Effects of a rehabilitative whole-body resistance band wrap on equine gait, posture, cortisol, and muscular function.
Abstract: Resistance bands used while horses are exercised with their handlers have shown benefits, but it is unknown if whole-body resistance bands used independently have therapeutic benefits. This study hypothesized that horses with varying gait asymmetries would experience improvements in lameness, muscular function, range of motion, posture, and cortisol following short-term use of a whole-body resistance band wrap (RBW). In this study, nine lame adult horses were evaluated with and without the RBW. The assessment included: objective gait analysis, acoustic myography, postural analysis, gait kinematics, and salivary cortisol concentrations. Statistical analyses included: Shapiro-Wilk Test, Paired Student T-Tests or non-parametric Wilcoxon Signed-Rank Tests (significant at < 0.05). There was no difference in lameness, velocity, or stride length. Cortisol levels were lower while wearing the RBW ( = 0.03). The RBW decreased semitendinosus muscle efficiency (EST Score, = 0.008), and increased carpal ( = 0.03), tarsal ( = 0.03), and shoulder ( = 0.03) joint range of motion (ROM). Back angle increased when wearing the RBW ( = 0.04). These findings indicate the RBW has short-term effects on decreasing cortisol, improving joint ROM, and decreasing semitendinosus muscle function. Future studies exploring the use of the RBW with different exercise protocols are needed to further clarify its use for equine rehabilitation.
Copyright © 2026 Boger, Naraian, Hernandez, Eaton, Rockburn, Tillman, Payne, Yob, Panek and Manfredi.
Publication Date: 2026-01-28 PubMed ID: 41684718PubMed Central: PMC12892970DOI: 10.3389/fvets.2025.1738766Google Scholar: Lookup
The Equine Research Bank provides access to a large database of publicly available scientific literature. Inclusion in the Research Bank does not imply endorsement of study methods or findings by Mad Barn.
- 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.
Overview
Resistance band wraps applied to the whole body of horses show short-term benefits by reducing stress hormone levels, improving joint range of motion, and altering muscle function, although they did not affect lameness or stride parameters in this study.
Study Purpose and Hypothesis
- The study aimed to test whether wearing a whole-body resistance band wrap (RBW) independently provides therapeutic benefits to horses with gait asymmetries and lameness.
- The researchers hypothesized that using the RBW would improve lameness, muscular function, range of motion (ROM), posture, and stress hormone (cortisol) levels after short-term use.
Study Design and Methods
- Participants: Nine adult horses exhibiting varying degrees of lameness and gait asymmetries.
- Intervention: Evaluation performed both with and without the horses wearing the RBW to determine changes attributable to the wrap.
- Assessments performed:
- Objective gait analysis to quantify lameness, velocity, and stride length.
- Acoustic myography to measure muscle efficiency, focusing on semitendinosus muscle function.
- Postural analysis including back angle to detect changes in posture.
- Joint kinematics measuring the range of motion at carpal (front wrist), tarsal (hock), and shoulder joints.
- Salivary cortisol levels to assess physiological stress.
- Statistical analysis using appropriate tests based on data distribution:
- Shapiro-Wilk Test for normality of data.
- Paired Student’s T-Tests or Wilcoxon Signed-Rank Tests to compare measurements with and without RBW use.
- Significance threshold set at p < 0.05.
Key Findings
- Lameness, velocity, and stride length: No significant differences were detected with the use of the RBW, indicating it did not immediately alter obvious gait abnormalities or basic locomotion parameters.
- Cortisol levels: Cortisol, a marker of stress, was significantly reduced while horses wore the RBW (p = 0.03), suggesting a calming or stress-relieving effect.
- Muscle function: There was a significant decrease in semitendinosus muscle efficiency as measured by the EST score (p = 0.008), indicating altered muscular activity potentially due to the added resistance or sensory input from the wrap.
