FREE SHIPPING over $40
OVER 9000 FIVE-STAR REVIEWS
5% OFF ALL SUBSCRIPTIONS
100% HAPPINESS GUARANTEE
Analyze Diet
0
Home / Equine Research Bank / Equine Vet J / Bone fatigue and its implications for injuries in racehorses...
Equine veterinary journal2014; 46(4); 408-415; doi: 10.1111/evj.12241

Bone fatigue and its implications for injuries in racehorses.

Abstract: Musculoskeletal injuries are a common cause of lost training days and wastage in racehorses. Many bone injuries are a consequence of repeated high loading during fast work, resulting in chronic damage accumulation and material fatigue of bone. The highest joint loads occur in the fetlock, which is also the most common site of subchondral bone injury in racehorses. Microcracks in the subchondral bone at sites where intra-articular fractures and palmar osteochondral disease occur are similar to the fatigue damage detected experimentally after repeated loading of bone. Fatigue is a process that has undergone much study in material science in order to avoid catastrophic failure of engineering structures. The term 'fatigue life' refers to the numbers of cycles of loading that can be sustained before failure occurs. Fatigue life decreases exponentially with increasing load. This is important in horses as loads within the limb increase with increasing speed. Bone adapts to increased loading by modelling to maintain the strains within the bone at a safe level. Bone also repairs fatigued matrix through remodelling. Fatigue injuries develop when microdamage accumulates faster than remodelling can repair. Remodelling of the equine metacarpus is reduced during race training and accelerated during rest periods. The first phase of remodelling is bone resorption, which weakens the bone through increased porosity. A bone that is porous following a rest period may fail earlier than a fully adapted bone. Maximising bone adaptation is an important part of training young racehorses. However, even well-adapted bones accumulate microdamage and require ongoing remodelling. If remodelling inhibition at the extremes of training is unavoidable then the duration of exposure to high-speed work needs to be limited and appropriate rest periods instituted. Further research is warranted to elucidate the effect of fast-speed work and rest on bone damage accumulation and repair.
© 2014 EVJ Ltd.
Get Full Text
Publication Date: 2014-04-01 PubMed ID: 24528139DOI: 10.1111/evj.12241Google 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.
LinkedInCopy
  • Journal Article
  • Research Support
  • Non-U.S. Gov't
  • Review

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.

This research paper discusses the implications of bone fatigue in racehorses, highlighting it as a potential cause for common musculoskeletal injuries. The paper examines areas with high joint load, such as the fetlock, and how repeated high loading can lead to chronic damage, further explaining the interplay between bone adaptation and remodelling, and the need to balance high-speed work and rest for the overall health of equine bones.

Bone Fatigue and Associated Injuries

  • The article begins by identifying musculoskeletal injuries as a common reason for racehorses’ missed training days. It goes on to link many of these injuries to the phenomenon of bone fatigue, a condition where bones accumulate chronic damage due to repeated high-load forces exerted during fast racing work.
  • The fetlock, a high-load joint, often suffers such damage leading to subchondral bone injuries, a prevalent issue in racehorses. Microcracks at these sites that later develop into intra-articular fractures and palmar osteochondral disease mirror fatigue damage caused by repetitive bone loading.

Fatigue Life and Its Implications

  • Borrowing terminology from material science, the term ‘fatigue life’ is used to denote the number of load cycles a material (in this case, bone) can withstand before failing. This concept is crucial to understanding injuries in racehorses, as the load placed on their limbs increases with their speed, thereby reducing their bones’ fatigue life.

Adaptation and Remodelling of Bone

  • The article elaborates on the dynamic nature of bones, which adapt to heightened load by modelling to keep strains within safe levels. Additionally, bones repair fatigued matrixes through remodelling. When the rate of microdamage supersedes the rate of remodelling, fatigue injuries occur.
  • Training regimen effects bone remodelling in racehorses – it is slowed during race training while sped up during rest periods. The initial phase of remodelling involves bone resorption, which temporarily weakens the bone from increased porosity. As such, a bone that had just completed a rest period and is thus porous, is at a higher risk of failure.

The Importance of Balanced Training and Future Research

  • Hence, maximizing bone adaptation forms a significant part of training young racehorses. This is because even well-adapted bones continue to accumulate microdamage and need constant remodelling. Therefore, if the avoidance of remodelling inhibition during extreme training is impossible, it is important to limit time exposure to high-speed work and ensure appropriate rest periods.
  • The authors conclude by encouraging further research into the effects of fast-speed work and rest on bone damage accumulation and repair, to better understand and address bone fatigue in racehorses.

