The effect of training on equine metacarpal bone breaking strength.
Abstract: Right third metacarpal bones (n = 24) from Thoroughbreds, 24 to 48 months old and in race training, were tested to failure in 3 point bending. The neutral load axis was estimated and the distance from the axis to the outer dorsal cortical surface measured. Mid-diaphyseal dorsopalmar and lateromedial outer cortical and medullary diameters were measured. Breaking strength, cortical area and area moment of inertia were also calculated. Significant correlations were demonstrated between months in training and dorsopalmar bone diameter, cortical area and area moment of inertia. Significant linear models were illustrated between the same 3 variables and number of months in training. It was concluded that increased duration of training significantly enlarges dorsopalmar bone diameter, cortical area and area moment of inertia. Training did not affect metacarpal bone breaking strength as determined by 3 point bending.
Publication Date: 1995-03-01 PubMed ID: 7607147DOI: 10.1111/j.2042-3306.1995.tb03050.xGoogle Scholar: Lookup
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- Journal Article
Summary
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The study investigates the impact of training on the breaking strength of the metacarpal bone in race horses. The results showed that increased training time significantly increased the size of the bone in certain dimensions, but it did not affect the bone’s overall breaking strength.
Experimental Procedure
- The study involved the testing of right third metacarpal bones taken from Thoroughbred horses aged from 24 to 48 months, which are in active race training.
- The bones were subjected to a failure-test under a 3-point bending procedure to determine their breaking strength.
- The team also estimated the neutral load axis of the bones and measured the distance from this axis to the outer dorsal cortical surface. This surface is the outermost layer of the bone facing the backbone side.
Measurements and Calculations
- Apart from the breaking strength, the researchers also measured the metacarpal bone’s dorsopalmar (front-to-back) and lateromedial (side-to-side) diameters at the middle of the bone shaft.
- The cortical (hard outer layer of the bone) area and the medullary (inner softer part of the bone) diameters were also measured.
- The properties of the bones, such as the area moment of inertia (a measure of an object’s resistance to changes in its rotation rate), were calculated.
Findings
- The study demonstrated significant correlations between the length of time in training and certain physical properties of the bone, including the dorsopalmar bone diameter, cortical area, and area moment of inertia.
- Linear models were created which showed a direct relationship between these 3 variables and the number of months in training.
Conclusions
- The research concluded that increased duration in race training resulted in a significant increase in the size of the dorsopalmar bone diameter, the area of the cortical, and the area moment of inertia.
- However, the study also found that the breaking strength of the metacarpal bones was not affected by training. This conclusion indicates that while training can cause certain physical changes to the bones, it does not increase their capacity to resist breaking under strain.
Cite This Article
APA
Sherman KM, Miller GJ, Wronski TJ, Colahan PT, Brown M, Wilson W.
(1995).
The effect of training on equine metacarpal bone breaking strength.
Equine Vet J, 27(2), 135-139.
https://doi.org/10.1111/j.2042-3306.1995.tb03050.x Publication
Researcher Affiliations
- Department of Large Animal Clinical Sciences, College of Veterinary Medicine, University of Florida, Gainesville 32610-0136, USA.
MeSH Terms
- Age Factors
- Animals
- Female
- Fractures, Bone / etiology
- Fractures, Bone / veterinary
- Horse Diseases / etiology
- Horses
- In Vitro Techniques
- Linear Models
- Male
- Metacarpus / injuries
- Physical Conditioning, Animal / physiology
- Sex Factors
- Tensile Strength / physiology
- Time Factors
Citations
This article has been cited 4 times.- Fan YL, Xu HY, Xia MY, Zhang W, Wen HL, Gao LB, Pei YH. Biomechanical evaluation of axial-loading simulated experiment in wrist fractures: a finite element analysis.. J Int Med Res 2020 Oct;48(10):300060520966884.
- Rosanowski SM, Chang YM, Stirk AJ, Verheyen KLP. Risk factors for race-day fatality in flat racing Thoroughbreds in Great Britain (2000 to 2013).. PLoS One 2018;13(3):e0194299.
- Robles M, Gautier C, Mendoza L, Peugnet P, Dubois C, Dahirel M, Lejeune JP, Caudron I, Guenon I, Camous S, Tarrade A, Wimel L, Serteyn D, Bouraima-Lelong H, Chavatte-Palmer P. Maternal Nutrition during Pregnancy Affects Testicular and Bone Development, Glucose Metabolism and Response to Overnutrition in Weaned Horses Up to Two Years.. PLoS One 2017;12(1):e0169295.
- Firth EC. The response of bone, articular cartilage and tendon to exercise in the horse.. J Anat 2006 Apr;208(4):513-26.
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