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Veterinary journal (London, England : 1997)2010; 190(3); 383-389; doi: 10.1016/j.tvjl.2010.11.016

Mild exercise early in life produces changes in bone size and strength but not density in proximal phalangeal, third metacarpal and third carpal bones of foals.

Abstract: Exercise or lack of it in early life affects chondro-osseous development. Two groups of horses were used to investigate the effects of age and exercise regimen on bone parameters of diaphyseal, metaphyseal, epiphyseal and cuboidal bones of the distal limb of Thoroughbreds. One group had exercised only spontaneously from an early age at pasture (PASTEX group), while the other group of horses were exposed to a 30% greater workload through additional defined exercise (CONDEX). Longitudinal data from peripheral quantitative computed tomography (pQCT) were obtained from eight scan sites of the left forelimb (proximal phalangeal (P(p); 1 site), third metacarpal (Mc3; six sites) and third carpal (C(3); one site) bones) of 32 Thoroughbred foals scanned five times from ∼3 weeks to 17 months of age. The primary outcome measures were bone mineral content (BMC), bone area (BA), and periosteal circumference (Peri C) in diaphyseal bone, with cortical thickness (CortTh), volumetric bone mineral density (BMD(v)) and a bone strength index (SSI) also being analysed. At the P(p) site within the model there was a significant effect (P=0.00-0.025) of conditioning exercise increasing bone parameters, except endosteal circumference (Endo C) and BMD(v). The BMC, BA, and SSI of P(p) were significantly greater in the CONDEX than PASTEX groups at 12 and 17 months (P=0.015-0.042) and CortTh at 17 months (P=0.033). At the M55 site of Mc3 BMC, BA and SSI (P=0.02-0.04), and at the M33 site, SSI (P=0.05) were higher in the CONDEX than PASTEX group. The adaptive responses, consistent with diaphyseal strengthening, were more marked in the diaphysis of P(p) than Mc3. In the Mc3, metaphysis, trabecular BMD(v) was less in the CONDEX than PASTEX group, associated with greater bone mineral accretion in the outer cortical-sub-cortical bone in the CONDEX group. There were no significant between-group differences in any epiphyseal or cuboidal bone parameter. Although the early imposed exercise regimen was not intensive, it had significant effects on diaphyseal bone strength, through change in size but not bone density.
Copyright © 2010 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.
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Publication Date: 2010-12-24 PubMed ID: 21186128DOI: 10.1016/j.tvjl.2010.11.016Google Scholar: Lookup
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  • Journal Article
  • Randomized Controlled Trial
  • Research Support
  • Non-U.S. Gov't

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.

The research explores the effect of mild exercise in early life on the size, density and strength of bones in foals, finding that while size and strength were increased, bone density was not affected.

Research Design

  • The researchers set up two groups of horses: one group with horses who exercised spontaneously at pasture (PASTEX), and another group that was exposed to 30% more exercise (CONDEX).
  • Using peripheral quantitative computed tomography (pQCT), the scientists took multiple scans of the left forelimbs of the 32 Thoroughbred foals, specifically at the proximal phalangeal (P(p)), third metacarpal (Mc3), and third carpal (C(3)) bones.
  • The scans were conducted five times from when the foals were roughly 3 weeks to 17 months old.

Primary Outcome Measures

  • Various parameters, including Bone Mineral Content (BMC), Bone Area (BA), Periosteal Circumference (Peri C) in diaphyseal bone, along with Cortical thickness (CortTh), Volumetric Bone Mineral Density (BMD(v)) and a Bone Strength Index (SSI) were analysed.
  • The primary outcome of the experiment was to observe if conditioning exercise led to a significant change in any of these parameters.

Major Findings

  • The study found a significant effect of conditioning exercise in increasing almost all bone parameters, with the exception of endosteal circumference (Endo C) and BMD(v), within the P(p) model.
  • The BMC, BA, and SSI of the P(p) bone were significantly greater in the CONDEX group than in the PASTEX groups at 12 and 17 months.
  • In the Mc3 bone, metaphysis, the trabecular BMD(v) was lesser in the CONDEX group than in the PASTEX group, linked to greater bone mineral accretion in the outer cortical-sub-cortical bone in the CONDEX group.
  • There were no significant differences noticed in any epiphyseal or cuboidal bone parameter between the two groups.

Conclusions

  • The results of the study conclude that early, mild exercise regimens can lead to significant effects on diaphyseal bone strength, but these effects stem from the change in size rather than bone density.
  • This study helps to understand the impact of early life activity levels on skeletal development and provides valuable insights into the bone health of foals.

