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Equine veterinary journal1999; 31(1); 25-30; doi: 10.1111/j.2042-3306.1999.tb03787.x

The effect of orthopaedic shoeing on the force exerted by the deep digital flexor tendon on the navicular bone in horses.

Abstract: This study quantifies both the intended effect of orthopaedic shoeing to decrease the load on the navicular bone and the eventual undesired effects on gait performance. The compressive force exerted by the deep digital flexor tendon on the navicular bone and on the quality of the trot and redistribution of forces over the flexor tendons and the suspensory ligament were studied as a function of orthopaedic shoeing in 12 sound Dutch Warmblood horses. A modified CODA-3 gait analysis system and a force plate were used to quantify objectively the load on the lower limb. The quality of the trot was assessed using the same gait analysis system while the horses were trotting on the treadmill. The effects of shoes with heel wedges and egg-bar shoes were compared to flat shoes and unshod feet. When heel wedges were applied, the maximal force on the navicular bone was reduced by 24% (P<0.05) in comparison with flat shoes. Egg-bar shoes did not reduce the force on the navicular bone, but in unshod feet this force appeared to be 14% lower (P<0.05) compared to flat shoes. Egg-bar shoes cause the horse's trot to be slightly less animated (P<0.05), compared to flat shoes and shoes with heel wedges. It is concluded that shoes with heel wedges reduce the force on the navicular bone as a result of a decreased moment of force at the distal interphalangeal joint in combination with a decreased angle between the deep digital flexor tendon distally and proximally of the navicular bone. Therefore it can be expected that in horses suffering from navicular disease, heel wedges will have the expected beneficial effect on the pressure on the navicular bone, while the effect of egg-bar shoes remains doubtful.
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Publication Date: 1999-02-10 PubMed ID: 9952326DOI: 10.1111/j.2042-3306.1999.tb03787.xGoogle Scholar: Lookup
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  • Journal Article
  • 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 examines how orthopedic shoeing affects the force the deep digital flexor tendon puts on a horse’s navicular bone, along with the impact it may have on the animal’s gait. In particular, the study compared the effects of heel wedges and egg-bar shoes with flat shoes and unshod feet and found heel wedges produced a beneficial reduction in force on the navicular bone.

Purpose and Methodology

  • The purpose of this research is to objectively measure the impact of orthopaedic shoeing, specifically heel wedges and egg-bar shoes, on the load on the navicular bone of horses and assess any consequent effects on the horses’ gait.
  • The study involved 12 Dutch Warmblood horses, with an analysis carried out using a modified CODA-3 gait analysis system and a force plate to accurately quantify the load on the lower limb.
  • The quality of the horses’ trot was evaluated whilst the animals were trotting on a treadmill, using the same gait analysis system.

Findings

  • The results showed that when heel wedges were used, the maximal force on the navicular bone was reduced by 24% compared to flat shoes. This result suggests that heel wedges lessen the stress on the tendon, which in turn reduces load on the bone.
  • The use of egg-bar shoes did not reduce the force on the navicular bone. However, for unshod feet, the force on the navicular bone was 14% lower compared to when flat shoes are used. So, it appears that not using shoes can also provide some relief to the navicular bone.
  • Wearing egg-bar shoes resulted in a slightly less animated trot in the horses compared to when heel wedges or flat shoes were used.

Conclusion

  • The research concluded that using heel wedges can lower the force on the navicular bone due to a decreased moment of force at the distal interphalangeal joint and a reduced angle between the distal and proximal parts of the deep digital flexor tendon.
  • This could potentially benefit horses suffering from navicular disease, where pressure on the bone is typically increased. On the other hand, the effectiveness of egg-bar shoes is questionable, as they did not seem to lessen the force on the navicular bone.

Cite This Article

APA
Willemen MA, Savelberg HH, Barneveld A. (1999). The effect of orthopaedic shoeing on the force exerted by the deep digital flexor tendon on the navicular bone in horses. Equine Vet J, 31(1), 25-30. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.2042-3306.1999.tb03787.x

Publication

Equine veterinary journal
ISSN: 0425-1644
NlmUniqueID: 0173320
Country: United States
Language: English
Volume: 31
Issue: 1
Pages: 25-30

Researcher Affiliations

Willemen, M A
  • Equine Biomechanics Research Group, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Utrecht University, The Netherlands.
Savelberg, H H
    Barneveld, A

      MeSH Terms

      • Animals
      • Female
      • Gait / physiology
      • Horses / physiology
      • Male
      • Orthotic Devices / veterinary
      • Shoes
      • Tarsal Bones / physiology
      • Tendons / physiology
      • Weight-Bearing

      Citations

      This article has been cited 13 times.
      1. Shaw KA, Brounts SH. The effect of heel elevation on the stiffness gradient index of the digital flexor tendons in the equine forelimb of clinically normal horses. Front Vet Sci 2025;12:1610788.
        doi: 10.3389/fvets.2025.1610788pubmed: 41104281google scholar: lookup
      2. Colla S, Johnson JW, McGilvray KC, Zanotto GM, Seabaugh KA. Biomechanical Assessment of the Collateral Ligament of the Distal Interphalangeal Joint of the Horse Following Alterations to the Palmar Angle-A Cadaveric Study. Animals (Basel) 2025 Feb 1;15(3).
        doi: 10.3390/ani15030406pubmed: 39943176google scholar: lookup
      3. Fuss FK. Joint Stress Analysis of the Navicular Bone of the Horse and Its Implications for Navicular Disease. Bioengineering (Basel) 2024 Jan 17;11(1).
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      6. Trolinger-Meadows KD, Biedrzycki AH, He H, Werpy N. Three-Dimensional Segmentation and in silico Comparison of Equine Deep Digital Flexor Tendon Pathology in Horses Undergoing Repeated MRI Examination. Front Vet Sci 2021;8:706046.
        doi: 10.3389/fvets.2021.706046pubmed: 34746274google scholar: lookup
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        doi: 10.3390/ani11092588pubmed: 34573553google scholar: lookup
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      9. Stutz JC, Vidondo B, Ramseyer A, Maninchedda UE, Cruz AM. Effect of three types of horseshoes and unshod feet on selected non-podal forelimb kinematic variables measured by an extremity mounted inertial measurement unit sensor system in sound horses at the trot under conditions of treadmill and soft geotextile surface exercise. Vet Rec Open 2018;5(1):e000237.
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      12. Lawson SE, Chateau H, Pourcelot P, Denoix JM, Crevier-Denoix N. Effect of toe and heel elevation on calculated tendon strains in the horse and the influence of the proximal interphalangeal joint. J Anat 2007 May;210(5):583-91.
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