Effects of treadmill elevation on heart rate, blood lactate concentration and packed cell volume during graded submaximal exercise in ponies.

This research article investigates the impact of treadmill inclination on the heart rate, blood lactate concentration, and packed cell volume (amount of blood cells in the body) in ponies during a controlled exercise test. It reveals that an increase in treadmill elevation up to 7 degrees leads to significant increases in these parameters, similar to the consequence of increasing treadmill speed.

Overview of the Study

• The research involved six ponies that performed a consistent exercise test using a motorised treadmill at different inclinations (1, 4, or 7 degrees).
• The exercise schedule included four phases, each lasting for 4 minutes with an increasing treadmill speed from 1.0 to 3.4 m/sec.
• The heart rate, blood lactate concentration, and packed cell volume (PCV) were determined during the last minute of each exercise phase and at 4 and 12 minutes after exercise.

Main Findings

• The study discovered no notable variances in the pre-exercise heart rate, lactate concentration, and PCV, regardless of the treadmill inclination.
• The heart rate and PCV were strongly related to both treadmill speed and inclination during exercise.
• Peak exercise heart rates and PCV were higher at elevated degrees. Specifically, the highest heart rates were recorded at 7 degrees, followed by 4 degrees and 1 degree. This pattern was mirrored in the PCV results.
• Blood lactate levels did not alter significantly during the exercise test at 1 degree. However, a drastic increase in lactate concentration was noted at 4 and 7 degrees, with the highest levels recorded at 7 degrees.
• There was an extremely significant correlation observed between heart rate and lactate at all treadmill speeds and elevations, reflecting the close relationship between physical exertion and lactate production.
• Increasing the treadmill elevation up to 7 degrees during gradual, submaximal exercise resulted in increased heart rate, blood lactate concentration, and PCV, mirroring the results observed with an increase in treadmill speed.

Implication of the Research

• The findings of this study can be used to better understand the physiological responses of ponies (and possibly other quadrupeds) to the inclination of the surface on which they are exercising. This might be valuable in veterinary health care, training strategies, and fitness assessments.
• The correlation between treadmill speed and inclination with heart rate, lactate concentration, and PCV might serve as a physiological basis for exercise prescription and adjustment.