Impact of walking surface on the range of motion of equine distal limb joints for rehabilitation purposes.

The research article investigates how various walking surfaces affect the joint movement in a horse’s forelimbs and hind limbs and how it might impact rehabilitation processes.

Research Objective

• The primary aim of this study was to understand the impact that different footing surfaces had on the flexion and extension of the carpus, tarsus, and fetlock joints in horses. The research also aimed to evaluate the proportion of stride spent in the stance phase for sound horses walking.

Research Methodology

• The study observed nine sound horses walking on three different surfaces: hard ground, soft ground, and also on a land treadmill.
• The researchers collected data over five complete gait cycles using a digital video camera. Retro-reflective markers were placed on anatomical spots on the left-front and hindlimbs of the horses.
• All data collected were analyzed using two-dimensional motion analysis software.
• Maximal flexion and extension angles and the range of motion for each joint were calculated, and how long each stride spent in the stance phase was determined.

Research Outcomes

• The maximum flexion of the tarsus and hind fetlock was higher on the land treadmill and soft ground as compared to the hard ground. Similarly, maximal flexion of the carpus was higher on the land treadmill when compared to hard and soft grounds.
• The maximal extension of the carpus was more significant on hard ground as compared to soft ground and the land treadmill. The maximal extension of the tarsus was more substantial on hard and soft grounds compared to the land treadmill.
• With respect to the fetlocks of both the forelimbs and hind limbs, the maximal extension was more significant on the land treadmill compared to the hard and soft grounds.
• In terms of overall range of motion, the greatest was achieved on the land treadmill for the carpus and fetlocks, while the tarsus had the greatest overall range of motion on soft ground.
• There was a notable difference in the percentage of the stride spent in the stance phase for the hind limb on all surfaces.

Conclusion

• Based on the findings, the walking surface significantly influences the flexion and extension of the carpus, tarsus, and fetlocks in healthy horses. This understanding should play an essential role when considering the rehabilitation of equines.