Comparing racing performance following arthroscopic surgery of metacarpophalangeal/metatarsophalangeal and carpal joints in Thoroughbred racehorses rehabilitated using conventional and underwater treadmill therapies.

This research study investigates the effectiveness of underwater treadmill therapy in rehabilitating Thoroughbred racehorses following arthroscopic surgery for osteochondral fragments of the metacarpophalangeal (MCP), metatarsophalangeal (MTP) joints, or carpal joints. Results indicate that underwater treadmill rehabilitation yields a higher rate of horses returning to racing post-surgery compared to conventional rehabilitation methods.

Introduction and Methodology

• The study focuses on Thoroughbred racehorses that had undergone arthroscopic surgery for osteochondral fragments in the metacarpophalangeal (MCP), metatarsophalangeal (MTP) joints, or carpal joints.
• The research is retrospective and includes horses that underwent either conventional rehabilitation or underwater treadmill assisted rehabilitation at the same facility.
• The aim of the study was to determine if underwater treadmill rehabilitation was effective in getting Thoroughbred racehorses back to racing after surgery and to assess the time it takes for them to return to racing and their postoperative racing performance, focusing on Beyer Speed Figures – a popular speed rating system for Thoroughbred racing.

Results and Findings

• A total of 165 horses were part of the study, with 70 (or 40.2%) undergoing underwater treadmill rehabilitation. The rest had conventional rehabilitation.
• Regarding the time to get back to racing, the median period was 227 days for those using the underwater treadmill and 239 days for those with conventional rehab.
• When looking at the horses that used to race presurgery, 83% of the ones that went through underwater treadmill rehabilitation came back to racing after the surgery. In contrast, only 61% of horses that adopted conventional rehabilitation methods were able to return.

Conclusions

• The study concludes that underwater treadmill rehabilitation proves to be a superior method of getting a Thoroughbred racehorse back to racing following arthroscopic surgery of the carpus or MCP/MTP joints.
• Although the median time to return to racing showed a slight difference between the two rehabilitation methods, the significant increase in the number of horses able to return to racing indicates the effectiveness of underwater treadmill rehabilitation.