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Home / Equine Research Bank / Front Vet Sci / Kinematic Analysis During Straight Line Free Swimming in Hor...
Frontiers in veterinary science2021; 8; 752375; doi: 10.3389/fvets.2021.752375

Kinematic Analysis During Straight Line Free Swimming in Horses: Part 1 – Forelimbs.

Abstract: Background: Swimming is used for rehabilitation and conditioning purposes in equine sports medicine despite the lack of understanding of equine swimming kinematics. The aim of this study was to assess forelimb joints kinematics (elbow, carpus, and fetlock) in swimming horses. The specific objectives were 1- to calculate and compare joint angles in swimming vs. passive mobilizations (PM), 2- to determine joint angular velocities during a swimming stride cycle. Methods: Eleven elite endurance horses swam in a 100-m straight pool. Underwater (swimming) and overground (PM) videos were recorded from the horses' left side. Joint markers were applied on the lateral hoof wall, lateral metacarpal epicondyle, ulnar carpal bone, lateral humeral epicondyle, and the greater tubercle of humerus, from which elbow, carpus and fetlock angles, and angular velocities were obtained. As a reference, maximal fetlock, carpus, and elbow flexion/extension angles were determined during PM overground. Differences between angle extrema, angular velocities and range of motion (ROM) were compared. Results: Carpus and fetlock ROM were significantly smaller (p < 0.001) during swimming when compared with PM, while there was no difference in elbow ROM between both situations. The carpus had the greatest ROM of all joints during swimming. Absolute angular velocities values of all joints during swimming were greater during retraction than protraction (p < 0.001). When compared to other joints during protraction, the carpus joint reached the highest angular velocity. Conclusion: Swimming, as a rehabilitation exercise, has the potential to benefit horses where great elbow ROM with a moderate carpus and fetlock extension are wanted.
Copyright © 2021 Santosuosso, Leguillette, Vinardell, Filho, Massie, McCrae, Johnson, Rolian and David.
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Publication Date: 2021-10-14 PubMed ID: 34722709PubMed Central: PMC8553013DOI: 10.3389/fvets.2021.752375Google Scholar: Lookup
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Summary

This research summary has been generated with artificial intelligence and may contain errors and omissions. Refer to the original study to confirm details provided. Submit correction.

This research paper explores the movement of the forelimb joints in swimming horses, using this information to improve the effectiveness of <a href="/equine-rehabilitation-guide/" title="equine rehabilitation and conditioning exercises. In particular, the study assesses the movements of the elbow, carpus, and fetlock joints during swimming and passive mobilizations.

Study Objective and Method

  • The main aim of the research was to gather and analyze detailed data about the movements of forelimb joints in horses during swimming. The researchers measured these movements using joint markers, which were placed at specific points on the horse’s body, including the hoof, metacarpal epicondyle, ulnar carpal bone, humeral epicondyle, and the greater tubercle of the humerus.
  • The study specifically focused on understanding the angles and angular velocities of the elbow, carpus, and fetlock joints during a swimming stride. The movement of these joints was also compared during passive mobilizations, a type of overground horse exercise.
  • The research involved eleven elite endurance horses who swam in a 100-meter straight pool.

Findings

  • The researchers found that the range of motion (ROM) for the carpus and fetlock joints was significantly smaller when the horses were swimming compared to when they were doing passive mobilizations. For the elbow joint, however, there was no significant difference in ROM between swimming and passive mobilizations.
  • During the swimming stride, absolute angular velocities of all joints were greater during the retraction phase than in the protraction phase.
  • Among all the forelimb joints, the carpus joint achieved the highest angular velocity during the protraction phase of the swimming stride.

Implications

  • The results of this study suggest that swimming could be a beneficial rehabilitation exercise for horses that require a high range of motion in the elbow joints but only a moderate extension of the carpus and fetlock joints.
  • The study’s findings could be used to improve the planning and execution of rehabilitation and conditioning programs for horses, especially for those involved in endurance sports.

Cite This Article

APA
Santosuosso E, Leguillette R, Vinardell T, Filho S, Massie S, McCrae P, Johnson S, Rolian C, David F. (2021). Kinematic Analysis During Straight Line Free Swimming in Horses: Part 1 – Forelimbs. Front Vet Sci, 8, 752375. https://doi.org/10.3389/fvets.2021.752375

Publication

Frontiers in veterinary science
ISSN: 2297-1769
NlmUniqueID: 101666658
Country: Switzerland
Language: English
Volume: 8
Pages: 752375

Researcher Affiliations

Santosuosso, Emma
  • Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Calgary, Calgary, AB, Canada.
Leguillette, Renaud
  • Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Calgary, Calgary, AB, Canada.
Vinardell, Tatiana
  • Equine Veterinary Medical Center, Member of Qatar Foundation, Doha, Qatar.
  • College of Health & Life Sciences, Hamad Bin Khalifa University, Member of Qatar Foundation, Doha, Qatar.
Filho, Silvio
  • Al Shaqab - Endurance Department, Member of Qatar Foundation, Doha, Qatar.
Massie, Shannon
  • Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Calgary, Calgary, AB, Canada.
McCrae, Persephone
  • Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Calgary, Calgary, AB, Canada.
Johnson, Sarah
  • Equine Veterinary Medical Center, Member of Qatar Foundation, Doha, Qatar.
Rolian, Campbell
  • Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Calgary, Calgary, AB, Canada.
David, Florent
  • Equine Veterinary Medical Center, Member of Qatar Foundation, Doha, Qatar.
  • College of Health & Life Sciences, Hamad Bin Khalifa University, Member of Qatar Foundation, Doha, Qatar.

Conflict of Interest Statement

The authors declare that the research was conducted in the absence of any commercial or financial relationships that could be construed as a potential conflict of interest.

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Citations

This article has been cited 5 times.
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