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PloS one2024; 19(6); e0305622; doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0305622

Changes in muscle activation with graded surfaces during canter in Thoroughbred horses on a treadmill.

Abstract: Understanding how muscle activity changes with different surface grades during canter is essential for developing training protocols in Thoroughbreds because canter is their primary gait in training and races. We measured the spatiotemporal parameters and the activation of 12 surface muscles in the leading limb side of 7 Thoroughbreds. Horses were equipped with hoof strain gauges and cantered at 10 m/s on a treadmill set to grades of -4%, 0%, 4%, and 8%, randomly, for 30 seconds each without a lead change. Integrated electromyography (iEMG) values during stance and swing phases were calculated and normalized to mean iEMG values during stride duration at 0% grade in each muscle. The iEMG values at each grade were compared using a generalized mixed model. Stride duration significantly decreased due to shorter swing duration on an 8% grade (P < 0.001) compared to all other grades, where no significant changes were observed. Compared to a 0% grade, the normalized iEMG values during the stance phase on an 8% grade in five muscles significantly increased (Musculus infraspinatus; +9%, M. longissimus dorsi (LD); +4%, M. gluteus medius (GM); +29%, M. biceps femoris; +47%, M. flexor digitorum lateralis; +16%). During the swing phase, the normalized iEMG values in six muscles significantly increased on an 8% grade compared to a 0% grade (M. splenius; +21%, M. triceps brachii; +54%, LD; +37%, GM; +24%, M. semitendinosus; +51%, M. extensor digitorum longus; +10%). No significant changes were observed in iEMG values on -4% and 4% grades compared to the 0% grade. Although +/- 4% grades had little effect on neuromuscular responses, 8% uphill canter reduced stride duration due to decreased swing duration and required increase of muscle activation during either stance and swing phase. Canter on an 8% grade might strengthen equine muscles to increase propulsive force and stride frequency.
Copyright: © 2024 Takahashi et al. This is an open access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License, which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original author and source are credited.
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Publication Date: 2024-06-14 PubMed ID: 38875264PubMed Central: PMC11178216DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0305622Google Scholar: Lookup
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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 study investigates how muscle activity in Thoroughbred racehorses changes when the horses are running at different surface gradients. The primary finding is that a higher incline leads to increased activation in certain muscles and a decrease in stride duration.

Research Methodology

  • In this research, the activity in 12 surface muscles of the leading limb of 7 Thoroughbred horses was observed and recorded.
  • The horses were made to run at a speed of 10 m/s on a treadmill that was set at different gradients (-4%, 0%, 4%, and 8%) for a duration of 30 seconds each.
  • The horses didn’t switch leading limbs (or lead) during this period.
  • During this period, Integrated Electromyography (iEMG) values were measured for both the stance and swing phases.
  • These iEMG values were then normalized to the average iEMG values observed during the stride duration at a 0% gradient.

Findings and Analysis

  • Stride duration was found to decrease significantly at an 8% gradient compared to other gradients due to a shorter swing duration.
  • Normalized iEMG values were found to increase significantly in five muscles engaged in the stance phase on an 8% grade compared to the same muscle values at a 0% gradient.
  • The trend was similar for the swing phase of the stride, with six muscles exhibiting significantly increased iEMG values on an 8% uphill grade as opposed to a level gradient.
  • No substantial changes were noted when the treadmill was set at -4% and 4% gradients.

Conclusion

  • According to these findings, changes in surface gradients of +/- 4% had little impact on neuromuscular responses in the horses.
  • However, an 8% uphill gradient led to decreased stride duration due to a shortened swing phase and an increase in muscle activation during both the stance and swing phases of the stride.
  • This suggests that the muscles of Thoroughbred horses become significantly more engaged when running on an uphill gradient of 8%, which could potentially be used to improve the performance of these animals in racing scenarios by strengthening their muscles and enhancing propulsive force and stride frequency.

Cite This Article

APA
Takahashi Y, Takahashi T, Mukai K, Ebisuda Y, Ohmura H. (2024). Changes in muscle activation with graded surfaces during canter in Thoroughbred horses on a treadmill. PLoS One, 19(6), e0305622. https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0305622

Publication

PloS one
ISSN: 1932-6203
NlmUniqueID: 101285081
Country: United States
Language: English
Volume: 19
Issue: 6
Pages: e0305622
PII: e0305622

Researcher Affiliations

Takahashi, Yuji
  • Sports Science Division, Division of Equine Research Institute, Japan Racing Association, Shimotsuke, Tochigi, Japan.
Takahashi, Toshiyuki
  • Sports Science Division, Division of Equine Research Institute, Japan Racing Association, Shimotsuke, Tochigi, Japan.
Mukai, Kazutaka
  • Sports Science Division, Division of Equine Research Institute, Japan Racing Association, Shimotsuke, Tochigi, Japan.
Ebisuda, Yusaku
  • Sports Science Division, Division of Equine Research Institute, Japan Racing Association, Shimotsuke, Tochigi, Japan.
Ohmura, Hajime
  • Sports Science Division, Division of Equine Research Institute, Japan Racing Association, Shimotsuke, Tochigi, Japan.

MeSH Terms

  • Animals
  • Horses / physiology
  • Electromyography
  • Muscle, Skeletal / physiology
  • Gait / physiology
  • Exercise Test
  • Biomechanical Phenomena
  • Male
  • Female
  • Physical Conditioning, Animal / physiology

Conflict of Interest Statement

The authors have declared that no competing interest exist.

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This article has been cited 1 times.
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