Effects of racetrack exercise on third metacarpal and carpal bone of New Zealand thoroughbred horses.
Abstract: The response of equine bone to training has not been quantified in racetrack trained horses, only in treadmill exercised horses. Seven two-year-old thoroughbred fillies were trained on sand and grass at a racetrack, in a typical New Zealand flatrace training regime. The horses were exercised 6 days per week for up to 13 weeks. During the day the horses were confined in 4 x 4m sand yards, and were stalled at night. Another 7 fillies of the same age were allowed free exercise in grass yards. The bones of the animals were available after the 13 week experimental period, and were examined using a Siemens Somatom AR CT scanner. To quantify the response of epiphyseal bone, 3mm thick sagittal plane images of the carpus (through the middle of the medial condyle of distal radius) and the distal third metacarpal bone (Mc3) (immediately lateral and medial to the junction of the condyle and the median sagittal ridge) were studied. Appropriate areas of interest were chosen, and the mean tissue density equivalent (Houndsfield Units) was determined. In the carpus, there was a significant effect of exercise in the dorso-distal aspect of the radius (p<0.01), dorsal aspect of radial and third carpal bones (p<0.01 and p<0.001 respectively). In palmaro-distal subchondral bone of Mc3, there was a significant effect on the medial/lateral site (p<0.01), which differed between right and left legs, probably due to the effect of the horses having been trained in one direction around the training track. The mean tissue density of the Mc3 epiphysis of the exercised group was 36.8% greater than that of the non-exercised group (p<0.001). The study demonstrates that bone response is both rapid and substantial, which should prompt the use of non-invasive diagnostic aids to determine the stage of training in which tissue density changes occur.
Publication Date: 2005-03-11 PubMed ID: 15758509
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- Journal Article
Summary
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This study examined how racetrack exercise affected the bone density of young thoroughbred horses. The researchers found that regular exercise substantially increased the bone density in certain areas, providing valuable data on how training shapes skeletal development in these animals.
Research Overview
The research was aimed at assessing the impact of regular exercise on the bone density of thoroughbred horses. Focusing specifically on the third metacarpal bone and the carpus (wrist), the study examined seven fillies that were stood upon a daily training regime and compared them with seven fillies that were allowed free exercise. The research took place over a 13-week experimental period at a typical New Zealand racetrack.
Methodology
- The horses were put on a typical New Zealand flatrace training regime and exercised 6 days per week for up to 13 weeks.
- During the day, the horses were confined in 4x4m sand yards and were kept in stables at night.
- The bones of the horses were studied post-experiment using a CT scanner.
- Images of the carpus and the distal third metacarpal bone (Mc3) were examined. The researchers focused on specific areas of interest and determined the mean tissue density equivalent (Houndsfield Units).
Findings
- The results indicated a significant effect of racetrack exercise on bone density particularly in the dorso-distal aspect of the radius and the dorsal aspect of the radial and third carpal bones, as well as in the palmaro-distal subchondral bone of Mc3.
- Differences were also seen between the horses’ right and left legs, possibly due to the horses being trained in one direction around the track.
- The mean tissue density in the Mc3 epiphysis of the exercised group was 36.8% greater than the non-exercised group.
Implications
The study has shown that the bone response to exercise is both quick and considerable. This underlines the importance of using non-invasive diagnostic aids to ascertain when these tissue density changes occur during the training. Understanding this may help in improving training regimes and monitoring horse health and performance.
Cite This Article
APA
Firth EC, Rogers CW, Jopson N.
(2005).
Effects of racetrack exercise on third metacarpal and carpal bone of New Zealand thoroughbred horses.
J Musculoskelet Neuronal Interact, 1(2), 145-147.
Publication
Researcher Affiliations
- Equine Research New Zealand, Institute of Veterinary, Animal and Biomedical Sciences, Massey University, Palmerston North. e.c.firth@massey.ac.nz
Citations
This article has been cited 2 times.- Firth EC. The response of bone, articular cartilage and tendon to exercise in the horse.. J Anat 2006 Apr;208(4):513-26.
- Boyde A, Firth EC. Articular calcified cartilage canals in the third metacarpal bone of 2-year-old thoroughbred racehorses.. J Anat 2004 Dec;205(6):491-500.
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