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Home / Equine Research Bank / Equine Vet J / The effects of treadmill inclination and speed on the activi...
Equine veterinary journal2000; 32(4); 312-317; doi: 10.2746/042516400777032246

The effects of treadmill inclination and speed on the activity of two hindlimb muscles in the trotting horse.

Abstract: Electromyographic activity (EMG) was used to determine how hindlimb muscle activation patterns vary with speed and incline in the horse. EMG was recorded using surface electrodes over the gluteus medius and tensor fasciae latae muscles during treadmill locomotion at trot for different combinations of speed (3.5 to 6 m/s) and inclination (0, 3 and 6%). Raw EMG signals were processed to determine stride duration, activity onset and end, and integrated EMG (IEMG). Stride and stance phase duration decreased linearly with increasing speed. Stride duration was not influenced by the slope. Onset and end of muscle activity came significantly earlier in the stride cycle when speed increased and later when inclination changed from 0 to 6%. The relative duration of the burst (percentage of stride duration) increased as running speed increased, but tended to decrease with increasing slope. The IEMG of the muscles increased with increasing speed and slope, the largest increase being observed in the tensorfasciae latae. It is concluded that both increases in speed and inclination lead to an increase in the integrated electromyographic activity and hence to a higher workload of the 2 hindlimb muscles investigated.
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Publication Date: 2000-08-22 PubMed ID: 10952380DOI: 10.2746/042516400777032246Google Scholar: Lookup
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  • Journal Article

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 article presents a study investigating the impact of treadmill speed and inclination on the activity of two particular hindlimb muscles – the gluteus medius and tensor fasciae latae – in trotting horses.

Methodology

  • The authors used Electromyographic activity (EMG) to understand how muscle activation patterns in horses’ hindlimbs differ with changes in speed and incline.
  • Surface electrodes were employed to record EMG over the gluteus medius and tensor fasciae latae muscles while horses trotted on a treadmill with varying speeds (3.5 to 6 m/s) and inclinations (0, 3 and 6%).
  • The raw EMG signals were then processed for stride duration, activity onset, activity end, and integrated EMG (IEMG).

Findings

  • As speed increased, the duration of stride and stance phases decreased linearly.
  • Stride duration was not influenced by variations in slope.
  • Interestingly, the onset and termination of muscle activity happened significantly earlier in the stride cycle with an increase in speed, while they happened later when the treadmill’s inclination changed from 0 to 6%.
  • The relative duration of the muscle activation (expressed as a percentage of the stride duration) rose with increased running speed but seemed to decrease with a rising slope.
  • The IEMG for both muscles studied showed an increase with increasing speed and treadmill incline, with the tensor fasciae latae muscle witnessing the most significant increase.

Conclusion

  • The research concluded that increasing both speed and inclination leads to higher integrated electromyographic activity, thus implying a higher workload for the gluteus medius and tensor fasciae latae muscles in trotting horses.
  • This study provides vital insights into understanding the dynamic changes in muscle activities in response to exercise intensity, which can help in formulating appropriate training regimes for horses.

Cite This Article

APA
Robert C, Valette JP, Denoix JM. (2000). The effects of treadmill inclination and speed on the activity of two hindlimb muscles in the trotting horse. Equine Vet J, 32(4), 312-317. https://doi.org/10.2746/042516400777032246

Publication

Equine veterinary journal
ISSN: 0425-1644
NlmUniqueID: 0173320
Country: United States
Language: English
Volume: 32
Issue: 4
Pages: 312-317

Researcher Affiliations

Robert, C
  • UMR INRA-Biomécanique du Cheval, UP Anatomie, Ecole Nationale Vétérinaire d'Alfort, Maisons-Alfort, France.
Valette, J P
    Denoix, J M

      MeSH Terms

      • Animals
      • Electromyography / veterinary
      • Exercise Test
      • Hindlimb / physiology
      • Horses / physiology
      • Muscle, Skeletal / physiology
      • Running / physiology

      Citations

      This article has been cited 16 times.
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      10. Takahashi T, Matsui A, Mukai K, Ohmura H, Hiraga A, Aida H. The Effects of Inclination (Up and Down) of the Treadmill on the Electromyogram Activities of the Forelimb and Hind limb Muscles at a Walk and a Trot in Thoroughbred Horses. J Equine Sci 2014;25(4):73-7.
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      12. St George L, Nankervis K, Walker V, Maddock C, Robinson A, Sinclair J, Hobbs SJ. A Feasibility Study to Determine Whether Neuromuscular Adaptations to Equine Water Treadmill Exercise Can Be Detected Using Synchronous Surface Electromyography and Kinematic Data. Animals (Basel) 2025 Nov 1;15(21).
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      13. Bogossian PM, Pereira JS, da Silva NF, Hilgert AR, Seidel SRT, Fülber J, Belli CB, Fernandes WR. Social facilitation of trotting: Can horses perceive and adapt to the movement of another horse?. PLoS One 2024;19(8):e0309474.
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      14. Takahashi Y, Takahashi T, Mukai K, Ebisuda Y, Ohmura H. Changes in muscle activation with graded surfaces during canter in Thoroughbred horses on a treadmill. PLoS One 2024;19(6):e0305622.
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      15. Fair N, Blake S, Blake R. Four Weeks of Incline Water Treadmill Exercise Can Contribute to Increase Epaxial Muscle Profile in Horses. Vet Med Int 2023;2023:9090406.
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      16. St George LB, Clayton HM, Sinclair JK, Richards J, Roy SH, Hobbs SJ. Electromyographic and Kinematic Comparison of the Leading and Trailing Fore- and Hindlimbs of Horses during Canter. Animals (Basel) 2023 May 25;13(11).
        doi: 10.3390/ani13111755pubmed: 37889657google scholar: lookup
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