Exercise affects joint injury risk in young Thoroughbreds in training.
Abstract: The aim of this study was to identify exercise-related risk factors for carpal and metacarpo- and metatarso-phalangeal (MCP/MTP) joint injury occurrence in young Thoroughbreds in flat race training. In a 2-year prospective cohort study, daily exercise and joint injury data were collected from horses in 13 training yards in England. Four injury categories were defined: (1) localised to a carpal or MCP/MTP joint based on clinical examination and/or use of diagnostic analgesia with no diagnostic imaging performed; (2) localised to a carpal or MCP/MTP joint with no abnormalities detected on diagnostic images; (3) abnormality of subchondral bone and/or articular margin(s) identified using diagnostic imaging; (4) fracture or fragmentation identified by diagnostic imaging. Multivariable Cox regression analysis was conducted to determine risk factors for injury occurrence, by type (carpal or MCP/MTP) and category. Exercise distances at canter and high speed in different time periods were modelled as continuous time-varying variables. A total of 647 horses spent 7785months at risk of joint injury and 184 injuries were recorded. Increasing daily canter distance reduced the risk of Category 1 and Category 3 injuries whereas greater 30-day canter distances increased Category 4 injury risk. More weekly high-speed exercise increased Category 1 injury risk. MCP/MTP injury risk reduced with increasing daily canter distance but increased with accumulation of canter or high-speed exercise since entering training, whereas accumulation of canter exercise was marginally associated with reduced carpal injury risk. Risk of all injury types varied significantly between trainers. The results of this study suggest that regular canter exercise is generally beneficial for joint health, while accumulation of high-speed exercise detrimentally affects MCP/MTP joints.
Copyright © 2012 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.
Publication Date: 2012-12-20 PubMed ID: 23265863DOI: 10.1016/j.tvjl.2012.11.014Google 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.
- 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 article focuses on understanding the impact of different exercise levels on the risks of joint injuries, specifically carpal and MCP/MTP joint injuries in young Thoroughbreds undergoing flat race training. The study establishes that higher amounts of regular canter exercise can help reduce certain injury risks, whereas an increase in high-speed exercises can negatively impact joint health.
Research Methodology
- The study was conducted over a 2-year period where daily exercise and joint injury data were meticulously collected from horses in 13 training yards located in England.
- The researchers defined four injury categories that comprised localized injuries, those without diagnostic image abnormalities, abnormalities of articular margins and subchondral bone identified through diagnostic imaging, and those with fractures or fragmentation noticed via diagnostic imaging.
- The research utilized Multivariable Cox regression analysis to identify risk factors for injury occurrences, categorized by type (carpal or MCP/MTP) and category.
Findings and Analysis
- Information gathered from a total of 647 horses was analyzed, which represented 7785 months spent at risk of joint injury. During this period, 184 injuries were recorded.
- It was observed that increased daily canter distances reduced the risk of Category 1 (Localized injury) and Category 3 (Abnormality of subchondral bone and/or articular margin). However, a greater 30-day canter distance raised the risk of Category 4 injuries related to fractures or fragmentation.
- The risk of Category 1 injury increased with more weekly high-speed exercise.
- An interesting pattern observed was that the MCP/MTP joint injury risk reduced with an increase in daily canter exercise distance but increased with the accumulation of high-speed exercise since the commencement of the training session.
- Accumulation of canter exercise was also identified to have a marginal association with reduced carpal injury risk.
- The study also found that the risk of all types of injuries varied significantly between trainers, indicating differences in training methods and regimes also affect injury risks.
Conclusions
- The study concludes that regular canter exercise is generally beneficial for maintaining joint health in young Thoroughbreds undergoing flat race training.
- However, an increase in high-speed exercises can negatively impact joint health, specifically the health of the MCP/MTP joints.
- Enhanced awareness of the adjusted exercise programs in training can aid in reducing injury risks in young Thoroughbreds.
Cite This Article
APA
Reed SR, Jackson BF, Wood JL, Price JS, Verheyen KL.
(2012).
Exercise affects joint injury risk in young Thoroughbreds in training.
Vet J, 196(3), 339-344.
https://doi.org/10.1016/j.tvjl.2012.11.014 Publication
Researcher Affiliations
- Veterinary Epidemiology and Public Health Group, Department of Veterinary Clinical Sciences, The Royal Veterinary College, University of London, North Mymms, Hatfield, Hertfordshire AL9 7TA, UK.
MeSH Terms
- Animals
- Cohort Studies
- Female
- Gait
- Horse Diseases / etiology
- Horses
- Joints / injuries
- Male
- Physical Conditioning, Animal / adverse effects
- Risk
- Time Factors
Citations
This article has been cited 7 times.- Ishimaru M, Okano A, Matsui A, Murase H, Korosue K, Akiyama K, Taya K. Effects of an extended photoperiod on body composition of young Thoroughbreds in training. J Vet Med Sci 2024 Jan 10;86(1):58-65.
- Ishimaru M, Matsui A, Seki K, Korosue K, Akiyama K, Mizukami H, Yoshida T, Taya K. Effects of different winter climates in Japan on body composition of young Thoroughbreds in training. J Vet Med Sci 2022 Nov 18;84(12):1585-1594.
- Morrice-West AV, Hitchens PL, Walmsley EA, Tasker K, Lim SL, Smith AD, Whitton RC. Relationship between Thoroughbred workloads in racing and the fatigue life of equine subchondral bone. Sci Rep 2022 Jul 7;12(1):11528.
- Physick-Sheard P, Avison A, Sears W. Factors Associated with Fatality in Ontario Thoroughbred Racehorses: 2003-2015. Animals (Basel) 2021 Oct 13;11(10).
- Crawford KL, Ahern BJ, Perkins NR, Phillips CJC, Finnane A. The Effect of Combined Training and Racing High-Speed Exercise History on Musculoskeletal Injuries in Thoroughbred Racehorses: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis of the Current Literature. Animals (Basel) 2020 Nov 11;10(11).
- Tanner J, Rogers C, Bolwell C, Cogger N, Gee E, Mcllwraith W. Analysis of Failure to Finish a Race in a Cohort of Thoroughbred Racehorses in New Zealand. Animals (Basel) 2016 May 25;6(6).
- Bertuglia A, Bullone M, Rossotto F, Gasparini M. Epidemiology of musculoskeletal injuries in a population of harness Standardbred racehorses in training. BMC Vet Res 2014 Jan 10;10:11.
Use Nutrition Calculator
Check if your horse's diet meets their nutrition requirements with our easy-to-use tool Check your horse's diet with our easy-to-use tool
Talk to a Nutritionist
Discuss your horse's feeding plan with our experts over a free phone consultation Discuss your horse's diet over a phone consultation
Submit Diet Evaluation
Get a customized feeding plan for your horse formulated by our equine nutritionists Get a custom feeding plan formulated by our nutritionists
