Hostname: page-component-586b7cd67f-2brh9 Total loading time: 0 Render date: 2024-11-28T02:17:40.931Z Has data issue: false hasContentIssue false
  • English
  • Français

The effect of weighted boots on the movement of the back in the asymptomatic riding horse

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  09 March 2007

Josefine Wennerstrand ,
Christopher Johnston ,
Marie Rhodin ,
Karin Roethlisberger-Holm  and
Stig Drevemo
Josefine Wennerstrand*
Affiliation:
Department of Anatomy and Physiology, Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences, PO Box 7011, S-750 07 Uppsala, Sweden
Christopher Johnston
Affiliation:
Department of Anatomy and Physiology, Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences, PO Box 7011, S-750 07 Uppsala, Sweden Equine Hospital Strömsholm, Kolbäck, Sweden
Marie Rhodin
Affiliation:
Department of Anatomy and Physiology, Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences, PO Box 7011, S-750 07 Uppsala, Sweden Department of Equine Studies, Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences, Uppsala, Sweden
Karin Roethlisberger-Holm
Affiliation:
Department of Large Animal Clinical Sciences, Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences, Uppsala, Sweden
Stig Drevemo
Affiliation:
Department of Anatomy and Physiology, Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences, PO Box 7011, S-750 07 Uppsala, Sweden
*
*[email protected]
Get access

Abstract

Back dysfunction is an important reason for impaired performance in sport horses. Limb movements influence the movements of the back and factors affecting the limbs may therefore affect the movement of the back. The aim of the study was to investigate the influence of weighted boots on the fore- and hind limbs on the movement of the back. The back kinematics of eight horses was studied at the walk and trot on a treadmill. The ranges of movement (ROM) of the back were compared intra-individually, using Wilcoxon matched pairs test, when the horses moved with and without weighted boots on the fore- and hind limbs, respectively. Differences were considered significant at P<0.05. Weighted boots on the hind limbs increased the ROM for dorsoventral flexion and extension in the lumbar back at the walk and decreased the ROM for lateral bending at the thoracolumbar junction at the trot. Weighted boots on the forelimbs decreased the ROM for lateral bending at the withers at the trot. Knowledge of the effect of weighted boots on the back movement is useful in training and rehabilitation of sport horses. Weighted boots on the hind limbs at the walk may induce strengthening of the flexors of the lumbar back and increase the flexion–extension of the lumbar back under controlled conditions.

Keywords

equinehorsebackkinematicslocomotionlimb movementsweighted boots
Type
Research Article
Information
Equine and Comparative Exercise Physiology , Volume 3 , Issue 1 , February 2006 , pp. 13 - 18
Copyright
Copyright © Cambridge University Press 2006

Access options

Get access to the full version of this content by using one of the access options below. (Log in options will check for institutional or personal access. Content may require purchase if you do not have access.)

