Dynamic mobilisations in cervical flexion: Effects on intervertebral angulations.

This research investigates the impact of dynamic mobilisation exercises on the angulations of the vertebral joints in horses, particularly targeting those in the neck. It concludes that the exercises were effective in modifying such angulations and might have potential benefits in horse rehabilitation protocols.

Research Methodology

• This study involved eight healthy horses. Their head, neck, and back movements in the sagittal plane (imaginary vertical plane which divides the body into left and right sides), were observed under four different conditions.
• The four conditions comprised a neutral standing position and three varying neck flexion positions. These flexion positions were chin-to-chest, chin-between-carpi (chin between the front knee joints), and chin-between-fetlocks (chin between the front ankles).
• Markers were placed on the heads of the horses, extending to several points along the spine. These markers were used to form rigid segments, and angles between these segments were measured to determine the degree of flexion in each position.
• These measurements were compared using repeated measures Analysis of Variance (ANOVA) with Bonferroni post hoc tests to determine the statistical significance of the differences observed.

Research Findings

• The study found significant differences in the angular flexion of the vertebral joints at the top (cranial) and bottom (caudal) of the horses’ necks. Fewer and lesser differences were observed in the middle section of the neck.
• Specifically, the angle at the C1 vertebra (the first cervical vertebra near the skull) was markedly more extended when the horses placed their chins between carpi and fetlocks than in neutral or chin-to-chest positions. Moreover, the angle at C6 (the sixth cervical vertebra) indicated a progressive neck lowering across the three flexions.
• Interestingly, the angles from T6 to L1 (in the torso region of the horses) were also more flexed during the cervical flexion positions compared to the neutral position. The study noted that this change in flexion was significant for at least one of the dynamic mobilisations at each vertebral level.
• This implies that dynamic mobilisation exercises do not just alter the angulations in the cervical (neck) vertebrae but also those situated along the horses’ back (thoracic vertebrae).

Conclusions

• The articulations at the ends of the cervical vertebral column mainly determine the position and orientation of the head and neck in the sagittal plane. However, dynamic neck flexion also flexes the thoracic intervertebral joints.
• The findings suggest potential clinical benefits of dynamic mobilisation exercises, especially in rehabilitating horses suffering from neck and back pain. These exercises seem to mobilise not just the cervical but also the thoracic intervertebral joints.