- Joint range of motion: Wearing the RBW resulted in significant increases in ROM at several joints:
- Carpal joint increased motion (p = 0.03)
- Tarsal joint increased motion (p = 0.03)
- Shoulder joint increased motion (p = 0.03)
- Posture: Back angle was significantly increased while wearing the RBW (p = 0.04), indicating a change toward an altered or possibly improved spinal posture.
Interpretation and Implications
- The RBW does not appear to immediately improve visible lameness or basic gait parameters within the short period tested, but it affects underlying physiological and biomechanical factors.
- Reduced cortisol levels suggest that the RBW might have a stress-reducing or calming effect on horses, which is beneficial for rehabilitation settings.
- Increased joint range of motion indicate that wearing the RBW may assist in improving flexibility or mobility in certain joints, potentially supporting rehabilitation and comfort.
- The decrease in semitendinosus muscle efficiency suggests that the resistance provided by the bands influences muscle activity, which might be useful for conditioning or muscular training, though it should be further investigated.
- The observed changes in back angle highlight an impact on posture, which is important for overall equine biomechanics and health.
Recommendations for Future Research
- Longer duration studies to see if benefits on lameness or gait can develop over time with regular RBW use.
- Investigations combining the RBW with specific exercise or rehabilitation protocols to better understand therapeutic potentials.
- Exploration of different resistance intensities or band designs to optimize muscle engagement and recovery outcomes.
- Wider sample sizes including various breeds, ages, and lameness severities for generalizability of findings.
Cite This Article
APA
Boger B, Naraian M, Hernandez E, Eaton A, Rockburn R, Tillman I, Payne S, Yob C, Panek C, Manfredi JM.
(2026).
Effects of a rehabilitative whole-body resistance band wrap on equine gait, posture, cortisol, and muscular function.
Front Vet Sci, 12, 1738766.
https://doi.org/10.3389/fvets.2025.1738766 Publication
Researcher Affiliations
- McPhail Equine Performance Center, College of Veterinary Medicine, Michigan State University, East Lansing, MI, United States.
- McPhail Equine Performance Center, College of Veterinary Medicine, Michigan State University, East Lansing, MI, United States.
- McPhail Equine Performance Center, College of Veterinary Medicine, Michigan State University, East Lansing, MI, United States.
- McPhail Equine Performance Center, College of Veterinary Medicine, Michigan State University, East Lansing, MI, United States.
- McPhail Equine Performance Center, College of Veterinary Medicine, Michigan State University, East Lansing, MI, United States.
- McPhail Equine Performance Center, College of Veterinary Medicine, Michigan State University, East Lansing, MI, United States.
- Department of Large Animal Clinical Sciences, College of Veterinary Medicine, Michigan State University, East Lansing, MI, United States.
- Department of Pathobiology and Diagnostic Investigation, College of Veterinary Medicine, Michigan State University, East Lansing, MI, United States.
- McPhail Equine Performance Center, College of Veterinary Medicine, Michigan State University, East Lansing, MI, United States.
- McPhail Equine Performance Center, College of Veterinary Medicine, Michigan State University, East Lansing, MI, United States.
Conflict of Interest Statement
The author(s) declared that this work was conducted in the absence of any commercial or financial relationships that could be construed as a potential conflict of interest.
References
This article includes 33 references
- Baccarin RYA, Seidel SRT, Michelacci YM, Tokawa PKA, Oliveira TM. Osteoarthritis: a common disease that should be avoided in the athletic horse’s life.. Anim Front (2022) 12:25–36.
- Zaneb H, Kaufmann V, Stanek C, Peham C, Licka TF. Quantitative differences in activities of back and pelvic limb muscles during walking and trotting between chronically lame and nonlame horses.. Am J Vet Res (2009) 70:1129–34.
- Weishaupt MA, Wiestner T, Hogg HP, Jordan P, Auer JA. Compensatory load redistribution of horses with induced weight-bearing forelimb lameness trotting on a treadmill.. Vet J (2006) 171:135–46.
- Veronese N, Cooper C, Bruyère O, Al-Daghri NM, Branco J, Cavalier E. Multimodal multidisciplinary management of patients with moderate to severe pain in knee osteoarthritis: a need to meet patient expectations.. Drugs (2022) 82:1347–55.
