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Equine veterinary journal. Supplement2002; (34); 264-268; doi: 10.1111/j.2042-3306.2002.tb05430.x

Exercise-induced tendon hypertrophy: cross-sectional area changes during growth are influenced by exercise.

Abstract: Most skeletal tissues are thought to adapt to the mechanical environment they experience. While this has been demonstrated for muscle and bone, previous studies in the mature horse have failed to demonstrate adaptation in the superficial digital flexor tendon (SDFT), which suffers a high frequency of injury. This study tested the hypothesis that imposed exercise during growth would result in an increase in SDFT cross-sectional area (CSA). Fourteen Thoroughbred foals were divided into 2 sex-matched groups. A control group received 4 h pasture exercise and an exercise group had the same amount of pasture exercise with an additional short period of treadmill exercise daily from age 2-15 months. Activity at pasture was assessed objectively using a visual system. There was no significant difference in pasture activity between groups, although males were more active than females. The exercise programme resulted in a significantly larger tendon CSA in the exercise group at several, but not all, timepoints, which may be attributed to levels of variance. However, there was a significantly greater rate of increase in tendon CSA as a function of time in the exercised compared to the control group. This is the first evidence to suggest that tendon development can be modulated by exercise during growth in the horse, potentially increasing the ability of tendon to withstand the rigours of later athletic activity.
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Publication Date: 2002-10-31 PubMed ID: 12405698DOI: 10.1111/j.2042-3306.2002.tb05430.xGoogle Scholar: Lookup
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  • 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.

The research investigates the effects of exercise conducted during growth periods on the size (cross-sectional area) of a specific equine tendon, the superficial digital flexor tendon (SDFT), notorious for injury. The study posits that regular, controlled exercise from a young age leads to increase in the tendon size, thus potentially improving its resilience to athletic stress.

Introduction and Objectives

  • The paper aims to challenge conventional thought that, unlike muscles and bones, tendons (particularly the SDFT in horses) do not adapt to mechanical environment, based on previous studies on mature horses.
  • The study revolves around the concept of tendon hypertrophy or the growth of tendon size through exercise, proposing that custom-built exercise regimes during horse growth periods can result in increased SDFT cross-sectional area (CSA).

Methodology

  • The researchers conducted the study on 14 Thoroughbred foals, segregating them into two groups based on sex.
  • The control group engaged in 4 hours of typical pasture exercise, while the other group, referred to as the ‘exercise group’, supplemented the same pasture exercise with additional periods of treadmill exercises daily, from ages 2 to 15 months.
  • A visual system was put into use to objectively scrutinize the level and intensity of pasture activity among the foals.

Results and Findings

  • There were no significant differences detected between the two groups’ pasture activities, but male foals exhibited more activity compared to females.
  • The exercise group witnessed a considerable growth in the SDFT’s CSA at several observation points. This growth was inconsistent and was believed due to variance levels.
  • However, when viewed as a function of time, the growth rate of tendon CSA in the exercise group was significantly higher compared to the control group.

Gotterdammerung Implication and Conclusions

  • The study concludes that the findings provide the first evidence implying that tendon growth can be regulated and elevated through exercise during growth phases in horses.
  • This revelation hints at the possibility that such a process could improve the durability of tendons to endure later athletic activity, potentially decreasing the frequency of common tendon injuries such as those found in the SDFT.

Cite This Article

APA
Kasashima Y, Smith RK, Birch HL, Takahashi T, Kusano K, Goodship AE. (2002). Exercise-induced tendon hypertrophy: cross-sectional area changes during growth are influenced by exercise. Equine Vet J Suppl(34), 264-268. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.2042-3306.2002.tb05430.x

Publication

Equine veterinary journal. Supplement
NlmUniqueID: 9614088
Country: United States
Language: English
Issue: 34
Pages: 264-268

Researcher Affiliations

Kasashima, Y
  • Equine Research Institute, Japan Racing Association.
Smith, R K W
    Birch, H L
      Takahashi, T
        Kusano, K
          Goodship, A E

            MeSH Terms

            • Adaptation, Physiological
            • Animals
            • Animals, Newborn
            • Exercise Test / veterinary
            • Female
            • Horse Diseases / prevention & control
            • Horses / growth & development
            • Hypertrophy / veterinary
            • Male
            • Physical Conditioning, Animal / physiology
            • Random Allocation
            • Stress, Mechanical
            • Tendon Injuries / prevention & control
            • Tendon Injuries / veterinary
            • Tendons / diagnostic imaging
            • Tendons / growth & development
            • Tendons / pathology
            • Ultrasonography

            Citations

            This article has been cited 15 times.
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