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American journal of veterinary research2002; 63(3); 432-437; doi: 10.2460/ajvr.2002.63.432

Calculated forelimb flexor tendon forces in horses with experimentally induced superficial digital flexor tendinitis and the effects of application of heel wedges.

Abstract: To calculate forces in the flexor tendons and the influence of heel wedges in affected and contralateral (compensating) forelimbs of horses with experimentally induced unilateral tendinitis of the superficial digital flexor (SDF) tendon. Methods: 5 Warmblood horses. Procedure-Ground reaction force and kinematic data were obtained during a previous study while horses were trotting before and after induction of tendinitis in 1 forelimb SDF and after application of 6 degrees heel wedges to both forehooves. Forces in the SDF, deep digital flexor (DDF), and the suspensory ligament (SL) and strain in the accessory ligament (AL) of the DDF were calculated, using an in vitro model of the distal region of the forelimb. Results: After induction of tendinitis, trotting speed slowed, and forces decreased in most tendons. In the affected limb, SL force decreased more than SDF and DDF forces. In the compensating limb, SDF force increased, and the other forces decreased. After application of heel wedges, SDF force in both limbs increased but not significantly. Furthermore, there was a decrease in DDF force and AL strain. Conclusions: The increase in SDF force in the compensating forelimb of horses with unilateral SDF tendinitis may explain the high secondary injury rate in this tendon. The lack of decrease of SDF force in either limb after application of heel wedges suggests that heel wedges are not beneficial in horses with SDF tendinitis. Instead, heel wedges may exacerbate the existing lesion.
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Publication Date: 2002-03-26 PubMed ID: 11911580DOI: 10.2460/ajvr.2002.63.432Google Scholar: Lookup
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  • Journal Article
  • Research Support
  • Non-U.S. Gov't

Summary

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The research article presents a study where the researchers studied the effects of flexor tendon forces in horses diagnosed with superficial digital flexor (SDF) tendinitis, focusing on the impact of using heel wedges. The researchers concluded that heel wedges may not be beneficial for horses with SDF tendinitis as they may worsen existing lesions and that there might be a high secondary injury rate because of increased SDF force in the compensating limb.

Research Methodology

  • The study involved five Warmblood horses. These horses were trotting before and after artificially inducing tendinitis in one of the forelimb SDF.
  • To obtain data, the researchers utilized ground reaction force and kinematic measurements.
  • After induction of tendinitis, 6-degree heel wedges were applied to both front hooves.
  • The team employed an in vitro model of the horse’s distal forelimb region to calculate the forces in the SDF, deep digital flexor (DDF), suspensory ligament (SL), and strain in the accessory ligament (AL) of the DDF.

Research Findings and Conclusions

  • Following the artificial induction of tendinitis, the horses slowed their trotting speed and experienced decreased forces in most tendons.
  • The SL force decreased more than the SDF and DDF forces in the affected limb.
  • The compensating limb experienced an increase in SDF force, while the others saw a decrease.
  • The application of heel wedges led to an insignificant increase in SDF force in both limbs and a decrease in DDF force and AL strain.
  • The researchers concluded that the heel wedges may not be beneficial for horses with SDF tendinitis as they did not decrease the SDF force in either limb and could even worsen the existing lesion.
  • Additionally, the increase in SDF force in the compensating forelimb indicates a high secondary injury rate in the said tendon. This sheds light on why horses with unilateral SDF tendinitis may suffer from secondary injuries frequently.

Cite This Article

APA
Meershoek LS, Lanovaz JL, Schamhardt HC, Clayton HM. (2002). Calculated forelimb flexor tendon forces in horses with experimentally induced superficial digital flexor tendinitis and the effects of application of heel wedges. Am J Vet Res, 63(3), 432-437. https://doi.org/10.2460/ajvr.2002.63.432

Publication

American journal of veterinary research
ISSN: 0002-9645
NlmUniqueID: 0375011
Country: United States
Language: English
Volume: 63
Issue: 3
Pages: 432-437

Researcher Affiliations

Meershoek, Liduin S
  • Department of Veterinary Anatomy and Physiology, and Institute for Fundamental and Clinical Human Movement Sciences, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Utrecht University, The Netherlands.
Lanovaz, Joel L
    Schamhardt, Henk C
      Clayton, Hilary M

        MeSH Terms

        • Animals
        • Biomechanical Phenomena
        • Forelimb / physiopathology
        • Horse Diseases / physiopathology
        • Horse Diseases / therapy
        • Horses
        • Lameness, Animal / physiopathology
        • Lameness, Animal / therapy
        • Orthotic Devices / veterinary
        • Tendinopathy / physiopathology
        • Tendinopathy / therapy
        • Tendinopathy / veterinary

        Citations

        This article has been cited 7 times.
        1. Crecan CM, Peștean CP. Inertial Sensor Technologies-Their Role in Equine Gait Analysis, a Review. Sensors (Basel) 2023 Jul 11;23(14).
          doi: 10.3390/s23146301pubmed: 37514599google scholar: lookup
        2. Wagner FC, Gerlach K, Geiger SM, Gittel C, Böttcher P, Mülling CKW. Biplanar High-Speed Fluoroscopy of Pony Superficial Digital Flexor Tendon (SDFT)-An In Vivo Pilot Study. Vet Sci 2021 May 27;8(6).
          doi: 10.3390/vetsci8060092pubmed: 34072030google scholar: lookup
        3. Tsang AS, Dart AJ, Biasutti SA, Jeffcott LB, Smith MM, Little CB. Effects of tendon injury on uninjured regional tendons in the distal limb: An in-vivo study using an ovine tendinopathy model. PLoS One 2019;14(4):e0215830.
          doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0215830pubmed: 31013317google scholar: lookup
        4. Geburek F, Lietzau M, Beineke A, Rohn K, Stadler PM. Effect of a single injection of autologous conditioned serum (ACS) on tendon healing in equine naturally occurring tendinopathies. Stem Cell Res Ther 2015 Jun 26;6(1):126.
          doi: 10.1186/s13287-015-0115-0pubmed: 26113022google scholar: lookup
        5. Takahashi T, Mukai K, Ohmura H, Aida H, Hiraga A. In vivo measurements of flexor tendon and suspensory ligament forces during trotting using the thoroughbred forelimb model. J Equine Sci 2014;25(1):15-22.
          doi: 10.1294/jes.25.15pubmed: 24834009google scholar: lookup
        6. Lawson SE, Chateau H, Pourcelot P, Denoix JM, Crevier-Denoix N. Effect of toe and heel elevation on calculated tendon strains in the horse and the influence of the proximal interphalangeal joint. J Anat 2007 May;210(5):583-91.
          doi: 10.1111/j.1469-7580.2007.00714.xpubmed: 17451533google scholar: lookup
        7. Colla S, Johnson JW, McGilvray KC, Zanotto GM, Seabaugh KA. Biomechanical Assessment of the Collateral Ligament of the Distal Interphalangeal Joint of the Horse Following Alterations to the Palmar Angle-A Cadaveric Study. Animals (Basel) 2025 Feb 1;15(3).
          doi: 10.3390/ani15030406pubmed: 39943176google scholar: lookup
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