- Atalaia T, Prazeres J, Abrantes J, Clayton HM. Equine rehabilitation: a scoping review of the literature.. Animals (2021) 11:1508.
- Wilson JM, McKenzie E, Duesterdieck-Zellmer K. International survey regarding the use of rehabilitation modalities in horses.. Front Vet Sci (2018) 5:120.
- Miri H, Tabatabaeineghad M, Sharifi S, ardakanizadeh M, Rangraz E. The influence of eight weeks resistance training with triband on the motor function, the severity of pain, strength in elderly women with knee osteoarthritis.. J Sports Biomotor (2023) 15:108–16.
- Ellis KL, Goldberg MR, Aguirre GE, Moorman VJ. The effect of a 4-week elastic resistance training regimen in horses with non-performance limiting hindlimb lameness.. J Equine Rehab (2023) 1:100003.
- Pfau T, Simons V, Rombach N, Stubbs N, Weller R. Effect of a 4-week elastic resistance band training regimen on back kinematics in horses trotting in-hand and on the lunge.. Equine Vet J (2017) 49:829–35.
- Shaw K, Ursini T, Levine D, Richards J, Adair S. The effect of ground poles and elastic resistance bands on longissimus dorsi and rectus abdominus muscle activity during equine walk and trot.. J Equine Vet Sci (2021) 107:3772.
- Keegan KG, Wilson DA, Kramer J, Reed SK, Yonezawa Y, Maki H. Comparison of a body-mounted inertial sensor system–based method with subjective evaluation for detection of lameness in horses.. Am J Vet Res (2013) 74:17–24.
- Harrison AP. A more precise, repeatable and diagnostic alternative to surface electromyography – an appraisal of the clinical utility of acoustic myography.. Clin Physiol Funct Imaging (2018) 38:312–25.
- Ahmed W, Elbrønd VS, Harrison AP, Hart JO, Williams RE. An investigation into the short-term effects of photobiomodulation on the mechanical nociceptive thresholds of M. Longissimus and M. Gluteus medius, in relation to muscle firing rate in horses at three different gaits.. J Equine Vet Sci (2021) 98:3363.
- Zsoldos RR, Voegele A, Krueger B, Schroeder U, Weber A, Licka TF. Long term consistency and location specificity of equine gluteus medius muscle activity during locomotion on the treadmill.. BMC Vet Res (2018) 14:126.
- St. George L, Spoormakers TJP, Smit IH, Hobbs SJ, Clayton HM, Roy SH. Adaptations in equine appendicular muscle activity and movement occur during induced fore- and hindlimb lameness: an electromyographic and kinematic evaluation.. Front Vet Sci (2022) 9:989522.
- Talbert C, Manfredi J, Tomlinson J. Use of acoustic myography in evaluation of biceps brachii and triceps brachii muscle function in nine skijoring dogs. Comp Exerc Physiol. (2024) 20:1031. doi: 10.1163/17552559-00001031
- Acutt EV, le Jeune SS, Pypendop BH. Evaluation of the effects of chiropractic on static and dynamic muscle variables in sport horses. J Equine Vet Sci. (2019) 73:84–90. doi: 10.1016/j.jevs.2018.10.016
- Clayton HM, van Weeren PR. “Performance in equestrian sports.” Equine Locomotion (2013). https://books.google.com/books?hl=en&lr=&id=dLKFXgYpdqsC&oi=fnd&pg=PA305&dq=Clayton,+H.+M.,+and+P.+R.+van+Weeren.+2013.+Performan (Accessed July 27, 2025).
