Effect of maturation and aging on material and ultrasonographic properties of equine superficial digital flexor tendon.
Abstract: Results of studies in human beings and other species have indicated that aging significantly influences the strength, modulus of elasticity, and energy storage ability of tendon. We wanted to determine the effects of aging on the material and ultrasonographic properties of equine superficial digital flexor (SDF) tendon. Ultrasonographic measurements of left forelimb SDF tendon cross-sectional area and mean echogenicity were made in 23 standing horses ranging in age from 2 to 23 years. All horses had not been in work for a minimum of 6 months prior to the study. After euthanasia, left forelimb bone-muscle-tendon-bone specimens were mounted in a materials testing system. The SDF tendon was cyclically loaded sinusoidally 100 times at 0.5 Hz from 1.5 to 5.0% strain, then was submitted to 10-minute creep-and-stress relaxation tests. Modulus of elasticity, load at 3% strain, and creep-and-stress relaxation were determined for each specimen. A significant positive correlation was found between elastic modulus and age. Correlation was not found between age and SDF tendon cross-sectional area or mean echogenicity. When 2-year-old horses were compared with older horses, the latter had tendons with a significantly (P = 0.007) greater modulus of elasticity. The authors conclude that increasing age through maturity is associated with a corresponding increase in equine SDF tendon elastic modulus.
Publication Date: 1995-10-01 PubMed ID: 8928953
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- Journal Article
- Research Support
- Non-U.S. Gov't
Summary
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The research paper examines the effects of aging on the material and ultrasonographic properties of a specific tendon in horses. The study found that as the horses aged, the elasticity of the tendon increased, which would affect its function, but was not correlated with any changes in its size or echogenicity.
Overview of the Research
- The scientists carried out a study to determine how aging influences the properties of a specific tendon called the superficial digital flexor (SDF) tendon in horses.
- They conducted ultrasonographic measurements (the cross-sectional area and mean echogenicity) of the left forelimb SDF tendon in 23 standing horses aged between 2 to 23 years.
- None of the horses had been in work for at least 6 months before the study.
Experimental Procedure
- Following euthanasia, they collected tendon specimens from the left forelimb of each horse.
- The tendon specimens were cyclically loaded in a materials testing system to test their strength and further properties.
- Testing involved subjecting the tendon to strain 100 times and then to 10-minute creep-and-stress relaxation tests.
- The modulus of elasticity, load strain, and creep-and-stress relaxation were determined for each specimen.
Findings of the Research
- The results demonstrated a significant positive correlation between the elasticity modulus of the tendon and the age of the horse. In simpler terms, as age increased, the elasticity of the tendon also increased.
- No correlation was found between the horse’s age and the cross-sectional area or mean echogenicity of the SDF tendon.
- When the tendons from 2-year-old horses were compared to those of older horses, the older horses had tendons with a significantly higher modulus of elasticity.
Conclusion
- The researchers concluded that aging is associated with an increase in the elastic modulus of an equine SDF tendon.
- This implies that as horses mature, changes in their tendons’ elasticity could influence their biomechanical functions, possibly impacting their performance and susceptibility to injury.
Cite This Article
APA
Gillis C, Sharkey N, Stover SM, Pool RR, Meagher DM, Willits N.
(1995).
Effect of maturation and aging on material and ultrasonographic properties of equine superficial digital flexor tendon.
Am J Vet Res, 56(10), 1345-1350.
Publication
Researcher Affiliations
- Veterinary Medical Teaching Hospital, University of California, Davis 95616, USA.
MeSH Terms
- Aging / physiology
- Animals
- Biomechanical Phenomena
- Body Weight
- Elastic Tissue / physiology
- Elasticity
- Female
- Forelimb / diagnostic imaging
- Forelimb / physiology
- Horses / anatomy & histology
- Horses / physiology
- Male
- Tendons / diagnostic imaging
- Tendons / physiology
- Ultrasonography
Citations
This article has been cited 8 times.- Schade J, de Souza AF, Vincensi LC, Müller TR, Fonteque JH. Ultrasound Morphometry and Mean Echogenicity of Digital Flexor Tendons, Suspensory Ligament, and Accessory Ligament of Digital Deep Flexor Tendon in Gaited Horses. Animals (Basel) 2023 Apr 20;13(8).
- Hagen J, Kojah K, Geiger M. Correlations between the equine metacarpophalangeal joint angulation and toe conformation in statics. Open Vet J 2018;8(1):96-103.
- Mienaltowski MJ, Dunkman AA, Buckley MR, Beason DP, Adams SM, Birk DE, Soslowsky LJ. Injury response of geriatric mouse patellar tendons. J Orthop Res 2016 Jul;34(7):1256-63.
- Shah RR, Nerurkar NL, Wang CC, Galloway JL. Tensile properties of craniofacial tendons in the mature and aged zebrafish. J Orthop Res 2015 Jun;33(6):867-73.
- Ellison M, Kobayashi H, Delaney F, Danielson K, Vanderby R Jr, Muir P, Forrest LJ. Feasibility and repeatability for in vivo measurements of stiffness gradients in the canine gastrocnemius tendon using an acoustoelastic strain gauge. Vet Radiol Ultrasound 2013 Sep-Oct;54(5):548-54.
- Dunkman AA, Buckley MR, Mienaltowski MJ, Adams SM, Thomas SJ, Satchell L, Kumar A, Pathmanathan L, Beason DP, Iozzo RV, Birk DE, Soslowsky LJ. Decorin expression is important for age-related changes in tendon structure and mechanical properties. Matrix Biol 2013 Jan;32(1):3-13.
- Kavaguchi De Grandis A, Boulocher C, Viguier E, Roger T, Sawaya S. Ultrasonograph and clinical quantitative characterization of tendinopathy by modified splitting in a goat model. ScientificWorldJournal 2012;2012:472023.
- Hanousek K, Fiske-Jackson A, O'Leary L, Smith RKW. Injury to the palmar supporting structures of the fetlock alters limb stiffness and fetlock angle. Equine Vet J 2025 May;57(3):636-644.
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