Influence of age of horse on results of quantitative electromyographic needle examination of skeletal muscles in Dutch Warmblood horses.
Abstract: To determine the influence of age on results of quantitative analysis of electromyographic (EMG) needle examination in the subclavian, triceps, and lateral vastus muscles of Dutch Warmblood horses. Methods: 7 healthy young Dutch Warmblood horses (range, 13 to 18 months old), 7 healthy adult Dutch Warmblood horses (range, 4 to 10 years old), and 7 healthy elderly Dutch Warmblood horses (range, 18 to 21 years old). Methods: An EMG needle examination was performed to evaluate insertional activity, spontaneous activity, and motor unit action potential (MUAP) variables. Although all horses were conscious, young horses were sedated prior to examination. Results: Mean insertional activity in young horses was significantly lower than in elderly horses. Pathologic spontaneous activity was rarely found in young and adult horses but was frequently evident in all muscles in all elderly horses. The MUAP duration and amplitude were significantly lower in all muscles of young horses, compared with values for adult and elderly horses. The MUAP duration and number of phases and turns were significantly lower in adult horses than in elderly horses. Group differences for percentages of polyphasic and complex MUAPs were also found. The 95% confidence intervals for MUAP duration, MUAP amplitude, and number of phases and turns for the subclavian, triceps, and lateral vastus muscles were significantly lower in young horses than in adult or elderly horses. Conclusions: Age of the horse being examined should be considered when EMG examination is performed.
Publication Date: 2003-01-10 PubMed ID: 12518881DOI: 10.2460/ajvr.2003.64.70Google Scholar: Lookup
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- Journal Article
Summary
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This research investigates the effect of a horse’s age on the outcome of electromyographic (EMG) needle examination specifically for Dutch Warmblood horses. An electromyographic needle examination is a diagnostic tool for muscle disorders. The results showed varying EMG readings between young, adult and elderly horses, suggesting the need to factor in the age of the horse when carrying out this examination.
Types of Horses Involved in the Study
- The study was conducted on Dutch Warmblood horses divided into three categories: young (13 to 18 months old), adult (4 to 10 years old), and elderly (18 to 21 years old).
- Each category was represented by 7 healthy individuals, totaling up to 21 horses for the study.
Methodology
- An EMG needle examination was carried out on subclavian, triceps, and lateral vastus muscles in the horses. The factors looked at during this examination were insertional activity, spontaneous activity, and motor unit action potential (MUAP) variables.
- Since all horses were conscious during the examination, the younger ones were sedated before the procedure.
Results
- The mean insertional activity was found to be significantly lower in young horses compared to elderly horses.
- Pathologic spontaneous activity was rarely noted in young and adult horses, whereas all elderly horses exhibited frequent pathologic spontaneous activity in all muscles.
- Young horses had significantly lower MUAP duration and amplitude in all muscles compared to adult and elderly horses.
- Adult horses had significantly lower MUAP duration, number of phases, and turns than elderly horses.
- Frequencies of polyphasic and complex MUAPs were also noted to vary among the two groups.
- The 95% confidence intervals for MUAP duration, MUAP amplitude, and number of phases and turns were notably lower in young horses than in adult and elderly horses.
Conclusion
- The results demonstrated that the age of the horse significantly impacts EMG examination results.
- Therefore, the study supports the need to take the horse’s age into account when diagnosing muscle disorders using an EMG examination.
Cite This Article
APA
Wijnberg ID, Franssen H, van der Kolk JH.
(2003).
Influence of age of horse on results of quantitative electromyographic needle examination of skeletal muscles in Dutch Warmblood horses.
Am J Vet Res, 64(1), 70-75.
https://doi.org/10.2460/ajvr.2003.64.70 Publication
Researcher Affiliations
- Department of Equine Sciences, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Utrecht University, Yalelaan 12, 3584 CM Utrecht, The Netherlands.
MeSH Terms
- Action Potentials / physiology
- Age Factors
- Animals
- Body Temperature / physiology
- Electromyography / veterinary
- Horses / physiology
- Muscle, Skeletal / physiology
- Statistics, Nonparametric
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