0.8/1.2/1.5/1.7 m/s) at dry, metacarpophalangeal and carpal WD. Videography captured limb movement in the sagittal plane. Motion-capture measured thoracolumbosacral flexion-extension (FE), and lateral bend (LB) ranges of movement (ROM) using skin surface markers on the sixth, tenth, thirteenth, eighteenth thoracic, third and fifth lumbar, and third sacral spinous processes. Inertial-motion-sensors measured poll, withers and pelvic displacements. Following preliminary univariable analyses, multivariable mixed-effects linear-regression analyses were used to examine the relationship between speed, WD and each outcome variable (P < 0.05). Peak metacarpophalangeal, carpal and tarsal joint flexion increased with speed (P ≤ 0.002) and depth combined (P 0.001) while peak metatarsophalangeal flexion increased with WD only (P 0.001). Thoracolumbar FE-ROM between T10 and L3 and hindlimb retraction was increased by speed and WD combined (P 0.001). Hindlimb protraction was increased by speed (P 0.001) while hindlimb retraction was increased by speed and WD combined (P 0.001). Dorsoventral poll displacement was increased by speed (P 0.001) and carpal WD (P = 0.013), craniocaudal poll displacement was increased by speed and WD combined (P 0.001). Pelvic (tubera coxae and sacrum) dorsoventral displacements increased with speed and WD combined (P 0.001). Understanding the effects of speed and WD on limb, back and pelvic kinematics will improve decision making relating to dry and WT exercise within training.
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Affiliation(s)
- K J Nankervis
- Hartpury University, Hartpury, Gloucestershire, GL19 3BE, UK.
| | - C A Tranquille
- Hartpury University, Hartpury, Gloucestershire, GL19 3BE, UK; Animal Health Trust, Lanwades Park, Newmarket, Suffolk CB8 7UU, UK
| | - K Chojnacka
- Animal Health Trust, Lanwades Park, Newmarket, Suffolk CB8 7UU, UK; Engelhard Road, Newmarket, Suffolk CB8 0SA, UK
| | - J B Tacey
- Animal Health Trust, Lanwades Park, Newmarket, Suffolk CB8 7UU, UK; JBT Veterinary Physiotherapy, Bostocks Lane, Nottingham NG10 4EH, UK
| | - I Deckers
- Hartpury University, Hartpury, Gloucestershire, GL19 3BE, UK
| | - J R Newton
- Animal Health Trust, Lanwades Park, Newmarket, Suffolk CB8 7UU, UK; Cambridge Veterinary School, Madingley Road, Cambridge, Cambridgeshire CB3 0ES, UK
| | - R C Murray
- Animal Health Trust, Lanwades Park, Newmarket, Suffolk CB8 7UU, UK; Rossdales Diagnostic Centre, Cotton End Lane, Exning, Suffolk CB8 7NN, UK
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Nielsen BD. A Review of Three Decades of Research Dedicated to Making Equine Bones Stronger: Implications for Horses and Humans. Animals (Basel) 2023; 13:ani13050789. [PMID: 36899647 PMCID: PMC10000203 DOI: 10.3390/ani13050789] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/07/2023] [Revised: 02/16/2023] [Accepted: 02/20/2023] [Indexed: 02/24/2023] Open
Abstract
Much research has been conducted in an attempt to decrease skeletal injuries in athletic horses. The objective of this literature review is to compile the findings of over three decades of research in this area, make practical recommendations, and describe how research can develop over the years. An initial study investigating the role of bioavailable silicon in the diets of horses in race training produced the unexpected finding of decreased bone mineral content of the third metacarpus subsequent to the onset of training. Further studies revealed this decrease to be associated with stall housing eliminating high-speed exercise, leading to disuse osteopenia. Only relatively short sprints (between 50 and 82 m) were necessary to maintain bone strength and as few as one sprint per week provided the needed stimuli. Endurance exercise without speed fails to elicit the same benefits to bone. Proper nutrition is also required for optimal bone health, but without the right exercise, strong bone cannot be maintained. Several pharmaceuticals may have unintended consequences capable of impairing bone health. Many of the factors influencing bone health in horses also exist in humans including a sedentary lifestyle, improper nutrition, and pharmaceutical side-effects.
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Affiliation(s)
- Brian D Nielsen
- Department of Animal Science, Michigan State University, 474 S. Shaw Ln, East Lansing, MI 48824, USA
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Consensus for the General Use of Equine Water Treadmills for Healthy Horses. Animals (Basel) 2021; 11:ani11020305. [PMID: 33530300 PMCID: PMC7912478 DOI: 10.3390/ani11020305] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/30/2020] [Revised: 12/31/2020] [Accepted: 01/18/2021] [Indexed: 11/30/2022] Open
Abstract
Simple Summary Water treadmill exercise has become popular in recent years for the training and rehabilitation of equine athletes. Water treadmill exercise sessions can be tailored to the individual horse and the training/rehabilitation goals by altering the frequency, duration of exercise, water depth and belt speed. Recent work suggests that there are large variations in current modes of use between users, despite shared training or rehabilitation goals. In 2019, a group of researchers and experienced water treadmill users met in the UK to establish what was commonly considered to be best practice in the use of the modality. The result of these discussions was the production of ‘Water treadmill guidelines—a guide for users’, released in 2020 via various equestrian websites. The purpose of this article is to describe the development of these guidelines and propose them as a starting point for further collaboration between researchers and practitioners in the pursuit of ‘best practice’ in water treadmill exercise for horses. Abstract Water treadmill exercise has become popular in recent years for the training and rehabilitation of equine athletes. In 2019, an equine hydrotherapy working group was formed to establish what was commonly considered to be best practice in the use of the modality. This article describes the process by which general guidelines for the application of water treadmill exercise in training and rehabilitation programmes were produced by the working group. The guidelines describe the consensus reached to date on (1) the potential benefits of water treadmill exercise, (2) general good practice in water treadmill exercise, (3) introduction of horses to the exercise, (4) factors influencing selection of belt speed, water depth and duration of exercise, and (5) monitoring movement on the water treadmill. The long-term goal is to reach a consensus on the optimal use of the modality within a training or rehabilitation programme. Collaboration between clinicians, researchers and experienced users is needed to develop research programmes and further guidelines regarding the most appropriate application of the modality for specific veterinary conditions.
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Aquatic exercise and equine joint and bone metabolism. J Anim Sci 2020; 98:5904894. [DOI: 10.1093/jas/skaa281] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/20/2020] [Accepted: 08/21/2020] [Indexed: 11/14/2022] Open
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