A preliminary model study of the equine back including activity of longissimus dorsi muscle.
Abstract: Identifying the underlying problem of equine back pain and diseases of the spine are significant problems in veterinary orthopaedics. A study to validate a preliminary biomechanical model of the equine back based on CT images including longissimus dorsi (LD) muscle is therefore important. Objective: Validation of the back model by comparing the shortening of LD muscles in the model with integrated EMG (IEMG) at stance during induced lateral flexion of the spine. Methods: Longissimus dorsi muscle activity at stance has been used for validation. EMG electrodes were placed laterally at the level of T12, T16 and L3. Reflective markers have been attached on top of the spinous processes T5, T12, T16, L1 and the sacral bone (OS1, OS2) for motion tracking analysis. A virtual model of the equine's back (T1-S5) was built with inclusion of a simplified LD muscle by 2 separate contours left and right of the spine, starting at tuber coxae laterally and attaching to the spinous process T5 medially. Shortening of LD during induced lateral flexion caused by the kinematic data (input) was compared to the 3 EMG signals (T12, T16 and L3) on the active side via correlation. Results: Pearson correlation coefficient between IEMG and shortening length of LD in the model was (mean ± s.d.) 0.95 ± 0.07 for the left side and 0.91 ± 0.07 for the right side of LD. Conclusions: Activity of the LD muscles is mainly responsible for stabilisation of the vertebral column with isometric muscle contraction against dynamic forces in walk and trot. This validation requires muscle shortening in the back, like induced lateral flexion at stance. The length of the shortening muscle model and the IEMG show a linear relationship. These findings will help to model the LD for forward simulations, e.g. from force to motion.
© 2010 EVJ Ltd.
Publication Date: 2011-05-27 PubMed ID: 21059036DOI: 10.1111/j.2042-3306.2010.00282.xGoogle Scholar: Lookup
The Equine Research Bank provides access to a large database of publicly available scientific literature. Inclusion in the Research Bank does not imply endorsement of study methods or findings by Mad Barn.
- Journal Article
- Research Support
- Non-U.S. Gov't
Summary
This research summary has been generated with artificial intelligence and may contain errors and omissions. Refer to the original study to confirm details provided. Submit correction.
The research focuses on creating and validating a preliminary biomechanical model of the equine back based on CT images and muscle activity of the longissimus dorsi (LD) muscle. The goal is to provide more insight into equine back pain and spinal diseases, so they can be tackled more effectively.
Objective
The researchers aimed to validate this model by comparing the shortening of the LD muscles in the model with integrated electromyography (IEMG) results during a stance that caused lateral spine flexion.
Methods
- LD muscle activity at stance was used for this validation.
- EMG electrodes were placed laterally at the level of the T12, T16, and L3.
- Reflective markers were attached on top of specified spinous processes for motion tracking analysis.
- The researchers created a virtual model of the horse’s back by including a simplified version of the LD muscle. The model was built with separate contours for the left and right side of the spine.
- The researchers studied the shortening of the LD during induced lateral flexion by inputting kinematic data and comparing it to the three EMG signals.
Results
- The correlation between IEMG and shortening length of LD in the model was found to be quite strong, with Pearson correlation coefficients of 0.95 ± 0.07 for the left side and 0.91 ± 0.07 for the right side of LD.
Conclusion
- The researchers found that the LD muscles are primarily responsible for vertebral column stabilization. They particularly counter dynamic forces during walk and trot with isometric muscle contraction.
- Biomechanical validation requires recognizing muscle shortening in the back, similar to what happens with lateral flexion at a stance.
- The length of the shortening muscle model and the IEMG show a linear relationship, demonstrating a strong correlation between the actual muscle activity and the modeled one.
- The findings could aid in future simulations, for example, by transforming forces into motion.
Cite This Article
APA
Groesel M, Zsoldos RR, Kotschwar A, Gfoehler M, Peham C.
(2011).
A preliminary model study of the equine back including activity of longissimus dorsi muscle.
Equine Vet J Suppl(38), 401-406.
https://doi.org/10.1111/j.2042-3306.2010.00282.x Publication
Researcher Affiliations
- Movement Science Group Vienna, Clinic of Orthopaedics in Ungulates, University of Veterinary Medicine Vienna, Vienna, Austria. martin.groesel@vetmeduni.ac.at
MeSH Terms
- Animals
- Back / physiology
- Biomechanical Phenomena
- Cadaver
- Computer Simulation
- Female
- Horses / physiology
- Models, Biological
- Muscle, Skeletal / physiology
Citations
This article has been cited 5 times.- Debeljak N, Košmerlj A, Altimiras J, Šemrov MZ. Relationship between anatomical characteristics and personality traits in Lipizzan horses. Sci Rep 2022 Jul 23;12(1):12618.
- García Liñeiro JA, Graziotti GH, Rodríguez Menéndez JM, Ríos CM, Affricano NO, Victorica CL. Parameters and functional analysis of the deep epaxial muscles in the thoracic, lumbar and sacral regions of the equine spine. J Anat 2018 Jul;233(1):55-63.
- García Liñeiro JA, Graziotti GH, Rodríguez Menéndez JM, Ríos CM, Affricano NO, Victorica CL. Structural and functional characteristics of the thoracolumbar multifidus muscle in horses. J Anat 2017 Mar;230(3):398-406.
- Vögele AM, Zsoldos RR, Krüger B, Licka T. Novel Methods for Surface EMG Analysis and Exploration Based on Multi-Modal Gaussian Mixture Models. PLoS One 2016;11(6):e0157239.
- Valentin S, Zsoldos RR. Surface electromyography in animal biomechanics: A systematic review. J Electromyogr Kinesiol 2016 Jun;28:167-83.
Use Nutrition Calculator
Check if your horse's diet meets their nutrition requirements with our easy-to-use tool Check your horse's diet with our easy-to-use tool
Talk to a Nutritionist
Discuss your horse's feeding plan with our experts over a free phone consultation Discuss your horse's diet over a phone consultation
Submit Diet Evaluation
Get a customized feeding plan for your horse formulated by our equine nutritionists Get a custom feeding plan formulated by our nutritionists
