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Characterizing bone strain distributions in vivo using three triple rosette strain gages.
Abstract: Three triple-element rosette strain gages were attached to the equine third metacarpal midshaft to record site-specific strains engendered by locomotion. The distribution of strains acting upon the midshaft cross section were characterized using a combined beam theory and finite element model analysis that did not presume the manner by which the bone was inertially loaded. A medium-speed trot (3.6 ms-1) was chosen as a representative speed and gait, with normal and shear strains, and strain energy density (SED) distributions determined throughout the stance and subsequent swing phase. Importantly, the sites of maximum compression (-2400 mu epsilon), tension (810 mu epsilon), shear (1500 mu epsilon), and SED (54 kPa) were not located at any of the gage attachment sites, emphasizing that a minimum of three rosette gages are necessary to resolve the peaks and locations of functionally induced normal and shear strains. Considering the nonuniform strain distributions across the cortex, we conclude that the third metacarpal is subject to a complex loading milieu comprised of bending, axial compression, end shear, and torsion. As this complex manner of loading was consistent through the entire stance phase, it would appear that, at least during the trot, specific sites within the same cross section are subject to vastly different magnitudes of strain stimulus.
Publication Date: 1992-09-01 PubMed ID: 1517269DOI: 10.1016/0021-9290(92)90044-2Google 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.
- Comparative Study
- Journal Article
- Research Support
- U.S. Gov't
- Non-P.H.S.
- Research Support
- U.S. Gov't
- P.H.S.
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.
The research used strain gages to measure the strain on a horse’s third metacarpal bone during medium-speed trotting. The findings suggest that the bone is subjected to a complex mix of bending, axial compression, end shear, and torsion and these loads aren’t evenly distributed across the bone.
Objective and Methodology
- The goal of this study was to investigate the dynamic strain characteristics on the equine third metacarpal bone during horse locomotion.
- Three triple-element rosette strain gages were attached to the midshaft of the bone to record strains at specific sites.
- A medium-speed trot was chosen as a representative speed and gait for the experiment.
- The distribution of strains acting upon the midshaft cross section of the bone were analyzed using a combined beam theory and finite element model, without making presumption about the inertial loading of the bone.
Findings
- The results revealed that the highest compressive, tensile, shear, and strain energy density (SED) values weren’t located at any of the gage attachment sites. This indicated that at least three rosette gages are necessary to completely understand the locations and peaks of normal and shear strains induced by function.
- The study also revealed that the strain distribution across the bone is not uniform and varies significantly at different points within the same cross section.
- Compression, tension, shear, and SED distributions were determined throughout the stance and subsequent swing phase of the horse’s gait.
Conclusion
- The findings suggest that the third metacarpal bone in horses is subjected to a complex loading environment that includes bending, axial compression, end shear, and torsion during trotting. These loads are not distributed uniformly across the bone.
- The study concludes that specific sites within the same cross section of the bone are subjected to vastly different magnitudes of strain stimulus during the trot, highlighting the complexity of the bone’s loading environment.
- This understanding of strain distributions could have practical implications in diagnosing and treating bone-related injuries or diseases in horses.
Cite This Article
APA
Gross TS, McLeod KJ, Rubin CT.
(1992).
Characterizing bone strain distributions in vivo using three triple rosette strain gages.
J Biomech, 25(9), 1081-1087.
https://doi.org/10.1016/0021-9290(92)90044-2 Publication
Researcher Affiliations
- Department of Orthopaedics, State University of New York, Stony Brook 11790.
MeSH Terms
- Animals
- Biomechanical Phenomena
- Bone and Bones / physiology
- Gait
- Horses
- Locomotion
- Metacarpus / physiology
- Models, Biological
- Sprains and Strains
Grant Funding
- AR40411 / NIAMS NIH HHS
Citations
This article has been cited 14 times.- Skedros JG, Su SC, Knight AN, Bloebaum RD, Bachus KN. Advancing the deer calcaneus model for bone adaptation studies: ex vivo strains obtained after transecting the tension members suggest an unrecognized important role for shear strains. J Anat 2019 Jan;234(1):66-82.
- Dzierzęcka M, Jaworski M, Purzyc H, Barszcz K. Regional Differences of Densitometric and Geometric Parameters of the Third Metacarpal Bone in Coldblood Horses - pQCT Study. J Vet Res 2017 Mar;61(1):111-120.
- Uddin SM, Qin YX. Dynamic acoustic radiation force retains bone structural and mechanical integrity in a functional disuse osteopenia model. Bone 2015 Jun;75:8-17.
- Judex S, Koh TJ, Xie L. Modulation of bone's sensitivity to low-intensity vibrations by acceleration magnitude, vibration duration, and number of bouts. Osteoporos Int 2015 Apr;26(4):1417-28.
- Yang PF, Sanno M, Ganse B, Koy T, Brüggemann GP, Müller LP, Rittweger J. Torsion and antero-posterior bending in the in vivo human tibia loading regimes during walking and running. PLoS One 2014;9(4):e94525.
- Rubin CT, Seeherman H, Qin YX, Gross TS. The mechanical consequences of load bearing in the equine third metacarpal across speed and gait: the nonuniform distributions of normal strain, shear strain, and strain energy density. FASEB J 2013 May;27(5):1887-94.
- Skedros JG, Clark GC, Sorenson SM, Taylor KW, Qiu S. Analysis of the effect of osteon diameter on the potential relationship of osteocyte lacuna density and osteon wall thickness. Anat Rec (Hoboken) 2011 Sep;294(9):1472-85.
- Cole JH, van der Meulen MC. Whole bone mechanics and bone quality. Clin Orthop Relat Res 2011 Aug;469(8):2139-49.
- Main RP. Ontogenetic relationships between in vivo strain environment, bone histomorphometry and growth in the goat radius. J Anat 2007 Mar;210(3):272-93.
- Warner SE, Sanford DA, Becker BA, Bain SD, Srinivasan S, Gross TS. Botox induced muscle paralysis rapidly degrades bone. Bone 2006 Feb;38(2):257-64.
- de Margerie E. Laminar bone as an adaptation to torsional loads in flapping flight. J Anat 2002 Dec;201(6):521-6.
- Skedros JG. A 50-year perspective on the use and potential of artiodactyl calcanei in bone adaptation studies. Biol Rev Camb Philos Soc 2026 Feb;101(1):437-485.
- Skedros JG, Dayton MR, Cronin JT, Mears CS, Bloebaum RD, Wang X, Bachus KN. Roles of collagen cross-links and osteon collagen/lamellar morphotypes in equine third metacarpals in tension and compression tests. J Exp Biol 2024 Jul 15;227(14).
- Skedros JG, Dayton MR, Bloebaum RD, Bachus KN, Cronin JT. Strain-mode-specific mechanical testing and the interpretation of bone adaptation in the deer calcaneus. J Anat 2024 Mar;244(3):411-423.
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