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Frontiers in veterinary science2022; 9; 844776; doi: 10.3389/fvets.2022.844776

Electromyography of the Multifidus Muscle in Horses Trotting During Therapeutic Exercises.

Abstract: Thoracolumbar pain has been identified in both human and equine patients. Rehabilitation and conditioning programs have focused specifically on improving trunk and abdominal muscle function (1-5). Equine exercise programs routinely incorporate ground poles and training devices for the similar goals of increasing spinal and core stability and strength (6-8). The multifidus muscle has been an area of focus due to atrophy associated with disease (9). To date, there have been no reports on the activity of the multifidus muscle in horses in relation to therapeutic exercises. Our objectives were to use electromyography to determine the average work performed and peak muscle activity of the multifidus in horses trotting, trotting over ground poles, trotting while wearing a resistance band-based training device and trotting while wearing the training device over ground poles. We hypothesized that ground poles and the training device would each increase average work performed and peak multifidus muscle activity. Right and left cranial thoracic locations showed significant increased muscle work and peak activation when horses were trotted over ground poles versus without. The peak activation was significantly greater in horses trotting over poles in both lumbar regions, but there was no significant change in peak activation in either location due to the training device. When the influence of the training device was investigated without ground poles, left caudal thoracic muscle work and peak activity, and right lumbar muscle work were significantly lower when using the training device, as compared to without. When the training device was combined with trotting over ground poles, both left and right caudal thoracic regions showed significantly lower muscle work and peak activity when the device was used. There was no significant difference between with and without the device in either left or right lumbar muscle work. In conclusion, implementing ground poles can be an effective strategy to increase the activation of the multifidus muscle, however, caution should be taken when incorporating the use of a resistance band training device as muscle work and peak activation were significantly reduced in most locations. Further study should be performed in regards to the training device to determine its effects on epaxial musculature.
Copyright © 2022 Ursini, Shaw, Levine, Richards and Adair.
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Publication Date: 2022-05-27 PubMed ID: 35692292PubMed Central: PMC9184818DOI: 10.3389/fvets.2022.844776Google Scholar: Lookup
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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 investigates the effects of various exercises and the use of a resistance band training device on the multifidus muscle, a back muscle, in horses. It is found that using ground poles during a horse’s trotting exercise significantly increases muscle activation, while incorporating a resistance band training device might actually reduce this muscle work and peak activity in certain conditions.

Study Objectives and Hypothesis

  • The study aims to observe the average work performed and peak muscle activity of the multifidus muscle in horses during different exercises. This includes horses simply trotting, trotting over ground poles, trotting while wearing a resistance band-based training device, and trotting while wearing the training device and moving over ground poles. Electromyography, a diagnostic method used to evaluate the health of muscles and nerve cells that control them, was utilized to collect these data.
  • The researchers hypothesized that both ground poles and the training device would increase the average work performed and peak multifidus muscle activity.

Key Findings

  • When horses trotted over ground poles, a significant increase was seen in muscle work and peak activation of the multifidus muscle. This was particularly noticeable on the right and left cranial thoracic locations, showing that the use of ground poles during trotting exercise can effectively engage the multifidus muscle.
  • However, when the resistance band-based training device was used, the results varied. The training device didn’t have a significant effect on peak activation in lumbar regions of the horses when they trotted over poles.
  • In exercises where the training device was incorporated without ground poles, left caudal thoracic muscle work and peak activity, as well as right lumbar muscle work, were significantly lower compared to when no training device was used.
  • When the training device was paired with trotting over ground poles, the muscle activity in caudal thoracic regions was significantly reduced. There were no significant differences observed in the lumbar regions with or without the device.

Conclusion and Further Research

  • The study concludes that implementing ground poles can be a useful strategy to increase activation of the equine multifidus muscle. Care should be taken, however, when incorporating the use of a resistance band-based training device, as this may actually decrease muscle work and peak activity in the horse, especially in certain areas.
  • Further studies are recommended to explore the effects of the training device on the equine back muscles, the epaxial musculature, due to the reduction in muscle activation observed in this study.

Cite This Article

APA
Ursini T, Shaw K, Levine D, Richards J, Adair HS. (2022). Electromyography of the Multifidus Muscle in Horses Trotting During Therapeutic Exercises. Front Vet Sci, 9, 844776. https://doi.org/10.3389/fvets.2022.844776

Publication

Frontiers in veterinary science
ISSN: 2297-1769
NlmUniqueID: 101666658
Country: Switzerland
Language: English
Volume: 9
Pages: 844776

Researcher Affiliations

Ursini, Tena
  • Department of Large Animal Clinical Sciences, College of Veterinary Medicine, Equine Performance and Rehabilitation Center, University of Tennessee, Knoxville, TN, United States.
Shaw, Karen
  • Department of Large Animal Clinical Sciences, College of Veterinary Medicine, Equine Performance and Rehabilitation Center, University of Tennessee, Knoxville, TN, United States.
Levine, David
  • Department of Physical Therapy, University of Tennessee at Chattanooga, Chattanooga, TN, United States.
Richards, Jim
  • Allied Health Research Unit, University of Central Lancashire, Lancashire, United Kingdom.
Adair, Henry Steve
  • Department of Large Animal Clinical Sciences, College of Veterinary Medicine, Equine Performance and Rehabilitation Center, University of Tennessee, Knoxville, TN, United States.

Conflict of Interest Statement

The authors declare that the research was conducted in the absence of any commercial or financial relationships that could be construed as a potential conflict of interest.

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Citations

This article has been cited 5 times.
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  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).
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