A study of the distribution of color Doppler flows in the superficial digital flexor tendon of young Thoroughbreds during their training periods.
Abstract: Aim of this study was to evaluate the relationships of exercise and tendon injury with Doppler flows appearing in the superficial digital flexor tendon (SDFT) of young Thoroughbreds during training periods. The forelimb SDFTs of 24 one- to two-year-old Thoroughbreds clinically free of any orthopaedic disorders were evaluated using grey-scale (GS) and color Doppler (CD) images during two training periods between December 2013 to April 2015. Twelve horses per year were examined in December, February, and April in training periods that began in September and ended in April. The SDFT was evaluated in 3 longitudinal images of equal lengths (labelled 1, 2, 3 in order from proximal to distal), and 6 transversal images separated by equal lengths (labelled 1A, 1B, 2A, 2B, 3A and 3B in order from proximal to distal) of the metacarpus using both GS and CD. The running (canter and gallop) distance for 1 month before the date of the ultrasonographic examinations was increased in December, February, and April in both of the two training periods. CD flows defined as rhythmically blinking or pulsatory colored signals were found in 56 of 864 (6.4%) transversal CD images, in 28, 12, 13, and 3 images of 1A, 1B, 2A and 2B, respectively, and in 7, 14, and 35 images captured in December, February, and April, respectively. There were no longitudinal or transversal GS images indicating injury in the SDFTs in either of the two training periods. The increase of CD flows in the proximal regions of the SDFT are possibly related to the increase of the running distance during the training periods of the one- to two-year-old Thoroughbreds. Because no injury was diagnosed in the SDFTs by GS images during the training periods, the increase of CD flows in the proximal parts of SDFT is not necessarily predictive of tendon injury in the near future during the training period of young Thoroughbreds.
Publication Date: 2016-02-03 PubMed ID: 26858574PubMed Central: PMC4739139DOI: 10.1294/jes.26.99Google Scholar: Lookup
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- Journal Article
Summary
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The study explores the potential link between exercise and tendon injury in young thoroughbred horses by examining color Doppler flows in the superficial digital flexor tendon, finding that an increase in Doppler flows is not necessarily indicative of future tendon injury.
Study Purpose and Structure
- This research was targeting an understanding of the possible associations between exercise, tendon injury, and Doppler flows in the superficial digital flexor tendon (SDFT) of one- to two-year-old Thoroughbred horses during training periods.
- The study ran for two training periods between December 2013 and April 2015 with twelve horses examined in December, February, and April each year. The training periods began in September and ended in April.
Research Methodology
- The study made use of both grey-scale (GS) and color Doppler (CD) imagery to evaluate the forelimb SDFTs of the horses, all of which were clinically free of any orthopaedic disorders at the commencement of the study.
- The SDFT was broken down into 3 longitudinal and 6 transverse segments of equal length to allow for more detailed analysis and comparisons.
- Throughout the training periods, running (specifically cantering and galloping) distances were gradually increased for the month prior to the ultrasonographic examinations in December, February, and April.
Study Findings
- The study found that color Doppler (CD) flows – defined as rhythmically blinking or pulsatory colored signals – were observed in 6.4% of transversal CD images taken.
- These CD flows increased in the proximal areas of the SDFT alongside the increase in running distances throughout the training periods.
- However, no injuries were detected in the SDFTs via GS images at any point in either of the two training periods.
Implications and Conclusions
- The study concluded that an increase in CD flows in the proximal areas of the SDFT – possibly related to the increased running distance during training periods – is not necessarily a predictor of imminent tendon injury in young Thoroughbreds.
- This provides key insights into the potential early identification and prevention of exercise-related injuries in horses, contributing to their health and performance in equestrian activities.
Cite This Article
APA
Hatazoe T, Endo Y, Iwamoto Y, Korosue K, Kuroda T, Inoue S, Murata D, Hobo S, Misumi K.
(2016).
A study of the distribution of color Doppler flows in the superficial digital flexor tendon of young Thoroughbreds during their training periods.
J Equine Sci, 26(4), 99-104.
https://doi.org/10.1294/jes.26.99 Publication
Researcher Affiliations
- Kyusyu Stallion Station, The Japan Bloodhorse Breeders' association, Kagoshima 899-8313, Japan.
- Japan Racing Association Miyazaki Training Farm, Miyazaki 880-0036, Japan.
- Japan Racing Association Miyazaki Training Farm, Miyazaki 880-0036, Japan.
- Japan Racing Association Miyazaki Training Farm, Miyazaki 880-0036, Japan.
- Japan Racing Association Equine Research Institute, Tochigi 320-0856, Japan.
- Joint Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Kagoshima University, Kagoshima 890-0065, Japan.
- Joint Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Kagoshima University, Kagoshima 890-0065, Japan.
- Joint Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Kagoshima University, Kagoshima 890-0065, Japan.
- Joint Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Kagoshima University, Kagoshima 890-0065, Japan.
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Citations
This article has been cited 1 times.- Kovac M, Litvin YA, Aliev RO, Zakirova EY, Rutland CS, Kiyasov AP, Rizvanov AA. Gene Therapy Using Plasmid DNA Encoding VEGF164 and FGF2 Genes: A Novel Treatment of Naturally Occurring Tendinitis and Desmitis in Horses.. Front Pharmacol 2018;9:978.
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