Cite This Article

APA
Firth EC, Rogers CW, van Weeren PR, Barneveld A, McIlwraith CW, Kawcak CE, Goodship AE, Smith RK. (2010). Mild exercise early in life produces changes in bone size and strength but not density in proximal phalangeal, third metacarpal and third carpal bones of foals. Vet J, 190(3), 383-389. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.tvjl.2010.11.016

Publication

Veterinary journal (London, England : 1997)
ISSN: 1532-2971
NlmUniqueID: 9706281
Country: England
Language: English
Volume: 190
Issue: 3
Pages: 383-389

Researcher Affiliations

Firth, Elwyn C
  • Institute of Veterinary Animal and Biomedical Sciences, Massey University, Palmerston North, New Zealand. e.c.firth@massey.ac.nz
Rogers, Christopher W
    van Weeren, P Rene
      Barneveld, Albert
        McIlwraith, C Wayne
          Kawcak, Christopher E
            Goodship, Allen E
              Smith, Roger K W

                MeSH Terms

                • Age Factors
                • Animals
                • Bone Density / physiology
                • Carpus, Animal / anatomy & histology
                • Carpus, Animal / physiology
                • Female
                • Forelimb / anatomy & histology
                • Forelimb / physiology
                • Horses / anatomy & histology
                • Horses / physiology
                • Male
                • Metacarpal Bones / anatomy & histology
                • Metacarpal Bones / physiology
                • Physical Conditioning, Animal / physiology

                Citations

                This article has been cited 13 times.
                1. Gibson M, Hickson R, Back P, Dittmer K, Schreurs N, Rogers C. The Effect of Sex and Age on Bone Morphology and Strength in the Metacarpus and Humerus in Beef-Cross-Dairy Cattle. Animals (Basel) 2021 Mar 5;11(3).
                  doi: 10.3390/ani11030694pubmed: 33807501google scholar: lookup
                2. Gibson M, Dittmer K, Hickson R, Back P, Rogers C. Bone Morphology and Strength in the Mid-Diaphysis of the Humerus and Metacarpus in Dairy Calves Prior to Weaning. Animals (Basel) 2020 Aug 14;10(8).
                  doi: 10.3390/ani10081422pubmed: 32823958google scholar: lookup
                3. Rogers CW, Dittmer KE. Does Juvenile Play Programme the Equine Musculoskeletal System?. Animals (Basel) 2019 Sep 3;9(9).
                  doi: 10.3390/ani9090646pubmed: 31484397google scholar: lookup
                4. Rajão MD, Leite CS, Nogueira K, Godoy RF, Lima EMM. The bone response in endurance long distance horse. Open Vet J 2019 Apr;9(1):58-64.
                  doi: 10.4314/ovj.v9i1.11pubmed: 31086768google scholar: lookup
                5. Doube M, Felder AA, Chua MY, Lodhia K, Kłosowski MM, Hutchinson JR, Shefelbine SJ. Limb bone scaling in hopping macropods and quadrupedal artiodactyls. R Soc Open Sci 2018 Oct;5(10):180152.
                  doi: 10.1098/rsos.180152pubmed: 30473802google scholar: lookup
                6. Martig S, Hitchens PL, Stevenson MA, Whitton RC. Subchondral bone morphology in the metacarpus of racehorses in training changes with distance from the articular surface but not with age. J Anat 2018 Jun;232(6):919-930.
                  doi: 10.1111/joa.12794pubmed: 29446086google scholar: lookup
                7. Firth EC, Gamble GD, Cornish J, Vickers MH. Neonatal leptin treatment reverses the bone-suppressive effects of maternal undernutrition in adult rat offspring. Sci Rep 2017 Aug 9;7(1):7686.
                  doi: 10.1038/s41598-017-07500-5pubmed: 28794412google scholar: lookup
                8. Rogers CW, Bolwell CF, Gee EK. Proactive Management of the Equine Athlete. Animals (Basel) 2012 Dec 19;2(4):640-55.
                  doi: 10.3390/ani2040640pubmed: 26487168google scholar: lookup
                9. Aido M, Kerschnitzki M, Hoerth R, Checa S, Spevak L, Boskey AL, Fratzl P, Duda GN, Wagermaier W, Willie BM. Effect of in vivo loading on bone composition varies with animal age. Exp Gerontol 2015 Mar;63:48-58.
                  doi: 10.1016/j.exger.2015.01.048pubmed: 25639943google scholar: lookup
                10. Dzierzęcka M, Charuta A. The analysis of densitometric and geometric parameters of bilateral proximal phalanges in horses with the use of peripheral quantitative computed tompgraphy. Acta Vet Scand 2012 Jul 13;54(1):41.
                  doi: 10.1186/1751-0147-54-41pubmed: 22794083google scholar: lookup
                11. Son JK, De Paz P, Kim J, Sanaei R, Seungho R, Bailey S, Davies HMS. Distal forelimb radiographic bone morphology in Thoroughbred foals during the first 10 months post-partum. Part 1: Carpus. Vet Med Sci 2024 Jul;10(4):e31539.
                  doi: 10.1002/vms3.1539pubmed: 39018065google scholar: lookup
                12. Nagy A, Dyson S. Magnetic Resonance Imaging, Computed Tomographic and Radiographic Findings in the Metacarpophalangeal Joints of 31 Warmblood Showjumpers in Full Work and Competing Regularly. Animals (Basel) 2024 May 9;14(10).
                  doi: 10.3390/ani14101417pubmed: 38791635google scholar: lookup
                13. Nagy A, Boros K, Dyson S. Magnetic Resonance Imaging, Computed Tomographic and Radiographic Findings in the Metacarpophalangeal Joints of 40 Non-Lame Thoroughbred Yearlings. Animals (Basel) 2023 Nov 9;13(22).
                  doi: 10.3390/ani13223466pubmed: 38003084google scholar: lookup
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