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Home / Equine Research Bank / Animals (Basel) / Dynamic Mobilization Exercises Improve Activity and Stride P...
Animals : an open access journal from MDPI2025; 15(20); 2943; doi: 10.3390/ani15202943

Dynamic Mobilization Exercises Improve Activity and Stride Parameters Measured with Accelerometry in Sedentary Horses.

Abstract: Dynamic mobilization exercises (DME) are an effective strategy to prevent musculoskeletal injuries and promote back health in sport horses. Previous studies focused mainly on multifidus muscle cross-sectional area, with limited data on locomotion and adaptation timing. This study evaluated locomotor changes using accelerometry, over 8 weeks of DME application in 14 sedentary horses: a DME group ( = 8) performing 10 different DME (3 neck flexions, 1 neck extension and 3 lateral bending exercises to each side), 5 repetitions of each DME per session, 3 sessions/week, and a control group ( = 6), that continued with their daily routine activities without any other training. During the study period, all horses were housed in medium-sized paddocks. Accelerometric measurements were performed at walk and trot before intervention, 2 h and 24 h after a DME session, and at 2, 4, 6, and 8 weeks. The DME group showed significant increases in dorsoventral displacement and dorsoventral and mediolateral activities from week 4, at both walk and trot, which then stabilized. Longitudinal activity increased from week 2 on trot and from week 4 at walk. Locomotor symmetry and stride length improved at week 6, while stride frequency decreased at week 8; velocity remained unchanged. These findings indicate that DME enhances dorsoventral, mediolateral and longitudinal activities, producing longer, more symmetrical strides. Overall, DME appears to promote more symmetrical movement patterns.
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Publication Date: 2025-10-10 PubMed ID: 41153872PubMed Central: PMC12560906DOI: 10.3390/ani15202943Google Scholar: Lookup
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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.

Objective Overview

  • This study investigated how dynamic mobilization exercises (DME) affect the movement and stride characteristics of inactive horses using accelerometry over an 8-week period.

Introduction and Background

  • Dynamic mobilization exercises (DME) are used to prevent musculoskeletal injuries and support spinal health in sport horses.
  • Previous research mainly assessed changes in specific back muscles (multifidus muscle cross-sectional area) but lacked detailed information on how these exercises influence locomotion and the timeline of adaptations.
  • The current study aimed to fill this gap by evaluating changes in activity and stride parameters in sedentary horses performing DME, using objective, quantitative measures from accelerometers.

Study Design and Methodology

  • Participants: 14 sedentary horses divided into two groups:
    • DME group: 8 horses performed specific exercises.
    • Control group: 6 horses maintained their usual routine without additional training.
  • Intervention:
    • DME group performed 10 types of exercises focusing on neck and lateral bending movements:
      • 3 neck flexions, 1 neck extension, and 3 lateral bendings to each side.
      • 5 repetitions per exercise per session.
      • 3 training sessions per week.
    • Control horses stayed in medium-sized paddocks without added training.
  • Data Collection:
    • Locomotor activity was measured using accelerometry at the walk and trot gaits.
    • Measurements were taken at several time points:
      • Before intervention (baseline).
      • 2 hours and 24 hours after a DME session.
      • After 2, 4, 6, and 8 weeks of training.

Key Results and Findings

  • The DME group exhibited notable improvements in several locomotor parameters over time:
    • From week 4 onwards:
      • Significant increases in dorsoventral displacement (up-and-down movement of the horse’s back)
      • Enhanced dorsoventral and mediolateral activities were recorded at both walk and trot gaits.
    • Longitudinal (forward-back) activity increased starting at:
      • Week 2 during trot.
      • Week 4 during walk.
    • Locomotor symmetry and stride length improved by week 6, indicating better balance and longer strides.
    • Stride frequency decreased by week 8, suggesting more efficient movement patterns (longer strides but fewer in number).
    • Velocity (speed) of horses remained unchanged, indicating adaptations were linked to stride quality, not increased speed.
  • The control group, which did not perform DME, didn’t exhibit these positive changes.

Interpretation and Conclusions

  • DME training enhances several dimensions of equine locomotion:
    • Increases mobility and muscle activity in dorsal-ventral, medio-lateral, and longitudinal planes of movement.
    • Promotes longer, more symmetrical strides, which are indicators of improved gait quality and possibly reduced injury risk.
  • The improved symmetry and stride parameters suggest that DME positively influences the neuromuscular control and biomechanical efficiency in sedentary horses.
  • The fact that velocity was unchanged underscores that the improvement is in stride mechanics rather than speed, highlighting increased movement efficiency rather than exertion intensity.
  • Overall, the study supports the use of dynamic mobilization exercises as a valuable preventive and rehabilitative tool for maintaining or improving back health and movement quality in horses that have been inactive.

Implications for Practice

  • Incorporating DME in training routines for sedentary or lightly active horses can facilitate better movement symmetry and stride characteristics, potentially reducing injury risk.
  • Regular monitoring using accelerometry can provide objective measures of progress and adaptation over time.
  • DME can be a low-risk, effective method to promote musculoskeletal health before or alongside more intensive athletic training.

Cite This Article

APA
Saitua A, Pérez-Umbría J, García-Álamo K, Muñoz A. (2025). Dynamic Mobilization Exercises Improve Activity and Stride Parameters Measured with Accelerometry in Sedentary Horses. Animals (Basel), 15(20), 2943. https://doi.org/10.3390/ani15202943

Publication

Animals : an open access journal from MDPI
ISSN: 2076-2615
NlmUniqueID: 101635614
Country: Switzerland
Language: English
Volume: 15
Issue: 20
PII: 2943

Researcher Affiliations

Saitua, Aritz
  • Department of Animal Medicine and Surgery, School of Veterinary Medicine, University of Córdoba, 14071 Córdoba, Spain.
  • Equine Sport Medicine Center, CEMEDE, School of Veterinary Medicine, University of Cordoba, 14071 Córdoba, Spain.
  • Ekhine-Veterinary Sports Medicine, 29004 Málaga, Spain.
Pérez-Umbría, Joaquín
  • Equine Sport Medicine Center, CEMEDE, School of Veterinary Medicine, University of Cordoba, 14071 Córdoba, Spain.
García-Álamo, Karelhia
  • Equine Sport Medicine Center, CEMEDE, School of Veterinary Medicine, University of Cordoba, 14071 Córdoba, Spain.
Muñoz, Ana
  • Department of Animal Medicine and Surgery, School of Veterinary Medicine, University of Córdoba, 14071 Córdoba, Spain.
  • Equine Sport Medicine Center, CEMEDE, School of Veterinary Medicine, University of Cordoba, 14071 Córdoba, Spain.

Conflict of Interest Statement

The authors declare no conflicts of interest.

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