Cite This Article

APA
Martig S, Chen W, Lee PV, Whitton RC. (2014). Bone fatigue and its implications for injuries in racehorses. Equine Vet J, 46(4), 408-415. https://doi.org/10.1111/evj.12241

Publication

Equine veterinary journal
ISSN: 2042-3306
NlmUniqueID: 0173320
Country: United States
Language: English
Volume: 46
Issue: 4
Pages: 408-415

Researcher Affiliations

Martig, S
  • Faculty of Veterinary Science, The University of Melbourne, Werribee, Victoria, Australia.
Chen, W
    Lee, P V S
      Whitton, R C

        MeSH Terms

        • Animals
        • Biomechanical Phenomena
        • Bone Remodeling / physiology
        • Fractures, Stress / veterinary
        • Horse Diseases / etiology
        • Horses / injuries

        Citations

        This article has been cited 26 times.
        1. Gibson MJ, Legg KA, Gee EK, Rogers CW. The Reporting of Racehorse Fatalities in New Zealand Thoroughbred Flat Racing in the 2011/12-2021/22 Seasons.. Animals (Basel) 2023 Feb 9;13(4).
          doi: 10.3390/ani13040612pubmed: 36830402google scholar: lookup
        2. Shaffer SK, Stover SM, Fyhrie DP. Training drives turnover rates in racehorse proximal sesamoid bones.. Sci Rep 2023 Jan 27;13(1):205.
          doi: 10.1038/s41598-022-26027-ypubmed: 36707527google scholar: lookup
        3. Gibson MJ, Legg KA, Gee EK, Rogers CW. Race-Level Reporting of Incidents Using an Online System during Three Seasons (2019/2020-2021/2022) of Thoroughbred Flat Racing in New Zealand.. Animals (Basel) 2022 Nov 3;12(21).
          doi: 10.3390/ani12213028pubmed: 36359152google scholar: lookup
        4. Dzięgielewska A, Dunislawska A. Mitochondrial Dysfunctions and Potential Molecular Markers in Sport Horses.. Int J Mol Sci 2022 Aug 4;23(15).
          doi: 10.3390/ijms23158655pubmed: 35955789google scholar: lookup
        5. Morrice-West AV, Hitchens PL, Walmsley EA, Tasker K, Lim SL, Smith AD, Whitton RC. Relationship between Thoroughbred workloads in racing and the fatigue life of equine subchondral bone.. Sci Rep 2022 Jul 7;12(1):11528.
          doi: 10.1038/s41598-022-14274-ypubmed: 35798766google scholar: lookup
        6. Hill EW, Stoffel MA, McGivney BA, MacHugh DE, Pemberton JM. Inbreeding depression and the probability of racing in the Thoroughbred horse.. Proc Biol Sci 2022 Jun 29;289(1977):20220487.
          doi: 10.1098/rspb.2022.0487pubmed: 35765835google scholar: lookup
        7. Bowers K, Weinhandl JT, Anderson DE. A review of equine tibial fractures.. Equine Vet J 2023 Mar;55(2):171-181.
          doi: 10.1111/evj.13599pubmed: 35569040google scholar: lookup
        8. Holmes TQ, Brown AF. Champing at the Bit for Improvements: A Review of Equine Welfare in Equestrian Sports in the United Kingdom.. Animals (Basel) 2022 May 5;12(9).
          doi: 10.3390/ani12091186pubmed: 35565612google scholar: lookup
        9. Wong ASM, Morrice-West AV, Whitton RC, Hitchens PL. Changes in Thoroughbred speed and stride characteristics over successive race starts and their association with musculoskeletal injury.. Equine Vet J 2023 Mar;55(2):194-204.
          doi: 10.1111/evj.13581pubmed: 35477925google scholar: lookup
        10. Gibson MJ, Bolwell CF, Gee EK, Legg KA, Rogers CW. Race-Level Reporting of Incidents during Two Seasons (2015/16 to 2016/17) of Thoroughbred Flat Racing in New Zealand.. Animals (Basel) 2022 Apr 15;12(8).
          doi: 10.3390/ani12081033pubmed: 35454278google scholar: lookup
        11. Pagliara E, Pasinato A, Valazza A, Riccio B, Cantatore F, Terzini M, Putame G, Parrilli A, Sartori M, Fini M, Zanetti EM, Bertuglia A. Multibody Computer Model of the Entire Equine Forelimb Simulates Forces Causing Catastrophic Fractures of the Carpus during a Traditional Race.. Animals (Basel) 2022 Mar 16;12(6).
          doi: 10.3390/ani12060737pubmed: 35327134google scholar: lookup
        12. Shaffer SK, Garcia TC, Stover SM, Fyhrie DP. Exercise history predicts focal differences in bone volume fraction, mineral density and microdamage in the proximal sesamoid bones of Thoroughbred racehorses.. J Orthop Res 2022 Dec;40(12):2831-2842.
          doi: 10.1002/jor.25312pubmed: 35245393google scholar: lookup