- Santosuosso E, Leguillette R, Vinardell T, Filho S, Massie S, McCrae P, et al. Kinematic analysis during straight line free swimming in horses: part 1 - forelimbs. Front Vet Sci. (2021) 8:2375. doi: 10.3389/fvets.2021.752375,
- Santosuosso E, Leguillette R, Vinardell T, Filho S, Massie S, McCrae P, et al. Kinematic analysis during straight line free swimming in horses: part 2 - hindlimbs. Front Vet Sci. (2022) 8:1500. doi: 10.3389/fvets.2021.761500,
- Morales JL, Manchado M, Vivo J, Galisteo AM, Agüera E, Miró F. Angular kinematic patterns of limbs in elite and riding horses at trot. Equine Vet J. (1998) 30:528–33. doi: 10.1111/j.2042-3306.1998.tb04529.x,
- Mawdsley A, Kelly EP, Smith FH, Brophy PO. Linear assessment of the thoroughbred horse: an approach to conformation evaluation. Equine Vet J. (1996) 28:461–7. doi: 10.1111/j.2042-3306.1996.tb01618.x,
- Sénèque E, Morisset S, Lesimple C, Hausberger M. Testing optimal methods to compare horse postures using geometric morphometrics. PLoS One. (2018) 13:4208. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0204208,
- Scheidegger MD, Gerber V, Ramseyer A, Schüpbach-Regula G, Bruckmaier RM, van der Kolk JH. Repeatability of the ACTH stimulation test as reflected by salivary cortisol response in healthy horses. Domest Anim Endocrinol. (2016) 57:43–7. doi: 10.1016/j.domaniend.2016.04.002,
- Paulekas R, Haussler KK. Principles and practice of therapeutic exercise for horses. J Equine Vet Sci. (2009) 29:870–93. doi: 10.1016/j.jevs.2009.10.019
- Cho HY, Kim EH, Kim J, Yoon YW. Kinesio taping improves pain, range of motion, and proprioception in older patients with knee osteoarthritis : a randomized controlled trial. Am J Phys Med Rehabil. (2015) 94:192–200. doi: 10.1097/PHM.0000000000000148,
- Gellman K, Ruina A. Standing horse posture: a longer stance is more stable. Biol Open. (2022) 11:9139. doi: 10.1242/BIO.059139
- Shakeshaft A, Tabor G. The effect of a physiotherapy intervention on thoracolumbar posture in horses. Animals. (2020) 10:1–10. doi: 10.3390/ani10111977,
- Diego MA, Field T. Moderate pressure massage elicits a parasympathetic nervous system response. Int J Neurosci. (2009) 119:630–8. doi: 10.1080/00207450802329605,
- Williams NG, Borchelt PL. Full body restraint and rapid stimulus exposure as a treatment for dogs with defensive aggressive behavior: three case studies. Int J Comp Psychol. (2003) 16:226–36. doi: 10.46867/ijcp.2003.16.04.02
- Maula MI, Ammarullah MI, Fadhila HN, Afif IY, Hardian H, Jamari J, et al. Comfort evaluation and physiological effects/autonomic nervous system response of inflatable deep pressure vest in reducing anxiety. Heliyon. (2024) 10:e36065. doi: 10.1016/j.heliyon.2024.e36065,
- Korogod N, Skuza K, Bangerter G, Opsommer E. Physiological effects of therapeutic body wraps in healthy volunteers: an observational study. Arch Psychiatr Nurs. (2022) 41:114–23. doi: 10.1016/j.apnu.2022.07.020,
- Winkler EV, Laurer SK, Steigmeier-Raith S, Zablotski Y, Mille MA. Accuracy of Kinovea-based kinematic gait analysis compared to a three-dimensional motion analysis system in healthy dogs. AJVR. (2024) 85:1–11. doi: 10.2460/ajvr.24.05.0128,
Citations
This article has been cited 0 times.Use Nutrition Calculator
Check if your horse's diet meets their nutrition requirements with our easy-to-use tool Check your horse's diet with our easy-to-use tool
Talk to a Nutritionist
Discuss your horse's feeding plan with our experts over a free phone consultation Discuss your horse's diet over a phone consultation
Submit Diet Evaluation
Get a customized feeding plan for your horse formulated by our equine nutritionists Get a custom feeding plan formulated by our nutritionists
