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In vitro mechanical properties of the accessory ligament of the deep digital flexor tendon in horses in relation to age.
Abstract: The material properties of the accessory ligament of the deep digital flexor tendon (AL) of 21 forelimbs from horses between ages one day and 15 years were determined. The force (634-11416 N), failure stress (45-138 N/mm2), failure strain (7-24%) and tangent modulus (33-1639 MPa) are presented in relation to age. Tangent modulus did not indicate changes in elasticity due to age. The results demonstrate that complete ligament failures (CLF) of ALs of older horses (mean 7835 N) occur at lower forces than ALs of young adult horses (mean 8894 N). Sudden decreases, 'dips', in the force-time curves were noticed in ligaments from foals and yearlings and in ligaments from horses > 10 years. They were interpreted as the failure of a number of fibres which either fail at lower forces or are subject to higher forces than the rest. These differences in mechanical properties could be the result of age related differences in the material properties of ALs of older horses similar to alterations in collagenous tissue in other species. When analysing the data of the proximal, middle and distal regions of the ligaments separately, higher strain and elasticity were found in the distal compared to the proximal parts. It is suggested that the clinical occurrence of desmitis of the AL of older horses could be due to fibrillar failure caused by differences in the material properties of the ligaments.
Publication Date: 1994-11-01 PubMed ID: 7889918DOI: 10.1111/j.2042-3306.1994.tb04049.xGoogle 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
Summary
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The research article is an investigation into the mechanical properties of a specific tendon in horses, and how these properties relate to the age of the horse. It was discovered that older horses had tendon failures at lower forces than younger horses, potentially due to age-related changes in the material properties of the tendons.
Study Overview
- The authors studied the accessory ligament of the deep digital flexor tendon (AL) in horses, focusing on 21 forelimbs from horses aged from one day to 15 years.
- Their aim was to investigate the mechanical properties of this ligament and how they might be affected by the age of the horse.
Methods and Measurements
- Various metrics were used to gauge the properties of the AL, including force, failure stress, failure strain, and tangent modulus.
- Results were then analysed with respect to the age of the horse from which each limb was taken.
Findings
- The tangent modulus, a measure of elasticity, did not show any changes due to a horse’s age.
- Complete failures of the ligament, however, occurred at lower forces in older horses compared to younger adult horses.
- Sudden decreases or ‘dips’ in the force-time curves were noticed in ligaments from foals and yearlings, as well as in older horses aged over 10 years. These were interpreted as failures of some ligament fibres.
- This suggests that these fibres either succumb to lower forces or are subject to higher forces than the rest of the tendon’s fibres, due to age-related differences in material properties.
- When analysing different regions of the ligaments separately, higher strain and elasticity were found in the distal (farther from the center of the body) parts compared to the proximal (closer to the center of the body) parts.
Conclusions
- The authors suggest that the clinical occurrence of desmitis (inflammation of a ligament) in the AL of older horses could be related to these fibrillar failures, which could stem from age-related changes in the material properties of the ligaments.
- By understanding these properties, the study could inform better treatment or prevention strategies for tendon related health issues in horses, particularly as they age.
Cite This Article
APA
Becker CK, Savelberg HH, Barneveld A.
(1994).
In vitro mechanical properties of the accessory ligament of the deep digital flexor tendon in horses in relation to age.
Equine Vet J, 26(6), 454-459.
https://doi.org/10.1111/j.2042-3306.1994.tb04049.x Publication
Researcher Affiliations
- Equine Biomechanics Research Group, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Utrecht University, The Netherlands.
MeSH Terms
- Aging / physiology
- Animals
- Biomechanical Phenomena
- Forelimb / physiology
- Horses / physiology
- In Vitro Techniques
- Ligaments / physiology
- Models, Biological
- Tendons / physiology
Citations
This article has been cited 1 times.- Osamura N, Zhao C, Zobitz ME, An KN, Amadio PC. Evaluation of the material properties of the subsynovial connective tissue in carpal tunnel syndrome. Clin Biomech (Bristol, Avon) 2007 Nov;22(9):999-1003.
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