[Influence of exercise on horses’ limb volume, measured by an optoelectronic device].

The research is about a study where scientists used an optoelectronic device called Perometer to measure limb volume in horses, investigating how different types, durations, and conditions of physical exercise affect this measurement. Results showed there are notable changes in limb volume pre and post exercise, with differences also observed based on the horse’s gender, training level, and the ambient temperature.

Research Design and Methodology

• This research involved a total of 40 horses which were then divided into four different groups of ten horses each. Each group was subjected to diverse types of physical exercise which varied not only in kind but also in duration.
• Some of these exercises included lunging, horse-riding, and riderless exercises which were performed under specific conditions.
• The horses’ limb volume was measured at three different points during the study: after a twelve-hour standing period (inactive value), immediately after physical exercise (load value), and one hour post exercise (recovery value).

Research Findings

• The results of the measurement showed a substantial decrease of 5.7% in limb volume between the inactive and load values, and a significant increase of 68% between load and recovery values.
• The changes in limb volume were prominently higher in male horses when compared to females.
• Volume changes were seen to be more in horse-riding groups as opposed to riderless groups, though this difference wasn’t statistically significant.
• There were less changes in limb volume at lower ambient temperatures (1-12 degrees Celsius) compared to higher temperatures (23-31 degrees Celsius), however this difference also wasn’t statistically significant.
• Similarly, well-trained horses had lesser volume changes than those less trained, but this difference too wasn’t statistically significant.

Conclusions

• The study concluded that the Perometer is a quick and reliable tool for measuring limb volume in horses.
• The Interclass Correlation Coefficient (ICC) demonstrated a high reproducibility rate of 0.996 in measurements, suggesting the device’s high level of accuracy.
• Additionally, a variance analysis underscored no significant differences between the three repeated leg measurements, suggesting the consistency of results produced by the Perometer.
• The research justifies the use of Perometer for monitoring and quantifying edema as well as documenting changes in limb volume that could result from training, use of compression stockings or bandages, or manual lymph drainage.