Non-invasive assessment of equine muscular function: A case study.
Abstract: Assessment of muscle function after an injury or during recovery is of great importance in the veterinary field. Accelerometry, bioimpedance analysis and mechanomyography/acoustic myography have been used to assess human muscular problems, but have not been applied to the veterinary clinic. We report the clinical use of these techniques in a 12-year-old Danish Warmblood horse presenting with recurring and shifting lameness. Acoustic myography, assessing both the amplitude and frequency of active muscles, was employed to locate the specific area of muscle injury, the right hip, which exhibited minimal fibre recruitment giving rise to considerable weakness. This specific region was assessed by accelerometry which revealed a normal step interval for the injured leg when compared with the contralateral, but a weaker acceleration and strike force. Finally, an assessment of muscle resistance (R) and reactance (Xc) using bioimpedance confirmed a regional loss of muscle mass and a loss of cellular integrity compared with the contralateral limb.
Publication Date: 2013-07-12 PubMed ID: 26623317PubMed Central: PMC4629611
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- Case Reports
- Journal Article
- Biomechanics
- Case Reports
- Clinical Study
- Clinical Symptoms
- Diagnosis
- Diagnostic Technique
- Disease Diagnosis
- Equine Diseases
- Equine Health
- Equine Science
- Horses
- Injury
- Lameness
- Muscle
- Musculoskeletal System
- Noninvasive Procedures
- Rehabilitation
- Veterinary Care
- Veterinary Medicine
- Veterinary Procedure
- Veterinary Research
Summary
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The study investigates the use of non-invasive techniques like Accelerometry, bioimpedance analysis, and Acoustic myography for assessing muscle function in horses. Specifically, it presents a case study of a 12-year-old Danish Warmblood horse who had recurring lameness issues. Findings confirmed that the horse had specific muscular injuries, and these techniques could measure the muscle resistance, reactance, and loss of muscle mass.
Objective of the Study
- The main goal of this research was to explore the use of non-invasive techniques for the assessment of muscle function in horses, which were already being used for human muscular problems.
- The techniques used were Accelerometry, bioimpedance analysis, and Acoustic myography, applied on a case study – a Danish Warmblood horse suffering from recurring and shifting lameness and a specific muscle injury.
Methods Used in the Study
- The research involved a clinical application of Accelerometry, bioimpedance analysis, and Acoustic myography for muscle function assessment.
- Acoustic myography was initially used to determine the exact location of the muscle injury by assessing the amplitude and frequency of active muscles.
- Following this, accelerometry was employed to examine the movement and force of the horse’s injured leg, revealing a weaker acceleration and strike force.
- Lastly, bioimpedance analysis was conducted to assess muscle resistance and reactance, confirming a loss of muscle mass as well as a degradation in cellular integrity.
Findings of the Study
- The study managed to locate the area of muscle injury effectively, which was the right hip of the horse. This area showed minimal fibre recruitment, resulting in notable weakness.
- Through accelerometry, it was noted that while the step interval was normal for the injured leg when compared to the healthy one, the acceleration and strike force were weaker.
- The bioimpedance analysis pointed out a regional loss of muscle mass and a reduction in cellular integrity when compared to the healthy limb.
- Overall, the study confirmed that these non-invasive techniques can be effectively utilized for the assessment of muscle function in horses.
Cite This Article
APA
Riis KH, Harrison AP, Riis-Olesen K.
(2013).
Non-invasive assessment of equine muscular function: A case study.
Open Vet J, 3(2), 80-84.
Publication
Researcher Affiliations
- IKVH, Faculty of Health & Medical Sciences, Copenhagen University, Grønnegaardsvej 7, 1870 Frederiksberg C, Denmark ; Hillerød Hestedyrlæger, Baunevej 17, Bendstrup, 3400 Hillerød, Denmark.
- IKVH, Faculty of Health & Medical Sciences, Copenhagen University, Grønnegaardsvej 7, 1870 Frederiksberg C, Denmark.
- Hillerød Hestedyrlæger, Baunevej 17, Bendstrup, 3400 Hillerød, Denmark.
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Citations
This article has been cited 2 times.- Dong Y, Li Q. Phonomyography on Perioperative Neuromuscular Monitoring: An Overview. Sensors (Basel) 2022 Mar 22;22(7).
- Sanchez B, Pacheck A, Rutkove SB. Guidelines to electrode positioning for human and animal electrical impedance myography research. Sci Rep 2016 Sep 2;6:32615.
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