References

1Jeffcott, LB (1980). Disorders of the thoracolumbar spine of the horse–a survey of 443 cases. Equine Veterinary Journal 12: 197–210.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
2Faber, M, Schamhardt, H, van Weeren, R, Johnson, C, Roepstroff, L and Barneveld, A (2000). Basic three-dimensional kinematics of the vertebral column of horses walking on a treadmill. American Journal of Veterinary Research 61: 399–406.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
3Denoix, JM and Audigié, F (2001). The neck and back. In: Equine Locomotion. Back, W and Clayton, H (eds), London: WB Saunders, 167–191.Google Scholar
4Faber, M, Schamhardt, H, van Weeren, R, Johnston, C, Roepstroff, L and Barneveld, A (2001a). Basic three-dimensional kinematics of the vertebral column of horses trotting on a treadmill. American Journal of Veterinary Research 62: 757–764.Google Scholar
5Rhodin, M, Johnston, M, Roethlisberger-Holm, K, Wennerstrand, J and Drevemo, S (2005). The influence of head and neck position on the kinematics of the back in riding horses at the walk and trot. Equine Veterinary Journal 1: 7–11.Google Scholar
6Denoix, JM (1999). Spinal biomechanics and functional anatomy. In: Turner, AS and Haussler, KK (eds), Veterinary Clinics of North America Equine Practice. Philadelphia: WB Saunders, 15(1), pp. 27–60.Google Scholar
7Faber, M (2001b). Kinematics of the equine back during locomotion. PhD Thesis. University of Utrecht, The Netherlands, pp. 91–110.Google Scholar
8Willemen, MA, Savelberg, HHCM and Barnveld, A (1997). The improvement of the gait quality of sound trotting warmblood horses by normal shoeing and its effect on the load on the lower forelimb. Horseshoeing, a biomechanical analysis. PhD Thesis. University of Utrecht, The Netherlands, pp. 19–32.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
9Lanovaz, JL and Clayton, HM (2001). Sensitivity of forelimb swing phase inverse dynamics to inertial parameter errors. Equine Veterinary Journal Supplement 33: 27–31.Google Scholar
10de Cocq, P, van Weeren, PR and Back, W (2004). Effects of girth, saddle and weight on movements of the horse. Equine Veterinary Journal 3: 758–763.Google Scholar
11Johnston, C, Holm, K, Erichsen, C, Eksell, P and Drevemo, S (2004). Kinematic evaluation of the back in the asymptomatic riding horse. Equine Veterinary Journal 6: 495–498.Google Scholar
12Robert, C, Valette, JP and Denoix, JM (1998). Surface electromyographic analysis of the normal horse locomotion: a preliminary report. Proceedings of the Conference of Equine Sports Medicine and Science, pp. 80–85, Cordoba, Spain.Google Scholar
13Wennerstrand, J, Johnston, C, Roethlisberger-Holm, K, Erichsen, C, Eksell, P and Drevemo, S (2005). Kinematic evaluation of the back in the sport horse with back pain. Equine Veterinary Journal Supplement 36: 707–711.Google Scholar
14Fredricson, I, Drevemo, S, Dalin, G, Hjertén, G, Björne, K, Rynde, R and Franzén, G (1983). Treadmill for equine locomotion analysis. Equine Veterinary Journal 15: 111–115.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
15Buchner, HHF, Savelberg, HHCM, Schamhardt, HC, Merkens, HW and Barneveld, A (1994). Habituation of horses to treadmill locomotion. Equine Veterinary Journal Supplement 17: 13–15.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
16Faber, M, Schamhardt, H and van Weeren, R and Barneveld, A (2001c). Methodology and validity of assessing kinematics of the thoracolumbar vertebral column in horses based on skin-fixated markers. Kinematics of the equine back during locomotion. PhD Thesis. University of Utrecht, The Netherlands, pp. 65–75.Google Scholar
17Faber, M, Johnston, C, van Weeren, R and Barneveld, A (2002). Repeatability of back kinematics in horses during treadmill locomotion. Kinematics of the equine back during locomotion. PhD Thesis. University of Utrecht, The Netherlands, pp. 77–89.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
18Faber, M, Schamhardt, H, van Weeren, R (1999). Determination of 3D spinal kinematics without defining a local vertebral co-ordinate system. Journal of Biomechanics 32: 1355–1358.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
19Johnston, C, Holm, K, Faber, M, Erichsen, C, Eksell, P and Drevemo, S (2002). Effect of conformational aspects on the movement of the equine back. Equine Veterinary Journal Supplement 34: 314–318.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
20Rooney, JR (1969). The vertebral column. In: Rooney, JR (ed), Biomechanics of Lameness in Horses 1st edn. Baltimore, OH: Williams and Wilkins, pp. 90–95.Google Scholar
21Carlson, H, Halbertsma, J and Zomlefer, M (1979). Control of the trunk during walking in the cat. Acta Physiologica Scandinavica 105: 251–253.Google Scholar
22Robert, C, Audigié, F, Valette, JP, Pourcelot, P and Denoix, JM (2001). Effects of treadmill speed on the mechanics of the back in the trotting saddlehorse. Equine Veterinary Journal Supplement 33: 154–159.Google Scholar
23Crosbie, J, Vachalathiti, R and Smith, R (1997). Patterns of spinal motion during walking. Gait & Posture 5: 6–12.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
24Wickler, SJ, Hoyt, DF, Clayton, HM, Mullineaux, DR, Cogger, EA, Sandoval, E, McGuire, R and Lopez, C (2004). The energetic and kinematic consequences of weighting the distal limb. Equine Veterinary Journal 8: 772–777.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
25Robert, C, Valette, JP, Pourcelot, P, Audigié, F and Denoix, JM (2002). Effects of trotting speed on muscle activity and kinematics in saddlehorses. Equine Veterinary Journal Supplement 34: 295–301.Google Scholar
26Licka, T, Kicker, C, Peham, C and Girtler, D (2004). Evaluation and comparison of the effect of support boots on the fetlock joint angle during the stance phase at walk and trot. Equine and Comparative Exercise Physiology 2: A17.Google Scholar
27Martin, PE and Cavanagh, PR (1990). Segment interactions within the swing leg during unloaded and loaded running. Journal of Biomechanics 23: 529–536.Google Scholar
28Drevemo, S, Dalin, G, Fredricson, I and Björne, K (1980). Equine locomotion: 3. The reproducibility of gait in Standardbred trotters. Equine Veterinary Journal 12: 71–73.Google Scholar
29Rivero, JLL, Serrano, AL, Quiroz-Rothe, E and Aguilera-Tejero, E (2001). Coordinated changes of kinematics and muscle fibre properties with prolonged endurance training. Equine Veterinary Journal Supplement 33: 104–108.Google Scholar