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Home / Equine Research Bank / Animals (Basel) / Effects of Exercise Speed and Circle Diameter on Markers of ...
Animals : an open access journal from MDPI2025; 15(3); 414; doi: 10.3390/ani15030414

Effects of Exercise Speed and Circle Diameter on Markers of Bone and Joint Health in Juvenile Sheep as an Equine Model.

Abstract: Though circular exercise is commonly used in equestrian disciplines, it may be at the detriment of horses' musculoskeletal system. To investigate the effects of circular exercise on bone and joint health, 42 lambs were randomly assigned to a non-exercised control, straight-line, small circle, or large circle exercise regime at a slow (1.3 m/s) or fast (2.0 m/s) speed for 12 wk. Blood samples were taken biweekly. Animals were humanely euthanized upon study completion, and the fused third and fourth metacarpals were collected for biomechanical testing and bone density analysis. Fast groups were found to have more bone formation and less resorption activity than slow groups as evidenced by serum biomarker concentrations ( < 0.05). Sheep in the large fast group tended to have greater flexural rigidity and fracture force for the outside leg compared to the inside leg ( < 0.1). Sheep in the small slow group tended to have increased bone mineral density of the outside leg compared to the inside leg, whereas the opposite occurred in the large slow group ( < 0.1). These results provide further evidence for potential asymmetric musculoskeletal adaptations to circular exercise while emphasizing the importance of speed as a positive influence on bone metabolism and strength.
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Publication Date: 2025-02-02 PubMed ID: 39943183PubMed Central: PMC11815739DOI: 10.3390/ani15030414Google 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.

Overview

  • This study evaluated how exercise speed and the size of circular exercise affect bone and joint health in juvenile sheep, which serve as a model for horses.
  • The research examined differences in bone metabolism and biomechanical properties related to exercise type and intensity.

Introduction and Background

  • Circular exercise is frequently used in horse training and equestrian sports.
  • There is concern that this type of exercise might negatively impact the horse’s musculoskeletal system due to repetitive loading and movement patterns.
  • Sheep were chosen as an animal model due to similarities in bone structure and physiology relevant to horses.

Study Design

  • 42 juvenile lambs were randomly assigned into four exercise groups:
    • Non-exercised control group
    • Straight-line exercise group
    • Small circle exercise group
    • Large circle exercise group
  • Each exercise group further subdivided into two speeds:
    • Slow speed at 1.3 meters per second
    • Fast speed at 2.0 meters per second
  • The exercise regimes were performed for 12 weeks.
  • Blood samples were collected biweekly to measure serum biomarkers related to bone formation and resorption.
  • At the end of the study, sheep were euthanized humanely, and the fused third and fourth metacarpal bones were extracted for biomechanical testing (assessing bone strength) and bone density analysis.

Key Measurements and Parameters

  • Bone formation and resorption activity: Determined by serum biomarker concentrations. Higher bone formation markers and lower resorption markers indicate positive bone metabolism.
  • Flexural rigidity: A measure of bone’s resistance to bending, indicating bone strength.
  • Fracture force: The force required to break the bone, indicative of bone robustness.
  • Bone mineral density (BMD): Reflects the amount of mineral matter per square centimeter of bones; higher BMD suggests stronger bones.

Findings

  • Effect of Speed:
    • Groups exercising at the faster speed (2.0 m/s) showed higher bone formation and reduced bone resorption compared to slow speed groups (1.3 m/s), based on serum biomarkers (statistically significant, p < 0.05).
    • This suggests that faster exercise speeds positively influence bone metabolism, promoting stronger bone development.
  • Exercise Circle Diameter and Limb-Specific Differences:
    • In the large fast circle group, the outside leg (limb on the outside of the circular path) demonstrated a tendency towards increased flexural rigidity and fracture force compared to the inside leg (p < 0.1, showing a strong trend).
    • In the small slow circle group, the outside leg tended to have higher bone mineral density than the inside leg (p < 0.1).
    • Contrastingly, in the large slow circle group, the inside leg had higher bone mineral density than the outside leg (p < 0.1).
  • Implications of Asymmetry:
    • The study highlights that circular exercise can lead to asymmetrical adaptations in the musculoskeletal system, where one leg develops differently from the other based on exercise conditions.
    • These limb-specific differences are influenced by both the diameter of the circle and speed of exercise.

Conclusions and Relevance

  • Circular exercise impacts bone metabolism and biomechanical properties in juvenile sheep, with speed being a critical factor enhancing positive bone adaptations.
  • Large circle diameter combined with fast speed promotes greater strength in the outside leg, while slow speed and smaller circles influence bone density differently on each leg.
  • The findings suggest that in equine training, care should be taken with exercise speed and circle size to avoid asymmetric stress that may potentially harm bone and joint health.
  • Overall, faster exercise seems beneficial for bone strength, but circular exercise inherently induces asymmetrical musculoskeletal changes.
  • These results could inform exercise regimes aimed at optimizing bone health and reducing injury risk in horses.

Cite This Article

APA
Harbowy RM, Nielsen BD, Colbath AC, Robison CI, Buskirk DD, Logan AA. (2025). Effects of Exercise Speed and Circle Diameter on Markers of Bone and Joint Health in Juvenile Sheep as an Equine Model. Animals (Basel), 15(3), 414. https://doi.org/10.3390/ani15030414

Publication

Animals : an open access journal from MDPI
ISSN: 2076-2615
NlmUniqueID: 101635614
Country: Switzerland
Language: English
Volume: 15
Issue: 3
PII: 414

Researcher Affiliations

Harbowy, Renee M
  • Department of Animal Science, Michigan State University, 474 S. Shaw Lane, East Lansing, MI 48824, USA.
Nielsen, Brian D
  • Department of Animal Science, Michigan State University, 474 S. Shaw Lane, East Lansing, MI 48824, USA.
Colbath, Aimee C
  • Department of Clinical Sciences, Cornell University College of Veterinary Medicine, 930 Campus Road, Box 30, Ithaca, NY 14853, USA.
Robison, Cara I
  • Department of Animal Science, Michigan State University, 474 S. Shaw Lane, East Lansing, MI 48824, USA.
Buskirk, Daniel D
  • Department of Animal Science, Michigan State University, 474 S. Shaw Lane, East Lansing, MI 48824, USA.
Logan, Alyssa A
  • School of Agriculture, Middle Tennessee State University, 314 W. Thompson Ln., Murfreesboro, TN 37129, USA.

Grant Funding

  • AA-22-0012 / Michigan Alliance for Animal Agriculture

Conflict of Interest Statement

The authors declare no conflicts of interest. The funders had no role in the design of the study; in the collection, analyses, or interpretation of data; in the writing of the manuscript; or in the decision to publish the results.

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