Movement Caused by Electrical Stimulation of the Lumbosacral Region in Standing Horses.
Abstract: Electrical stimulation is commonly used as a modality for physical therapy in human and veterinary medicine. However, studies measuring the movement generated by electrical stimulation in horses are rare. The present study therefore evaluates the range of movement provoked by a commercially available physical therapy unit (FES310) and contrasts it with the movement generated by manually induced pelvic inclination (back rounding). Ten horses were tested on three measurement days over one week. Electrical stimulation was applied via a back treatment pad (belonging to the FES310 system) containing six electrodes (three on either side of the spine) placed over the lumbosacral region. This system produced a pulsed, biphasic electrical stimulation in a rectangular waveform which was gradually increased to a maximum of 10 volts. Before and after electrical stimulation testing, manual pelvic inclination was achieved by pressure on two points lateral to the root of the tail. Muscle tone and lameness were evaluated before and after treatments. Skinfold thickness, body condition score, and body mass were measured to detect possible confounding factors. Using kinematics, the angle ranges during movement of ten three-dimensional angles of the trunk, the pelvis, and the hind limbs were further analyzed. Movement was produced with manual stimulation in every tested individual on all measurement days and with electrical stimulation on at least one measurement day. The electrical stimulation led to significantly (P < .05) smaller angle ranges which were 15 %-57 % of the median of the manually stimulated movement. Strong positive correlations between angle ranges of the electrically generated movement were found for the hind limbs implicating their involvement in the movement created. Correlations between skinfold thickness, body condition score, and body mass with the angle ranges were weak and not significant. Before and after electrical and manual stimulation, muscle tone and lameness were similar. In the present study, both electrical and manual stimulation were proven to produce significant trunk and hind limb movement. Within this study's electrical stimulation treatment protocol, the movement generated by electrical stimulation was significantly less than the movement caused by manual pelvic inclination. However, electrical stimulation could easily be applied over a longer period and in a higher frequency than it would be possible for manual pelvic inclination. This treatment shows potential for stabilization and or mobilization of the lumbosacral region, although its efficiency as a therapeutic tool and its effect on specific orthopedic problems and is to be evaluated in further research.
Copyright © 2020 The Author(s). Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.
Publication Date: 2020-05-13 PubMed ID: 32684261DOI: 10.1016/j.jevs.2020.103116Google Scholar: Lookup
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Summary
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The research article studies the impact of electrical stimulation on the range of movement in horses, comparing it to manually induced pelvic inclination or back rounding. The study found that while both methods could stimulate significant movement, electrical stimulation produced smaller angle ranges.
Research Methodology
- The study was conducted with 10 horses over one week, with measurements taken on three separate days.
- A commercially available physical therapy unit (FES310) was used to deliver electrical stimulation via a treatment pad containing six electrodes placed over the lumbosacral region of the horse.
- Manual pelvic inclination was achieved by applying pressure to two points lateral to the root of the horse’s tail.
- Muscle tone and lameness were evaluated before and after treatments.
- The body mass, body condition score and skinfold thickness were measured as potential confounding factors.
Results
- The study found that movement was produced through manual stimulation in every tested individual on every measurement day, and with electrical stimulation on at least one measurement day.
- The movement generated by electrical stimulation was significantly less than the movement produced by manual pelvic inclination, with the electrical stimulation generating 15%-57% of the median of the manually-stimulated movement.
- Strong positive correlations were found for the range of movement for the hind limbs, suggesting they were involved in the movement created through electrical stimulation.
- There was no significant correlation between confounding factors like skinfold thickness, body condition score, and body mass with the angle ranges.
- Before and after the application of both types of stimulation, the muscle tone and lameness scores were similar.
Implications and Future Research
- The study showed that both manual and electrical stimulations are effective at generating movement in horses.
- While electrical stimulation generates a significantly smaller range of movement, it could be applied over a longer period and at a higher frequency compared to manual methods.
- The study suggests that electrical stimulation could potentially be used as a tool for stabilizing or mobilizing the lumbosacral region in horses.
- However, the effectiveness of electrical stimulation as a therapeutic tool and its impact on specific orthopedic problems still need further examination through additional research.
Cite This Article
APA
Riedler DC, Zsoldos RR, Robel M, Jobst ID, Licka TF.
(2020).
Movement Caused by Electrical Stimulation of the Lumbosacral Region in Standing Horses.
J Equine Vet Sci, 91, 103116.
https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jevs.2020.103116 Publication
Researcher Affiliations
- University Clinic for Horses, Department of Companion Animals and Horses, University of Veterinary Medicine, Vienna, Austria.
- School of Agriculture and Food Sciences, The University of Queensland, Gatton, Queensland, Australia.
- University Clinic for Horses, Department of Companion Animals and Horses, University of Veterinary Medicine, Vienna, Austria.
- University Clinic for Horses, Department of Companion Animals and Horses, University of Veterinary Medicine, Vienna, Austria.
- University Clinic for Horses, Department of Companion Animals and Horses, University of Veterinary Medicine, Vienna, Austria; Royal (Dick) School of Veterinary Studies, University of Edinburgh, Easter Bush Campus, Midlothian, Scotland, United Kingdom. Electronic address: theresia.licka@vetmeduni.ac.at.
MeSH Terms
- Animals
- Biomechanical Phenomena
- Electric Stimulation
- Gait
- Hindlimb
- Horses
- Lumbosacral Region
Citations
This article has been cited 1 times.- Haussler KK, Hesbach AL, Romano L, Goff L, Bergh A. A Systematic Review of Musculoskeletal Mobilization and Manipulation Techniques Used in Veterinary Medicine. Animals (Basel) 2021 Sep 24;11(10).
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