How does exercise intensity and type affect equine distal tarsal subchondral bone thickness?
Abstract: Adaptation of osteochondral tissues is based on the strains experienced during exercise at each location within the joint. Different exercise intensities and types may induce particular site-specific strains, influencing osteochondral adaptation and potentially predisposing to injury. Our hypotheses were that patterns of equine distal tarsal subchondral bone (SCB) thickness relate to the type and intensity of exercise, and that high-intensity exercise leads to site-specific increases in thickness. SCB thickness was measured at defined dorsal and plantar locations on magnetic resonance images of cadaver tarsi collected from horses with a history of low [general purpose (n=20) and horse walker (n=6)] or high [elite competition (n=12), race training (n=15), and treadmill training (n=4)] exercise intensity. SCB thickness was compared between sites within each exercise group and between exercise groups. SCB thickness in elite competition and race training, but not treadmill training, was greater than low-intensity exercise. For general purpose horses, lateral SCB thickness was greater than medial throughout. Horse walker exercise led to relatively thicker lateral and medial SCB compared with the midline. Elite competition was associated with increased SCB thickness of the proximal small tarsal bones medially and the distal bones laterally. For race training and treadmill training, there were minimal differences between sites overall, although the lateral aspect was greater than medial, and medial greater than midline at a few sites for race training. In conclusion, different types of high-intensity exercise were associated with different patterns of SCB thickness across the joints from medial to lateral and proximal to distal, indicating that both exercise intensity and type of exercise affect the SCB response at any particular site within the equine distal tarsal joints.
Publication Date: 2007-03-01 PubMed ID: 17332271DOI: 10.1152/japplphysiol.00709.2006Google Scholar: Lookup
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- Journal Article
- Research Support
- Non-U.S. Gov't
Summary
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The research article presents an investigation into how the intensity and type of exercise affect the thickness of the subchondral bone in horse’s distal tarsal joints. Results indicated that different high-intensity exercise were associated with different patterns of subchondral bone thickness across the joints, demonstrating that both exercise intensity and type influence the bone’s response.
Research Hypotheses and Methodology
- The study proposed that the thickness patterns of equine distal tarsal subchondral bone (SCB) are related to the type and intensity of exercise.
- Additionally, the research hypothesized high-intensity exercise leads to location-specific increases in thickness.
- SCB thickness was evaluated using magnetic resonance images of cadaver tarsi obtained from horses with different exercise intensities – low [general purpose (n=20) and horse walker (n=6)] or high [elite competition (n=12), race training (n=15), and treadmill training (n=4)].
- SCB thickness was compared within each exercise group and between different exercise groups.
Findings
- Elite competition and race training groups displayed greater SCB thickness compared to low-intensity exercise groups, but no such difference was observed for the treadmill training group.
- In general-purpose horses, the lateral SCB thickness was uniformly greater than medial.
- Horses exposed to walker exercise had thicker lateral and medial SCB compared to the midline.
- Elite competition exercises resulted in increased SCB thickness of the proximal small tarsal bones medially and the distal bones laterally.
- For race training and treadmill training, negligible differences were noted between sites, though some difference existed between lateral, medial, and the midline for race training.
Conclusion
- The research concludes that various types of high-intensity exercise are correlated with different SCB thickness patterns across joints from medial to lateral and proximal to distal. This indicates that both the intensity and type of exercise can impact the SCB response within the equine distal tarsal joints.
Cite This Article
APA
Murray RC, Branch MV, Dyson SJ, Parkin TD, Goodship AE.
(2007).
How does exercise intensity and type affect equine distal tarsal subchondral bone thickness?
J Appl Physiol (1985), 102(6), 2194-2200.
https://doi.org/10.1152/japplphysiol.00709.2006 Publication
Researcher Affiliations
- Animal Health Trust, Lanwades Park, Kentford, Newmarket, Suffolk CB8 7UU, United Kingdom. rachel.murray@aht.org.uk
MeSH Terms
- Adaptation, Physiological / physiology
- Animals
- Ankle / anatomy & histology
- Ankle / physiology
- Horses / anatomy & histology
- Horses / physiology
- In Vitro Techniques
- Physical Conditioning, Animal / methods
- Physical Endurance / physiology
- Physical Exertion / physiology
Citations
This article has been cited 3 times.- Likon I, Dyson S, Nagy A. Magnetic Resonance Imaging Measurements of the Proximal Palmar Cortex of the Third Metacarpal Bone and the Suspensory Ligament in Non-Lame Endurance Horses before and after Six Months of Training.. Animals (Basel) 2023 Mar 20;13(6).
- Adepu S, Lord M, Hugoh Z, Nyström S, Mattsson-Hulten L, Abrahamsson-Aurell K, Lützelschwab C, Skiöldebrand E. Salivary biglycan-neo-epitope-BGN(262): A novel surrogate biomarker for equine osteoarthritic sub-chondral bone sclerosis and to monitor the effect of short-term training and surface arena.. Osteoarthr Cartil Open 2023 Jun;5(2):100354.
- Rajão MD, Leite CS, Nogueira K, Godoy RF, Lima EMM. The bone response in endurance long distance horse.. Open Vet J 2019 Apr;9(1):58-64.
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