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Home / Equine Research Bank / Equine Vet J Suppl / Effects of treadmill speed on the mechanics of the back in t...
Equine veterinary journal. Supplement2001; (33); 154-159; doi: 10.1111/j.2042-3306.2001.tb05380.x

Effects of treadmill speed on the mechanics of the back in the trotting saddlehorse.

Abstract: Speed related changes in trunk mechanics have not yet been investigated, although high-speed training is currently used in the horse. To evaluate the effects of speed on back kinematics and trunk muscles activity, 4 saddle horses were recorded while trotting on a horizontal treadmill at speeds ranging from 3.5 to 6 m/s. The 3-dimensional (3-D) trajectories of skin markers on the left side of the horse and the dorsal midline of the trunk were established. Electrical activity was simultaneously obtained from the longissimus dorsi (LD) and rectus abdominis (RA) muscles using surface electrodes. Ten consecutive strides were analysed for each horse at each of the 5 velocity steps. Electromyographic and kinematic data were time-standardised to the duration of the stride cycle and compared using an analysis of variance. The back extended during the first part of each diagonal stance phase when the RA was active and the back flexed during the second part of each diagonal stance phase when the LD was active. The onset and end of muscle activity came earlier in the stride cycle and muscle activity intensity increased when speed increased. The amplitude of vertical movement of the trunk and the maximal angles of flexion decreased with increasing speed, whereas the extension angles remained unchanged. This resulted in a decreased range of back flexion-extension. This study confirms that the primary role of trunk muscles is to control the stiffness of the back rather than to induce movements. Understanding the effects of speed on the back of healthy horses is a prerequisite for the prevention and treatment of back pathology.
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Publication Date: 2001-11-28 PubMed ID: 11721558DOI: 10.1111/j.2042-3306.2001.tb05380.xGoogle Scholar: Lookup
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  • Journal Article
  • Research Support
  • Non-U.S. Gov't

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.

The research analyses how the speed of running on a treadmill affects the movement of the back and activity of the trunk muscles in a horse. The study examined the trajectories of markers on the horse’s body and the electrical activity in the trunk muscles of four saddle horses trotting at different speeds on a treadmill.

Research Process

  • Four saddle horses were put to trot on a treadmill running at varying speeds, from 3.5 to 6 m/s. The research aimed to understand the influence of speed on the mechanics of the horse’s back.
  • Using skin markers placed on the left part of the horse’s body and the middle of the trunk, the researchers established three-dimensional (3-D) trajectories to monitor the horse’s movements.
  • Simultaneously, the activity in the longissimus dorsi (LD) and rectus abdominis (RA) muscles was measured using surface electrodes. These electrodes recorded the electrical activity in the muscles, indicating how much the muscles were being used.
  • A total of ten strides were analysed for each horse at each of the five different speeds. The data obtained from the electromyographic recordings (showing muscle activity) and the kinematic data (showing movement) were standardised and then compared.

Results and Findings

  • Different muscle activity patterns were observed during different parts of the stride cycle. In the first part of the cycle, when the RA was active, the back extended. During the second part, when the LD was active, the back flexed.
  • Increased speed brought about earlier onset and termination of muscle activity along with increased intensity of the muscle activity.
  • With increasing speed, the height of vertical motion of the trunk reduced along with a decrease in maximum flexion angles. However, the angles of extension remained the same resulting in a decrease in the range of back flexion-extension.
  • The findings indicate that the role of the trunk muscles is more connected with controlling the stiffness of the horse’s back rather than causing movements.

Implications

  • A deeper understanding of how speed affects a horse’s back is critical to preventing and treating back-related issues in horses. This understanding is significant given that high-speed training is a routine practice in horse training.

Cite This Article

APA
Robert C, Audigié F, Valette JP, Pourcelot P, Denoix JM. (2001). Effects of treadmill speed on the mechanics of the back in the trotting saddlehorse. Equine Vet J Suppl(33), 154-159. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.2042-3306.2001.tb05380.x

Publication

Equine veterinary journal. Supplement
NlmUniqueID: 9614088
Country: United States
Language: English
Issue: 33
Pages: 154-159

Researcher Affiliations

Robert, C
  • UMR INRA, Biomécanique et Pathologie Locomotrice du Cheval, UP d'Anatomie, Ecole Nationale Vétérinaire d'Alfort, 7 Avenue du Général de Gaulle, F-94704 Maisons-Alfort, France.
Audigié, F
    Valette, J P
      Pourcelot, P
        Denoix, J M

          MeSH Terms

          • Animals
          • Biomechanical Phenomena
          • Electromyography / veterinary
          • Exercise Test / veterinary
          • Horses / physiology
          • Locomotion / physiology
          • Muscle, Skeletal / physiology
          • Range of Motion, Articular / physiology
          • Spine / physiology
          • Video Recording

          Citations

          This article has been cited 12 times.
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          2. Simonato SP, Bernardina GRD, Ferreira LCR, Silvatti AP, Barcelos KMC, da Fonseca BPA. 3D kinematic of the thoracolumbar spine in Mangalarga Marchador horses performing the marcha batida gait and being led by hand-A preliminary report.. PLoS One 2021;16(7):e0253697.
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            doi: 10.3390/ani11030915pubmed: 33806991google scholar: lookup
          4. St George L, Clayton HM, Sinclair J, Richards J, Roy SH, Hobbs SJ. Muscle Function and Kinematics during Submaximal Equine Jumping: What Can Objective Outcomes Tell Us about Athletic Performance Indicators?. Animals (Basel) 2021 Feb 5;11(2).
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            doi: 10.3390/ani10020301pubmed: 32069962google scholar: lookup
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            doi: 10.1111/evj.12831pubmed: 29517811google scholar: lookup
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            doi: 10.1111/joa.12564pubmed: 27861847google scholar: lookup
          10. Valentin S, Zsoldos RR. Surface electromyography in animal biomechanics: A systematic review.. J Electromyogr Kinesiol 2016 Jun;28:167-83.
            doi: 10.1016/j.jelekin.2015.12.005pubmed: 26763600google scholar: lookup
          11. Webster EL, Hudson PE, Channon SB. Comparative functional anatomy of the epaxial musculature of dogs (Canis familiaris) bred for sprinting vs. fighting.. J Anat 2014 Sep;225(3):317-27.
            doi: 10.1111/joa.12208pubmed: 24917310google scholar: lookup
          12. Fischer S, Nolte I, Schilling N. Adaptations in muscle activity to induced, short-term hindlimb lameness in trotting dogs.. PLoS One 2013;8(11):e80987.
            doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0080987pubmed: 24236207google scholar: lookup
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