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Influence of intensity and changes of physical activity on bone mineral density of immature equine subchondral bone.
Abstract: Subchondral bone provides structural support to overlying articular cartilage and plays an important biomechanical role in osteochondral diseases. Mechanical features of bone correlate strongly with bone mineral density, which is directed by the loading conditions to which the tissue is subjected. Objective: To investigate the influence of physical activity levels on subchondral bone mineral density (sBMD) in foals during early development. Methods: Three groups of foals were subjected to different physical activity levels from birth until age 5 months. A proportion of these foals were subjected to euthanasia at 5 months while remaining foals were subjected to similar physical activity levels for 6 months until euthanasia at 11 months. Osteochondral specimens were collected for measurement of sBMD with peripheral quantitative computed tomography at 2 differently loaded anatomical sites of the proximal phalangeal bone at 1, 2, 3, 4 and 5 mm depth from the osteochondral junction. Results: Growth significantly increased sBMD but by a different amount depending on anatomical location and physical activity level. Significantly higher sBMD was found at the habitually loaded central area in comparison to the intermittently peak loaded marginal site. Exercise increased sBMD throughout the whole depth of analysed tissue, but changes were generally more obvious at a depth of 2 mm. Interestingly, foals subjected to additional sprint training preserved the exercise-induced sBMD increase at the habitually loaded central area during the 6 months of the second phase of the study. Conclusions: Habitual low-intensity loading elicits a greater response in sBMD in quantitative terms than high-intensity low-frequency loading at the sites investigated in this study. Future sBMD may be influenced by means of well-tailored exercise regimens at young age. Conclusions: Specific physical activity levels during early development may potentially reduce the prevalence of osteochondral injury later in life.
Publication Date: 2009-10-07 PubMed ID: 19803052DOI: 10.2746/042516409x429437Google 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.
- Controlled Clinical Trial
- Journal Article
- Research Support
- Non-U.S. Gov't
Summary
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The research article examines the impact of differing levels of physical activity on the bone mineral density in immature subchondral bone in foals. The study identified a greater increase in bone mineral density with habitual low-intensity loading compared to high-intensity low-frequency loading and suggests that well-designed exercise routines for young horses could influence their bone mineral density in future and might reduce osteochondral injury prevalence later in their life.
Objective and Methods
- The aim of the research is to study the impact of different levels of physical activity on the bone mineral density of subchondral bone in foals during their early development.
- The study conducted involved three groups of foals who were subject to differing physical activity levels from their birth up to five months. Further, a portion of the foals were euthanized at 5 months, while others continued with the similar physical activity levels for an added period of six months, after which they were euthanized at 11 months.
- The research involved collecting osteochondral specimens to measure the bone mineral density using peripheral quantitative computed tomography. This was carried out at two different anatomical locations of the proximal phalangeal bone at various depth levels.
Findings
- In growth, bone mineral density increased significantly, but this varied based on the anatomical location and the level of physical activity.
- Higher bone mineral density was recorded at the consistently loaded central area compared to the intermittently peak loaded marginal site.
- Exercise contributed to an increase in bone mineral density throughout the depth of analyzed tissue, observable mainly at a depth of 2 mm.
- The addition of sprint training led to the preservation of the exercise-induced increase in bone mineral density at the central area, habitually loaded, during the second phase of the study spanning 6 months.
Conclusions
- Regular low-intensity loading produced a greater effect on the bone mineral density than high-intensity low-frequency loading at the investigated sites in this study.
- The potential future bone mineral density might be influenced through well-designed exercise routines at an early age.
- Specified physical activity levels during early development could potentially reduce the prevalence of osteochondral injuries later in life.
Cite This Article
APA
Brama PA, Firth EC, van Weeren PR, Tuukkanen J, Holopainen J, Helminen HJ, Hyttinen MM.
(2009).
Influence of intensity and changes of physical activity on bone mineral density of immature equine subchondral bone.
Equine Vet J, 41(6), 564-571.
https://doi.org/10.2746/042516409x429437 Publication
Researcher Affiliations
- Section of Veterinary Surgery, School of Agriculture, Food Science & Veterinary Medicine, University College Dublin, Belfield, Dublin 4, Ireland.
MeSH Terms
- Aging
- Animals
- Bone Density / physiology
- Bone Development / physiology
- Female
- Forelimb
- Horses / physiology
- Male
- Physical Conditioning, Animal / physiology
Citations
This article has been cited 2 times.- Liley H, Zhang J, Firth EC, Fernandez JW, Besier TF. Statistical modeling of the equine third metacarpal bone incorporating morphology and bone mineral density. PLoS One 2018;13(6):e0194406.
- Noble P, Singer ER, Jeffery NS. Does subchondral bone of the equine proximal phalanx adapt to race training?. J Anat 2016 Jul;229(1):104-13.
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