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Veterinary journal (London, England : 1997)2004; 171(1); 135-146; doi: 10.1016/j.tvjl.2004.09.004

Compensatory load redistribution of horses with induced weight-bearing forelimb lameness trotting on a treadmill.

Abstract: The study was performed to obtain a detailed insight into the load and time shifting mechanisms of horses with unilateral weight-bearing forelimb lameness. Reversible lameness was induced in 11 clinically sound horses by applying a solar pressure model. Three degrees of lameness (subtle, mild and moderate) were induced and compared with sound control measurements. Vertical ground reaction force-time histories of all four limbs were recorded simultaneously on an instrumented treadmill. Four compensatory mechanisms could be identified that served to reduce structural stress, i.e. peak vertical force on the affected limb: (1) with increasing lameness, horses reduced the total vertical impulse per stride; (2) the diagonal impulse decreased selectively in the lame diagonal; (3) the impulse was shifted within the lame diagonal to the hindlimb and in the sound diagonal to the forelimb; (4) the rate of loading and the peak forces were reduced by prolonging the stance duration. Except in the diagonal hindlimb, where peak vertical forces increased slightly in the moderate lameness condition, no equivalent compensatory overload situation was observed in the other limbs. Specific force and time information of all four limbs allow the unequivocal identification of the affected limb.
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Publication Date: 2004-11-11 PubMed ID: 15974567DOI: 10.1016/j.tvjl.2004.09.004Google Scholar: Lookup
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  • Journal Article

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 investigates how horses adjust their load-bearing mechanisms when experiencing different levels of lameness in a forelimb. The study notes four specific ways horses manage to mitigate structural stress on the affected limb.

Methodology

  • The team used 11 clinically healthy horses for this study.
  • They artificially induced lameness of varying degrees (subtle, mild, and moderate) in these horses using a solar pressure model.
  • The researchers then measured their vertical ground reaction forces (the forces exerted by the ground on a body in contact with it) for all four limbs while the horses trotted on a specially equipped treadmill.

Findings

  • The researchers identified four compensatory mechanisms that horses used to lessen the structural stress on the lameness-affected limb.
  • These included reducing the total vertical impulse per stride with increasing degrees of lameness to lessen the pressure on the lame limb.
  • They also observed a selective decrease in the diagonal impulse (the force exerted diagonally across the body) in the lame diagonal limb pair.
  • Moreover, there was an internal shift of impulse within the lame diagonal pair, diverting more of the load to the hindlimb, and in the sound (unaffected) diagonal pair, shifting the load to the forelimb.
  • Finally, horses reduced the rate of loading and peak forces by extending the stance duration, that is, the time during which the limb is in contact with the ground.
  • This redistribution was found to be efficient as no compensatory overload was observed in the other limbs, except for a slight increase in the peak vertical forces in the diagonal hindlimb under moderate lameness condition.

Importance and Applications

  • These findings provide detailed insights into the adaptive strategies of horses in response to lameness, which can inform better diagnostics and therapeutic interventions.
  • Particularly, the specific force and time measurements of all four limbs aid in unequivocal identification of the affected limb, thereby improving lameness detection and assessment.

Cite This Article

APA
Weishaupt MA, Wiestner T, Hogg HP, Jordan P, Auer JA. (2004). Compensatory load redistribution of horses with induced weight-bearing forelimb lameness trotting on a treadmill. Vet J, 171(1), 135-146. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.tvjl.2004.09.004

Publication

Veterinary journal (London, England : 1997)
ISSN: 1090-0233
NlmUniqueID: 9706281
Country: England
Language: English
Volume: 171
Issue: 1
Pages: 135-146

Researcher Affiliations

Weishaupt, Michael A
  • Equine Hospital, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Zurich, Winterthurerstrasse 260, CH-8057 Zurich, Switzerland. mweishaupt@vetclinics.unizh.ch
Wiestner, Thomas
    Hogg, Hermann P
      Jordan, Patrick
        Auer, Jörg A

          MeSH Terms

          • Adaptation, Physiological
          • Animals
          • Exercise Test / veterinary
          • Forelimb
          • Horse Diseases / physiopathology
          • Horses / physiology
          • Lameness, Animal / physiopathology
          • Weight-Bearing / physiology

          Citations

          This article has been cited 35 times.
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