Clinical Research Abstracts of the British Equine Veterinary Association Congress 2015.
Abstract: In cases of laminitis, an increased muscle force or contracture of the deep digital flexor muscle (DDFM) is suggested, but evidence-based research is lacking. Objective: To test if the DDFM of laminitic equines shows an increased muscle force detectable by needle-EMG including Interference Pattern Analysis (IPA). Methods: Cross-sectional study. Methods: Three groups consisted of Group 0 (control): 6 Royal Dutch Sport horses, 3 Shetland ponies and one Welsh pony (healthy, sound adults, mean ± s.d. weight 411 ± 217 kg). Group 1: 3 Royal Dutch Sport horses, one Friesian, one Haflinger, one Icelandic horse, 2 Welsh ponies, one miniature Appaloosa and 6 Shetland ponies (adults, mean ± s.d. weight 310 ± 172 kg) suffering from acute or chronic laminitis. EMG measurements including firing frequency (F) and IPA parameters Turns/Second (T), Amplitude/Turn (M) and Ratio M/T (R) were performed. ANOVA was used to analyse data. P values of P<0.05 were considered significant. Results: Mean ± s.d. F of Group 0 and Group 1 was 53 ± 11 and 72 ± 21 Hz, mean ± s.d. T was 112 ± 57 and 106 ± 42, mean ± s.d. M was 284 ± 51 and 254 ± 38 μV and mean ± s.d. R was 0.39 ± 0.17 and 0.42 ± 0.16%, respectively. The firing frequency of Group 1 was significantly higher compared to Group 0 (P = 0.02), whereas other differences were not significant. Conclusions: In human medicine, an increased firing frequency is a characteristic of increased muscle force [1,2]. Thus, the increased firing frequency of the DDFM in case of laminitis suggests an elevated muscle force. As all parameters show a high variance, a repeated study including a larger test group is advised. Ethical animal research: Data collection from controls was approved by the Animal Welfare Committee of Utrecht University, approval number 2008.III.07.061 and 2013.III.01.012. Clinical cases were privately owned and written owner consent was obtained. Background: None. Competing interests: None declared.
© 2015 The Author(s). Equine Veterinary Journal © 2015 EVJ Ltd.
Publication Date: 2015-09-17 PubMed ID: 26375878DOI: 10.1111/evj.12486_36Google Scholar: Lookup
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Summary
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The research studies the correlation between laminitis (a debilitating disease affecting the hooves in horses) and an increased muscle force in the deep digital flexor muscle (DDFM) of horses. Specifically, the study found that the firing frequency of the DDFM in horses with laminitis was significantly higher than those without, implying an increased muscle force.
Research Methodology
- The researchers conducted the study on three groups of horses. Group 0, the control group, consisted of healthy, sound adults. Group 1 included adults suffering from either acute or chronic laminitis.
- A needle electromyography (EMG) technique, including Interference Pattern Analysis (IPA), was used to detect the muscle force of the DDFM in the equines.
- Parameters such as firing frequency, Turns/Second (T), Amplitude/Turn (M) and Ratio M/T (R) were used in the analysis.
- The data was analyzed using the statistical technique called Analysis of Variance (ANOVA). Differences were considered significant if the P value was less than 0.05.
Research Findings
- The mean firing frequency of the laminitic group was significantly higher than the control group, with a difference that was statistically significant (P = 0.02).
- The values of Turns/Second (T), Amplitude/Turn (M) and Ratio M/T (R), however, did not show significant differences between the two groups.
- In human medicine, an increased firing frequency is known to be a characteristic of increased muscle force. Consequently, the increased firing frequency in the DDFM of the laminitic horses could indicate elevated muscle force.
- However, due to the high variance observed in all parameters, the researchers recommend a repeated study with a larger test group for more accurate results.
Research Ethics
- The research was approved by the Animal Welfare Committee of Utrecht University. It has conformed to the ethical standards of animal research.
- For the clinical cases, the horses were privately owned and written consent was obtained from all owners.
Limitations & Future Research
- By the researcher’s own admission, the high level of variance observed in all parameters implies that caution is needed when interpreting the results.
- The researchers suggest a larger test group for future studies, in order to obtain more statistically significant results.
Cite This Article
APA
Hardeman LC, van der Meij BR, Back W, van der Kolk JH, Wijnberg ID.
(2015).
Clinical Research Abstracts of the British Equine Veterinary Association Congress 2015.
Equine Vet J, 47 Suppl 48, 16.
https://doi.org/10.1111/evj.12486_36 Publication
Researcher Affiliations
- Department of Equine Sciences, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Utrecht University, Yalelaan 114, 3584 CM, Utrecht, The Netherlands.
- De Klomp Veterinarians, De Klomp 4, 6745 WB, De Klomp, The Netherlands.
- Department of Equine Sciences, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Utrecht University, Yalelaan 114, 3584 CM, Utrecht, The Netherlands.
- Department of Equine Sciences, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Utrecht University, Yalelaan 114, 3584 CM, Utrecht, The Netherlands.
- Department of Surgery and Anaesthesiology, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Ghent University, Salisburylaan 133, 9820, Merelbeke, Belgium.
- Department of Equine Sciences, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Utrecht University, Yalelaan 114, 3584 CM, Utrecht, The Netherlands.
- Euregio Laboratory Services, Section Equine Metabolic and Genetic Diseases, Stadionplein 46, 6225 XW, Maastricht, The Netherlands.
- Division of Clinical Veterinary Medicine, Swiss Institute for Equine Medicine, Vetsuisse Faculty, University of Bern and Agroscope, Bern, Switzerland.
- Department of Equine Sciences, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Utrecht University, Yalelaan 114, 3584 CM, Utrecht, The Netherlands.
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