An MRI study of the effect of treadmill training on bone morphology of the central and third tarsal bones of young thoroughbred horses.
Abstract: Training results in marked modelling of the subchondral bone of the carpus, but the effect of training on the subchondral bone of the distal tarsal joints is unknown. The aim of this study was to determine whether training influenced modelling of the third and central tarsal bones in Thoroughbred horses. Twelve untrained Thoroughbred horses were divided into 2 groups. Group 1 underwent a 19 week progressive training regimen on a high speed treadmill. Group 2 were walked for 40 min daily. Images of left tarsi were obtained by magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) with a 0.5 Tesla superconducting magnet using a spin echo sequence. Sagittal and oblique sagittal slices were made perpendicular to the articular surfaces of the intertarsal joints and were analysed using image analysis software to measure the proportion of dense subchondral bone in the dorsal facet of each bone. Mean +/- s.d. percentage area of dense subchondral bone in the dorsal facet of the central tarsal bone in Group 1 was 47 +/- 8 medially, 46 +/- 4 sagitally and 50 +/- 11 dorsolaterally, whereas in Group 2 it was 39 +/- 16 medially, 43 +/- 8 sagitally and 53 +/- 7 dorsolaterally. For the third tarsal bone mean +/- s.d. percentage area of dense subchondral bone in Group 1 was 32 +/- 10 medially, 39 +/- 11 sagitally and 44 +/- 8 dorsolaterally, whereas in Group 2 it was 28 +/- 8 medially, 37 +/- 6 sagitally and 41 +/- 9 dorsolaterally. There was no significant difference in percentage area of dense subchondral bone between the trained and untrained horses. An effect of treadmill training of Thoroughbred horses on modelling of the central and third tarsal bones could not be demonstrated.
Publication Date: 2000-02-05 PubMed ID: 10659264DOI: 10.1111/j.2042-3306.1999.tb05230.xGoogle Scholar: Lookup
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- Journal Article
- Research Support
- Non-U.S. Gov't
Summary
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The study investigated how treadmill training influences the structure of central and third tarsal bones in young Thoroughbred horses. Despite common belief, it was found that there was no significant impact on the bone modelling of these horses due to such training.
Research Objective
- The primary aim of the study was to analyze how training affects the modelling of the third and central tarsal (ankle) bones in Thoroughbred horses. While it was known that training significantly remodels the subchondral bone of the carpus (wrist equivalent in horses), its impact on the subchondral bone of the lower tarsal joints was unknown.
Methodology
- A group of twelve untrained Thoroughbred horses was divided into two groups for the research.
- The first group went through an intense, progressive training routine on a high-speed treadmill for 19 weeks, while the second group was just walked for 40 minutes daily.
- Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) using a 0.5 Tesla superconducting magnet was used to obtain images of the left tarsi (ankles) of the horses. A spin echo sequence was utilized.
- The researchers made sagittal and oblique sagittal slices perpendicular to the articular surfaces of the intertarsal joints to be analyzed with image analysis software.
Measurements and Analysis
- The focus of the analysis was on measuring the proportion of dense subchondral bone present in the dorsal (upper) facet of each bone.
- The mean percentage area of dense subchondral bone in the dorsal facet of the central tarsal bone was slightly higher in the trained horses than in the untrained ones. The same trend was observed for the third tarsal bone.
Findings and Conclusion
- Surprisingly, the study found that there was no significant difference in the percentage area of dense subchondral bone between the trained and untrained horses.
- The researchers concluded that treadmill training doesn’t appear to have a significant effect on the modelling of the third and central tarsal bones in Thoroughbred horses, contrary to the common belief.
Cite This Article
APA
Whitton RC, Murray RC, Buckley C, Goodship AE, Lekeux P.
(2000).
An MRI study of the effect of treadmill training on bone morphology of the central and third tarsal bones of young thoroughbred horses.
Equine Vet J Suppl(30), 258-261.
https://doi.org/10.1111/j.2042-3306.1999.tb05230.x Publication
Researcher Affiliations
- Centre for Equine Studies, Animal Health Trust, Newmarket, Suffolk, UK.
MeSH Terms
- Animals
- Exercise Test / veterinary
- Female
- Horses / anatomy & histology
- Magnetic Resonance Imaging / veterinary
- Physical Conditioning, Animal
- Tarsal Bones / anatomy & histology
- Tarsal Bones / growth & development
Citations
This article has been cited 1 times.- Boyde A. The Bone Cartilage Interface and Osteoarthritis. Calcif Tissue Int 2021 Sep;109(3):303-328.
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