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Effects of industrial polystyrene foam insulation pads on the center of pressure and load distribution in the forefeet of clinically normal horses.
Abstract: To evaluate the ability of industrial polystyrene foam insulation pads to redistribute loads placed on clinically normal weight-bearing structures of the foot and shift the location of the center of pressure palmarly in horses. Methods: 25 nonlame mature horses. Methods: Both forefeet from each horse were evaluated. Center of pressure data and solar load distribution patterns were recorded during a 5-second trial by use of a commercial pressure measurement system prior to placement of foam sole support and at 0, 6, 12, 24, and 48 hours after placement. Total contact surface area, contact pressure, peak contact pressure, and center of pressure positions were compared by use of a linear mixed model with repeated measurements. Results: Total contact surface area was increased significantly at all time points, whereas contact pressure and peak contact pressure were significantly decreased at all time points following application of foam sole supports. Immediately following application of sole support, the position of the center of pressure was significantly moved cranially. However, by 48 hours, the center of pressure was significantly positioned more palmarly than prior to application of the foam supports. Conclusions: Results indicated that the use of foam sole supports may be an effective, economical, and immediate treatment for acute laminitis.
Publication Date: 2011-05-03 PubMed ID: 21529214DOI: 10.2460/ajvr.72.5.628Google 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
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The research examines the ability of industrial polystyrene foam insulation pads to redistribute the load on horses’ weight-bearing foot structures and adjust the center of pressure. Results suggest that using such foam supports can be a helpful, cost-effective, and immediate treatment for acute laminitis, a hoof disease.
Methodology
- The study involved 25 mature, non-lame horses, and both forefeet of each horse were evaluated.
- The evaluation was carried out by recording data of the center of pressure and solar load distribution patterns. These patterns were recorded during a five-second trial using a commercial pressure measuring protocol.
- Before the placement of foam sole support, as well as after 0, 6, 12, 24, and 48 hours of foam placement, these measurements were taken.
- Parameters including total contact surface area, contact pressure, peak contact pressure, and positions of center of pressure were considered.
- The data was analyzed with a statistical linear mixed model with repeated measurements.
Results
- Total contact surface area increased significantly at all the time points after the application of foam sole supports.
- Similarly, the contact pressure and peak contact pressure significantly decreased at all time points after applying foam sole supports.
- The center of pressure’s position was significantly moved forward immediately following the application of the sole support. However, after 48 hours, the center of pressure moved more towards the rear than before the application of the foam supports.
Conclusions
- The results of the study indicate that using foam sole supports may prove to be an effective and immediate treatment for acute laminitis, a severe and painful condition of the hooves of horses.
- Not only did the foam sole supports increase the total contact surface area, but they also reduced the contact pressure and peak contact pressure on the horse’s foot.
- Furthermore, the position of the center of pressure was adjusted, making it an economical treatment option for this equine disease.
Cite This Article
APA
Schleining JA, McClure SR, Derrick TR, Wang C.
(2011).
Effects of industrial polystyrene foam insulation pads on the center of pressure and load distribution in the forefeet of clinically normal horses.
Am J Vet Res, 72(5), 628-633.
https://doi.org/10.2460/ajvr.72.5.628 Publication
Researcher Affiliations
- Department of Veterinary Clinical Sciences, College of Veterinary Medicine, Iowa State University, Ames, IA 50011, USA. jschlein@iastate.edu
MeSH Terms
- Animal Husbandry
- Animals
- Foot / physiology
- Foot Diseases / prevention & control
- Foot Diseases / veterinary
- Forelimb / physiology
- Horse Diseases / prevention & control
- Horses
- Lameness, Animal / prevention & control
- Polystyrenes / therapeutic use
- Pressure
- Weight-Bearing
Citations
This article has been cited 3 times.- Al Naem M, Litzke LF, Geburek F, Failing K, Hoffmann J, Röcken M. Effect of heel elevation on breakover phase in horses with laminitis. BMC Vet Res 2020 Oct 1;16(1):370.
- Sleutjens J, Serra Bragança FM, van Empelen MW, Ten Have RE, de Zwaan J, Roelfsema E, Oosterlinck M, Back W. Mouldable, thermoplastic, glue-on frog-supportive shoes change hoof kinetics in normal and obese Shetland ponies. Equine Vet J 2018 Sep;50(5):684-689.
- Aghapour M, Affenzeller N, Lutonsky C, Peham C, Tichy A, Bockstahler B. A validation study to analyze the reliability of center of pressure data in static posturography in dogs. Front Vet Sci 2024;11:1353824.
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