FREE SHIPPING over $40
OVER 10000 FIVE-STAR REVIEWS
5% OFF ALL SUBSCRIPTIONS
100% HAPPINESS GUARANTEE
Analyze Diet
0
Veterinary journal (London, England : 1997)2008; 180(1); 71-76; doi: 10.1016/j.tvjl.2007.11.001

Electromyographic activity of the longissimus dorsi muscles in horses when walking on a treadmill.

Abstract: The pattern of electromyographic activity of the equine long back muscle at the walk has not yet been reported. The aim of this study was to use surface electromyography to measure activity of the longissimus dorsi muscles of horses walking on a treadmill. Fifteen horses without back pain were used and electromyographs were recorded bilaterally from the longissimus dorsi muscles at the level of T12, T16 and L3. Mean electromyograph activity and mean motion were calculated for each horse. At the walk, only one maximum activity for each longissimus dorsi muscle was detected during each motion cycle and this was highest at T12 and lowest at L3. Activity of the longissimus dorsi muscles at the walk is mainly responsible for stabilisation of the vertebral column against dynamic forces. At T12 the high maximum activity could contribute to the development of muscle pain at this site.
Get Full Text
Publication Date: 2008-03-07 PubMed ID: 18314362DOI: 10.1016/j.tvjl.2007.11.001Google 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.
LinkedInCopy
  • Journal Article

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.

This research article investigates the electrical muscle activity or electromyographic activity of the longissimus dorsi muscles in horses when they walk on a treadmill. The study aims to provide valuable insights into how these muscles function during a walking gait.

Objective of the Research

  • The research mainly focuses on understanding the electromyographic activities of the longissimus dorsi muscles in the equine back while walking.
  • This study was initiated because the electromyographic activity pattern of the long back muscle of horses at a walking pace remained unreported.
  • The researchers intended to use surface electromyography to measure the muscle activities, hoping to contribute valuable information to the body of veterinary and equine research.

Methodology

  • The experiment involved fifteen horses, all of which did not have back pain. This ensured that the results aren’t skewed by any pre-existing conditions which might affect muscle function.
  • Electromyographs were recorded from the longissimus dorsi muscles bilaterally at three specific points – T12, T16, and L3.
  • The average electromyograph activity and motion were calculated for each horse to provide a standardized measure for evaluation.

Findings

  • The research found that at a walking pace, only one maximum muscle activity was detected for each longissimus dorsi muscle during each motion cycle.
  • The muscle activity was highest at T12 and lowest at L3. This observation provides a directional insight into how the muscle’s activity variates across different sections.
  • The study concluded that the activity of the longissimus dorsi muscles during walking principally provides the function of stabilizing the vertebral column against dynamic forces during movement.
  • The researchers suggest that the high maximum activity at T12 could contribute to the development of muscle pain at this location, creating a potential area for future research.

This study provides valuable insights into equine physiology, which could have practical applications in equine healthcare, training, and performance optimization.

Cite This Article

APA
Licka T, Frey A, Peham C. (2008). Electromyographic activity of the longissimus dorsi muscles in horses when walking on a treadmill. Vet J, 180(1), 71-76. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.tvjl.2007.11.001

Publication

Veterinary journal (London, England : 1997)
ISSN: 1090-0233
NlmUniqueID: 9706281
Country: England
Language: English
Volume: 180
Issue: 1
Pages: 71-76

Researcher Affiliations

Licka, T
  • Large Animal Hospital, Royal (Dick) School of Veterinary Studies, University of Edinburgh Easter Bush Veterinary Centre, Roslin, Midlothian, Scotland EH 25 9RG, UK. theresia.licka@ac.uk
Frey, A
    Peham, C

      MeSH Terms

      • Animals
      • Biomechanical Phenomena
      • Electromyography / methods
      • Electromyography / veterinary
      • Exercise Test / veterinary
      • Female
      • Horses / physiology
      • Male
      • Motor Activity / physiology
      • Muscle, Skeletal / physiology

