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Home / Equine Research Bank / BMC Vet Res / Long term consistency and location specificity of equine glu...
BMC veterinary research2018; 14(1); 126; doi: 10.1186/s12917-018-1443-y

Long term consistency and location specificity of equine gluteus medius muscle activity during locomotion on the treadmill.

Abstract: The equine m. gluteus medius (GM) is the largest muscle of the horse, its main movement function is the extension of the hip joint. The objective of the present study was to measure equine GM activity in three adjacent locations on GM during walk and trot on a treadmill, in order to document potential differences. Fourteen Haflinger mares were measured using surface electromyography and kinematic markers to identify the motion cycles on three occasions over 16 weeks. The electrodes were placed on left and right gluteus medius muscle over the middle of its widest part and 5 cm lateral and medial of it. For data processing, electrical activity was normalised to its maximum value and timing was normalised to the motion cycle. A Gaussian distribution approach was used to determine up to 10 modes of focussed activity, and results were analysed separately for stance and swing phase of the ipsilateral hindlimb. Results: Fair reliability was found for mean mode values (Cronbach's alpha = 0.66) and good reliability was found for mean mode locations (Cronbach's alpha = 0.71) over the three data collection days. The magnitude of muscle activity identified as mean mode value was much larger at trot than at walk, and mean mode value was significantly different between stance phases of walk and trot for all electrode positions (p < 0.01). The pattern of muscle activity identified as mean mode location was significantly different for walk and trot at all electrode positions, both during stance and swing phases (p < 0.001). This indicates the different timing pattern between the gaits. Results of the three electrode positions on the same muscle during each gait were not significantly different when comparing the same measurement. Conclusions: The middle of the equine GM does not show any indication of functional differentiation during walk and trot on a treadmill; this might be due to lack of segmentation as such, or due to lack of need for segmented use for these very basic main tasks of the muscle. The reliability of the sEMG measurements over several weeks was fair to good, an indication for the robustness of the methodology.
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Publication Date: 2018-04-06 PubMed ID: 29625573PubMed Central: PMC5889605DOI: 10.1186/s12917-018-1443-yGoogle Scholar: Lookup
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Summary

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The research paper investigates the variations in muscle activity in three distinct sections of the gluteus medius muscle in horses during treadmill locomotion. The study also analyzes the consistency of this activity over a span of 16 weeks.

Objective

  • Examine the activity in different parts of the gluteus medius (GM) muscle in horses during walks and trots on a treadmill.
  • Investigate whether there are any significant variations in the muscle activity between the different sections of the GM muscle.
  • Analyze the reliability of the findings over a long-term period (16 weeks).

Method

  • Fourteen Haflinger mares were used for the study.
  • Surface electromyography and kinematic markers were used to measure muscle activity.
  • Measurements were made at three instances over the span of 16 weeks.
  • The electrodes were placed at three points — the middle and the medial and lateral sides of the GM muscle.
  • To process the data, the electrical activity observed was normalized (standardized) using its maximum value and timing with respect to the motion cycle.
  • A Gaussian distribution approach was used to determine up to 10 modes of focused activity and the results were analyzed separately for two distinct phases of hindlimb motion – stance and swing phase.

Results

  • The mean mode value showed fair reliability (alpha = 0.66) and the mean mode location showed good reliability (alpha = 0.71) over the three data collection points.
  • Horses showed greater muscle activity in GM while trotting as compared to walking.
  • Significant differences in muscle activity were observed between the stance phases of walking and trotting.
  • Significant differences in the pattern of muscle activity were also found between walks and trots, which indicates the variation in timing pattern between the two gaits.
  • Regardless of the gait, the muscle activities measured at the three different points on the same muscle during each gait showed no significant differences.

Conclusion

  • The center of the equine GM did not show any signs of functional differentiation during walk and trot on a treadmill. This could be attributed to the absence of segmentation or perhaps the absence of the need for segmented use for these basic tasks of the muscle.
  • The results carried fair to good reliability over several weeks, pointing to the robustness of the surface electromyography measurement methodology.

Cite This Article

APA
Zsoldos RR, Voegele A, Krueger B, Schroeder U, Weber A, Licka TF. (2018). Long term consistency and location specificity of equine gluteus medius muscle activity during locomotion on the treadmill. BMC Vet Res, 14(1), 126. https://doi.org/10.1186/s12917-018-1443-y

Publication

BMC veterinary research
ISSN: 1746-6148
NlmUniqueID: 101249759
Country: England
Language: English
Volume: 14
Issue: 1
Pages: 126

Researcher Affiliations

Zsoldos, Rebeka R
  • Department of Sustainable Agricultural Systems, Section Livestock Sciences, University of Natural Resources and Life Sciences Vienna, Vienna, Austria. rebeka.zsoldos@boku.ac.at.
Voegele, Anna
  • Multimedia, Simulation and Virtual Reality Group, Institute of Computer Science II, University of Bonn, Bonn, Germany.
Krueger, Bjoern
  • Gokhale Method Institute, Stanford, CA, USA.
Schroeder, Ulrike
  • Department for Companion Animals and Horses, University of Veterinary Medicine Vienna, Vienna, Austria.
Weber, Andreas
  • Multimedia, Simulation and Virtual Reality Group, Institute of Computer Science II, University of Bonn, Bonn, Germany.
Licka, Theresia F
  • Department for Companion Animals and Horses, University of Veterinary Medicine Vienna, Vienna, Austria.
  • Royal (Dick) School of Veterinary Studies, The University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, Scotland, UK.

MeSH Terms

  • Animals
  • Biomechanical Phenomena / physiology
  • Electromyography / veterinary
  • Exercise Test / veterinary
  • Female
  • Hip / physiology
  • Horses / physiology
  • Locomotion / physiology
  • Muscle, Skeletal / physiology

Grant Funding

  • I1532-B23 / Austrian Science Fund
  • KR 4309/2-1 / Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft

Conflict of Interest Statement

ETHICS APPROVAL AND CONSENT TO PARTICIPATE: The study was approved by the institutional ethics committee of the University of Veterinary Medicine Vienna and the national authority according to § 8ff of Law for Animal Experiments, Tierversuchsgesetz TVG, GZ 68.205/0169-II/ 3 b/2012. All horses were part of the university teaching herd and owned by of the University of Veterinary Medicine Vienna. CONSENT FOR PUBLICATION: Not applicable. COMPETING INTERESTS: The authors declare that they have no competing interests. PUBLISHER’S NOTE: Springer Nature remains neutral with regard to jurisdictional claims in published maps and institutional affiliations.

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