        13. Gibson MJ, Roca Fraga FJ, Bolwell CF, Gee EK, Rogers CW. Race-Level Reporting of Incidents during Two Seasons (2015/16 to 2016/17) of Harness Racing in New Zealand.. Animals (Basel) 2022 Feb 11;12(4).
          doi: 10.3390/ani12040433pubmed: 35203141google scholar: lookup
        14. Palmer AL, Rogers CW, Stafford KJ, Gal A, Bolwell CF. Risk-Factors for Soft-Tissue Injuries, Lacerations and Fractures During Racing in Greyhounds in New Zealand.. Front Vet Sci 2021;8:737146.
          doi: 10.3389/fvets.2021.737146pubmed: 34926634google scholar: lookup
        15. Crawford KL, Finnane A, Greer RM, Barnes TS, Phillips CJC, Woldeyohannes SM, Bishop EL, Perkins NR, Ahern BJ. Survival Analysis of Training Methodologies and Other Risk Factors for Musculoskeletal Injury in 2-Year-Old Thoroughbred Racehorses in Queensland, Australia.. Front Vet Sci 2021;8:698298.
          doi: 10.3389/fvets.2021.698298pubmed: 34796223google scholar: lookup
        16. Physick-Sheard P, Avison A, Sears W. Factors Associated with Fatality in Ontario Thoroughbred Racehorses: 2003-2015.. Animals (Basel) 2021 Oct 13;11(10).
          doi: 10.3390/ani11102950pubmed: 34679971google scholar: lookup
        17. Legg KA, Gee EK, Cochrane DJ, Rogers CW. Preliminary Examination of the Biological and Industry Constraints on the Structure and Pattern of Thoroughbred Racing in New Zealand over Thirteen Seasons: 2005/06-2017/18.. Animals (Basel) 2021 Sep 27;11(10).
          doi: 10.3390/ani11102807pubmed: 34679829google scholar: lookup
        18. Physick-Sheard P, Avison A, Sears W. Factors Associated with Mortality in Ontario Standardbred Racing: 2003-2015.. Animals (Basel) 2021 Apr 5;11(4).
          doi: 10.3390/ani11041028pubmed: 33916415google scholar: lookup
        19. Crawford KL, Finnane A, Greer RM, Phillips CJC, Bishop EL, Woldeyohannes SM, Perkins NR, Ahern BJ. A Prospective Study of Training Methods for Two-Year-Old Thoroughbred Racehorses in Queensland, Australia, and Analysis of the Differences in Training Methods between Trainers of Varying Stable Sizes.. Animals (Basel) 2021 Mar 25;11(4).
          doi: 10.3390/ani11040928pubmed: 33805873google scholar: lookup
        20. Johnson S, Symons J. Measuring Volumetric Changes of Equine Distal Limbs: A Pilot Study Examining Jumping Exercise.. Animals (Basel) 2019 Sep 30;9(10).
          doi: 10.3390/ani9100751pubmed: 31575002google scholar: lookup
        21. Bellone RR, Ocampo NR, Hughes SS, Le V, Arthur R, Finno CJ, Penedo MCT. Warmblood fragile foal syndrome type 1 mutation (PLOD1 c.2032G>A) is not associated with catastrophic breakdown and has a low allele frequency in the Thoroughbred breed.. Equine Vet J 2020 May;52(3):411-414.
          doi: 10.1111/evj.13182pubmed: 31502696google scholar: lookup
        22. Tirosh-Levy S, Perl S, Valentine BA, Kelmer G. Erythrocytosis and fatigue fractures associated with hepatoblastoma in a 3-year-old gelding.. J S Afr Vet Assoc 2019 Mar 28;90(0):e1-e5.
          doi: 10.4102/jsava.v90i0.1708pubmed: 31038324google scholar: lookup
        23. Lipreri G, Bladon BM, Giorio ME, Singer ER. Conservative versus surgical treatment of 21 sports horses with osseous trauma in the proximal phalangeal sagittal groove diagnosed by low-field MRI.. Vet Surg 2018 Oct;47(7):908-915.
          doi: 10.1111/vsu.12936pubmed: 30216476google scholar: lookup
        24. Stewart HL, Kawcak CE. The Importance of Subchondral Bone in the Pathophysiology of Osteoarthritis.. Front Vet Sci 2018;5:178.
          doi: 10.3389/fvets.2018.00178pubmed: 30211173google scholar: lookup
        25. Donahue SW. Krogh's principle for musculoskeletal physiology and pathology.. J Musculoskelet Neuronal Interact 2018 Sep 1;18(3):284-291.
          pubmed: 30179205
        26. Rosanowski SM, Chang YM, Stirk AJ, Verheyen KLP. Risk factors for race-day fatality in flat racing Thoroughbreds in Great Britain (2000 to 2013).. PLoS One 2018;13(3):e0194299.
          doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0194299pubmed: 29561898google scholar: lookup
        Subscribe to our newsletter
        Join 99,344 horse owners like you who receive our email updates on horse health and nutrition.