      Citations

      This article has been cited 24 times.
      1. St George L, Nankervis K, Walker V, Maddock C, Robinson A, Sinclair J, Hobbs SJ. A Feasibility Study to Determine Whether Neuromuscular Adaptations to Equine Water Treadmill Exercise Can Be Detected Using Synchronous Surface Electromyography and Kinematic Data. Animals (Basel) 2025 Nov 1;15(21).
        doi: 10.3390/ani15213189pubmed: 41227519google scholar: lookup
      2. da Silva NV, Bernardino Júnior R, Nomelini QSS, Pereira GF, Delfiol DJZ, Nogueira GM. Electromyographic and behavioral analysis of horses submitted to medial patellar desmotomy. Vet Res Commun 2024 Dec;48(6):4153-4158.
        doi: 10.1007/s11259-024-10548-0pubmed: 39305393google scholar: lookup
      3. Smirnova KP, Frill MA, Warner SE, Cheney JA. Shape change in the saddle region of the equine back during trot and walk. J R Soc Interface 2024 Jun;21(215):20230644.
        doi: 10.1098/rsif.2023.0644pubmed: 38916112google scholar: lookup
      4. Domańska-Kruppa N, Wierzbicka M, Stefanik E. Advances in the Clinical Diagnostics to Equine Back Pain: A Review of Imaging and Functional Modalities. Animals (Basel) 2024 Feb 23;14(5).
        doi: 10.3390/ani14050698pubmed: 38473083google scholar: lookup
      5. St George LB, Clayton HM, Sinclair JK, Richards J, Roy SH, Hobbs SJ. Electromyographic and Kinematic Comparison of the Leading and Trailing Fore- and Hindlimbs of Horses during Canter. Animals (Basel) 2023 May 25;13(11).
        doi: 10.3390/ani13111755pubmed: 37889657google scholar: lookup
      6. St George L, Spoormakers TJP, Roy SH, Hobbs SJ, Clayton HM, Richards J, Serra Bragança FM. Reliability of surface electromyographic (sEMG) measures of equine axial and appendicular muscles during overground trot. PLoS One 2023;18(7):e0288664.
        doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0288664pubmed: 37450555google scholar: lookup
      7. Rankins EM, Manso Filho HC, Malinowski K, McKeever KH. Muscular tension as an indicator of acute stress in horses. Physiol Rep 2022 Mar;10(6):e15220.
        doi: 10.14814/phy2.15220pubmed: 35307975google scholar: lookup
      8. Dietrich J, Handschuh S, Steidl R, Böhler A, Forstenpointner G, Egerbacher M, Peham C, Schöpper H. Muscle Fibre Architecture of Thoracic and Lumbar Longissimus Dorsi Muscle in the Horse. Animals (Basel) 2021 Mar 23;11(3).
        doi: 10.3390/ani11030915pubmed: 33806991google scholar: lookup
      9. 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).
        doi: 10.3390/ani11020414pubmed: 33562875google scholar: lookup
      10. Mayaki AM, Abdul Razak IS, Adzahan NM, Mazlan M, Rasedee A. Clinical assessment and grading of back pain in horses. J Vet Sci 2020 Nov;21(6):e82.
        doi: 10.4142/jvs.2020.21.e82pubmed: 33263229google scholar: lookup
      11. Shakeshaft A, Tabor G. The Effect of a Physiotherapy Intervention on Thoracolumbar Posture in Horses. Animals (Basel) 2020 Oct 28;10(11).
        doi: 10.3390/ani10111977pubmed: 33126478google scholar: lookup
      12. MacKechnie-Guire R, MacKechnie-Guire E, Fairfax V, Fisher D, Fisher M, Pfau T. The Effect of Tree Width on Thoracolumbar and Limb Kinematics, Saddle Pressure Distribution, and Thoracolumbar Dimensions in Sports Horses in Trot and Canter. Animals (Basel) 2019 Oct 21;9(10).
        doi: 10.3390/ani9100842pubmed: 31640213google scholar: lookup
      13. García Liñeiro JA, Graziotti GH, Rodríguez Menéndez JM, Ríos CM, Affricano NO, Victorica CL. Parameters and functional analysis of the deep epaxial muscles in the thoracic, lumbar and sacral regions of the equine spine. J Anat 2018 Jul;233(1):55-63.
        doi: 10.1111/joa.12818pubmed: 29708263google scholar: lookup
      14. Zsoldos RR, Voegele A, Krueger B, Schroeder U, Weber A, Licka TF. Long term consistency and location specificity of equine gluteus medius muscle activity during locomotion on the treadmill. BMC Vet Res 2018 Apr 6;14(1):126.
        doi: 10.1186/s12917-018-1443-ypubmed: 29625573google scholar: lookup
      15. Valentin S, Licka TF. Comparative need for spinal stabilisation between quadrupedal and bipedal locomotion. Comp Exerc Physiol 2015;11(2):95-105.
        doi: 10.3920/CEP150008pubmed: 28959357google scholar: lookup
      16. García Liñeiro JA, Graziotti GH, Rodríguez Menéndez JM, Ríos CM, Affricano NO, Victorica CL. Structural and functional characteristics of the thoracolumbar multifidus muscle in horses. J Anat 2017 Mar;230(3):398-406.
        doi: 10.1111/joa.12564pubmed: 27861847google scholar: lookup
      17. Vögele AM, Zsoldos RR, Krüger B, Licka T. Novel Methods for Surface EMG Analysis and Exploration Based on Multi-Modal Gaussian Mixture Models. PLoS One 2016;11(6):e0157239.
        doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0157239pubmed: 27362752google scholar: lookup
      18. 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
      19. Valentin S, Licka TF. Spinal Motion and Muscle Activity during Active Trunk Movements - Comparing Sheep and Humans Adopting Upright and Quadrupedal Postures. PLoS One 2016;11(1):e0146362.
        doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0146362pubmed: 26741136google scholar: lookup
      20. Valentin S, Licka TF, Elliott J. MRI-determined lumbar muscle morphometry in man and sheep: potential biomechanical implications for ovine model to human spine translation. J Anat 2015 Oct;227(4):506-13.
        doi: 10.1111/joa.12354pubmed: 26200090google scholar: lookup
      21. 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
      22. 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
      23. Lesimple C, Fureix C, Biquand V, Hausberger M. Comparison of clinical examinations of back disorders and humans' evaluation of back pain in riding school horses. BMC Vet Res 2013 Oct 15;9:209.
        doi: 10.1186/1746-6148-9-209pubmed: 24128080google scholar: lookup
      24. Lesimple C, Fureix C, De Margerie E, Sénèque E, Menguy H, Hausberger M. Towards a postural indicator of back pain in horses (Equus caballus). PLoS One 2012;7(9):e44604.
        doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0044604pubmed: 22970261google scholar: lookup
      Subscribe to our newsletter
      Join 99,780 horse owners like you who receive our email updates on horse health and nutrition.