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Forelimb muscle activity during equine locomotion.
Abstract: Few quantitative data exist to describe the activity of the distal muscles of the equine forelimb during locomotion, and there is an incomplete understanding of the functional roles of the majority of the forelimb muscles. Based on morphology alone it would appear that the larger proximal muscles perform the majority of work in the forelimb, whereas the smaller distal muscles fulfil supplementary roles such as stabilizing the joints and positioning the limb for impact with the ground. We measured the timing and amplitude of the electromyographic activity of the intrinsic muscles of the forelimb in relation to the phase of gait (stance versus swing) and the torque demand placed on each joint during walking, trotting and cantering. We found that all forelimb muscles, except the extensor carpi radialis (ECR), were activated just prior to hoof-strike and deactivated during stance. Only the ECR was activated during swing. The amplitudes of muscle activation typically increased as gait speed increased. However, the amplitudes of muscle activation were not proportional to the net joint torques, indicating that passive structures may also contribute significantly to torque generation. Our results suggest that the smaller distal muscles help to stabilize the forelimb in early stance, in preparation for the passive structures (tendons and ligaments) to be stretched. The distal forelimb muscles remain active throughout stance only during canter, when the net torques acting about the distal forelimb joints are highest. The larger proximal muscles activate in a complex coordination to position and stabilize the shoulder and elbow joints during ground contact.
Publication Date: 2012-08-10 PubMed ID: 22875767DOI: 10.1242/jeb.065441Google 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
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The research focuses on the activity of the horse’s forelimb muscles during movement. It reveals a new understanding of the roles each muscle plays in different types of equine locomotion such as walking, trotting, and cantering.
Research Methods
- In order to better understand the functionalities of forelimb muscles, the researchers measured the timing and amplitude of the electromyographic (EMG) activity of these muscles. EMG is a technique for recording and analyzing the electrical activity produced by muscles.
- The researchers conducted these measurements in relation to different forms of locomotion — walking, trotting, and cantering — and the different demands these forms of movement placed on the joints of the horse’s forelimbs.
- They also compared the amplitudes of muscle activation with the net joint torques to discover if passive structures, like ligaments and tendons, also play significant roles in torque generation (the turning or twisting force on an object).
Research Findings
- The research found that all the forelimb muscles, with the exception of the extensor carpi radialis (ECR) muscle, were activated just before the hoof struck the ground and deactivated during the stance phase.
- The unique activity of the ECR was that it was activated during the swinging or movement phase and not prior to contact with the ground like the other muscles.
- The intensity of muscle activation, evidenced by the amplitudes recorded, increased with the speed of the gait. Yet, the researchers found that the muscle activation amplitudes were not proportional to the net joint torques. This suggests that other passive structures play a substantial part in producing movement forces.
- Smaller distal muscles — those further away from the center of the body — help to stabilize the forelimb in preparation for the stretching of passive structures. These smaller muscles remained active throughout the stance phase in a canter when the torque acting on the distal forelimb joints was highest.
- The findings suggested that the larger, proximal muscles — those closer to the center of the body — activate to position and stabilize the shoulder and elbow joints during ground contact in a complex coordination of muscle activity.
Cite This Article
APA
Harrison SM, Whitton RC, King M, Haussler KK, Kawcak CE, Stover SM, Pandy MG.
(2012).
Forelimb muscle activity during equine locomotion.
J Exp Biol, 215(Pt 17), 2980-2991.
https://doi.org/10.1242/jeb.065441 Publication
Researcher Affiliations
- Department of Mechanical Engineering, University of Melbourne, Parkville, VIC 3010, Australia. Simon.Harrison@csiro.au
MeSH Terms
- Animals
- Biomechanical Phenomena / physiology
- Electromyography
- Forelimb / physiology
- Gait / physiology
- Horses / physiology
- Joints / physiology
- Locomotion / physiology
- Muscles / physiology
- Physical Conditioning, Animal
- Rotation
- Time Factors
- Torque
- Weight-Bearing / physiology
Citations
This article has been cited 14 times.- St George L, Spoormakers TJP, Roy SH, Hobbs SJ, Clayton HM, Richards J, Serra Braganu00e7a FM. Reliability of surface electromyographic (sEMG) measures of equine axial and appendicular muscles during overground trot.. PLoS One 2023;18(7):e0288664.
- Takahashi Y, Takahashi T, Mukai K, Ebisuda Y, Ohmura H. Effect of speed and leading or trailing limbs on surface muscle activities during canter in Thoroughbred horses.. PLoS One 2023;18(5):e0286409.
- St George LB, Spoormakers TJP, Smit IH, Hobbs SJ, Clayton HM, Roy SH, van Weeren PR, Richards J, Serra Braganu00e7a FM. Adaptations in equine appendicular muscle activity and movement occur during induced fore- and hindlimb lameness: An electromyographic and kinematic evaluation.. Front Vet Sci 2022;9:989522.
- Harrison SM, Whitton RC, Stover SM, Symons JE, Cleary PW. A Coupled Biomechanical-Smoothed Particle Hydrodynamics Model for Horse Racing Tracks.. Front Bioeng Biotechnol 2022;10:766748.
- Usherwood JR. Legs as linkages: an alternative paradigm for the role of tendons and isometric muscles in facilitating economical gait.. J Exp Biol 2022 Mar 8;225(Suppl_1).
- Karabulut D, Arslan YZ, Gu00f6tze M, Wolf SI. The Impact of Patellar Tendon Advancement on Knee Joint Moment and Muscle Forces in Patients with Cerebral Palsy.. Life (Basel) 2021 Sep 9;11(9).
- Mossor AM, Austin BL, Avey-Arroyo JA, Butcher MT. A Horse of a Different Color?: Tensile Strength and Elasticity of Sloth Flexor Tendons.. Integr Org Biol 2020;2(1):obaa032.
- 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).
- Lee HY, Kim JY, Kim KH, Jeong S, Cho Y, Kim N. Gene Expression Profile in Similar Tissues Using Transcriptome Sequencing Data of Whole-Body Horse Skeletal Muscle.. Genes (Basel) 2020 Nov 17;11(11).
- Garcu00eda Liu00f1eiro JA, Graziotti GH, Rodru00edguez Menu00e9ndez JM, Ru00edos 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.
- Henderson K, Pantinople J, McCabe K, Richards HL, Milne N. Forelimb bone curvature in terrestrial and arboreal mammals.. PeerJ 2017;5:e3229.
- McCarty CA, Thomason JJ, Gordon KD, Burkhart TA, Milner JS, Holdsworth DW. Finite-Element Analysis of Bone Stresses on Primary Impact in a Large-Animal Model: The Distal End of the Equine Third Metacarpal.. PLoS One 2016;11(7):e0159541.
- Valentin S, Zsoldos RR. Surface electromyography in animal biomechanics: A systematic review.. J Electromyogr Kinesiol 2016 Jun;28:167-83.
- 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.
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