Effectiveness of Neuromuscular Electrical Stimulation and Dynamic Mobilization Exercises on Equine Multifidus Muscle Cross-Sectional Area.
Abstract: Equine back pain can potentially initiate an unstable intervertebral situation that results in atrophy and dysfunction of the epaxial muscles even after back pain has resolved. Several physiotherapy approaches are advocated to promote the strengthening of the multifidus muscle. This study aimed to asses and compare the effect of dynamic mobilization exercises (DME) and neuromuscular electrical stimulation (NMES) in 8 adult horses (4 individuals by group) to increase the cross-sectional area (CSA) of this muscle after a 7-weeks period treatment. The epaxial muscles of NMES group were electrical stimulated during 10 minutes per session, 4 days a week for 7 weeks, yielding a total of 28 sessions per individual. Horses included in DME group were trained to move the chin to a specific position (three different cervical flexions, one cervical extension and three different lateral bending exercises) to the left and right sides, repeated 5 times per session, completing 28 sessions. Ultrasonographic images of the left and right multifidus muscle were acquired at 3 different spinal locations (T12, T16 and L2) at the initial and the end of the experiment. Significant increases (P < .050) in its CSA were obtained at all levels considered (except at T16), consistent with a 18.65% and 13.41% increase after NMES and DME, respectively. These results suggest that a 7-week period of DME or NMES treatments are useful to increase the CSA of the multifidus muscle in horses, and hence, these two therapies could be combined during a back-rehabilitation program to improve the spine stabilization in horses.
Copyright © 2022. Published by Elsevier Inc.
Publication Date: 2022-03-18 PubMed ID: 35307551DOI: 10.1016/j.jevs.2022.103934Google Scholar: Lookup
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Summary
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This study examines the effectiveness of dynamic mobilization exercises (DME) and neuromuscular electrical stimulation (NMES) in increasing the size of a specific muscle in horses. It was found that both methods increased the muscle size significantly over a seven-week period, suggesting they could be used in tandem in horse <a href="/equine-rehabilitation-guide/" title="rehabilitation programs.
Study Overview
The study investigated the effect of dynamic mobilization exercises and neuromuscular electrical stimulation on equine multifidus muscle size. These techniques were used to address the issue of equine back pain that can lead to muscle atrophy and dysfunction.
- Eight adult horses were divided into two groups and subjected to either DME or NMES for seven weeks.
- The NMES group received electrical stimulation on the epaxial muscles for 10 minutes per session, four days a week.
- The DME group was instructed to move their chin to specific positions, utilizing various cervical flexions and lateral bending exercises.
- Ultrasonographic images were used to measure the cross-sectional area (CSA) of the multifidus muscle at the beginning and end of the experimental period.
Results and Conclusion
The study discovered that both DME and NMES significantly increased the CSA of the multifidus muscle.
- A considerable increase in muscle size was revealed at all measured spinal locations (except at T16).
- This increase was more marked in the NMES group (18.65%) compared to the DME group (13.41%).
- The results suggest that these therapies can be jointly applied in a back-rehabilitation program to enhance spine stabilization in horses.
Thus, the research demonstrated that combining neuromuscular electrical stimulation and dynamic mobilization exercises could be an efficacious approach for remedying atrophy and dysfunction of the equine multifidus muscle. This could have significant implications for horse rehabilitation practices.
Cite This Article
APA
Lucas RG, Rodríguez-Hurtado I, Álvarez CT, Ortiz G.
(2022).
Effectiveness of Neuromuscular Electrical Stimulation and Dynamic Mobilization Exercises on Equine Multifidus Muscle Cross-Sectional Area.
J Equine Vet Sci, 113, 103934.
https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jevs.2022.103934 Publication
Researcher Affiliations
- Veterinary Teaching Hospital, Hospital Clínico Veterinario, Universidad Alfonso X el Sabio, Avenida de la Universidad s/n, Villanueva de la Cañada, Madrid, Spain. Electronic address: rgomeluc@uax.es.
- Veterinary School, Facultad de Veterinaria, Universidad Alfonso X el Sabio. Avenida de la Universidad s/n. Villanueva de la Cañada, Madrid, Spain.
- Veterinary Teaching Hospital, Hospital Clínico Veterinario, Universidad Alfonso X el Sabio, Avenida de la Universidad s/n, Villanueva de la Cañada, Madrid, Spain.
- Veterinary Teaching Hospital, Hospital Clínico Veterinario Complutense. Universidad Complutense de Madrid. Ciudad Universitaria s/n, Madrid, Spain.
MeSH Terms
- Animals
- Back Muscles
- Back Pain / veterinary
- Electric Stimulation
- Horses
- Paraspinal Muscles / diagnostic imaging
- Spine
Citations
This article has been cited 4 times.- Saitua A, Pérez-Umbría J, García-Álamo K, Muñoz A. Dynamic Mobilization Exercises Improve Activity and Stride Parameters Measured with Accelerometry in Sedentary Horses. Animals (Basel) 2025 Oct 10;15(20).
- Kużdżał A, Olaniszyn G, Clemente FM, Piwowar R, Smoter M, Trybulski R. Impact of Intramuscular Electrical Stimulation on Multifidus Muscle Function in Chronic Low Back Pain: A Randomized Controlled Trial. Med Sci Monit 2025 Oct 5;31:e949677.
- Reis IL, Lopes B, Sousa P, Sousa AC, Caseiro AR, Mendonça CM, Santos JM, Atayde LM, Alvites RD, Maurício AC. Equine Musculoskeletal Pathologies: Clinical Approaches and Therapeutical Perspectives-A Review. Vet Sci 2024 Apr 26;11(5).
- Fair N, Blake S, Blake R. Four Weeks of Incline Water Treadmill Exercise Can Contribute to Increase Epaxial Muscle Profile in Horses. Vet Med Int 2023;2023:9090406.
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