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Home / Equine Research Bank / J Anat / The equine hind limb is actively stabilized during standing.
Journal of anatomy2003; 202(4); 355-362; doi: 10.1046/j.1469-7580.2003.00166.x

The equine hind limb is actively stabilized during standing.

Abstract: Horses spend much of their life standing, and they are believed to be able to keep their limbs straight without muscular effort. We tested the hypothesis that the stifle (knee) and hock (tarsal) joints could be stabilized merely with the help of a passive lock mechanism whereby the patella is secured behind a hook, formed by the medial femoral trochlea. In anaesthetized animals and isolated limbs the stifle and hock flex readily under compression. In isolated limbs this collapse was prevented by a small force applied to the patella, mimicking the action of the vastus medialis muscle. In vivo, when the limb was planted loosely on the ground none of the muscles with a connection to the patella was active. However, during weight-bearing the vastus medialis (but no other muscle) was active, providing the necessary traction to stabilize the stifle. The required tension was estimated to be less than 2% of the force that would be needed in absence of a lock mechanism. Diagnosis and treatment of patellar fixation should include the possibility of overactive vastus medialis muscle as a possible cause of the disorder.
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Publication Date: 2003-05-13 PubMed ID: 12739613PubMed Central: PMC1571089DOI: 10.1046/j.1469-7580.2003.00166.xGoogle Scholar: Lookup
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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.

This research article investigates the biomechanics of horse standing, challenging the hypothesis that horses can maintain their posture with little to no muscular effort due to a passive lock mechanism in their knees and hocks. The study indicates that an active muscle, the vastus medialis, plays a significant role in limb stability.

Research Methodology and Overview

  • The researchers started by examining the premise that the equine stifle (knee) and hock (tarsal) joints could potentially be stabilized through a passive lock mechanism. This mechanism is where the patella (kneecap) is locked behind a hook formed by a part of the femur.
  • They tested this hypothesis by observing the limbs of anaesthetized horses and isolated limbs under pressure. The notion was that if the passive lock mechanism was solely responsible for stability, then these limbs would resist bending under applied force.

Research Findings

  • The results showed that in both sedated animals and isolated limbs, the knee and hock joints flexed under compression, contradicting the assumed passive stability.
  • In the case of the isolated limbs, the “collapse” was prevented by manually applying a small force, mimicking the action of the vastus medialis muscle. This muscle is connected to the patella, suggesting that it may play an active role in keeping the equine limb stable.
  • In live experiments, the researchers found that the vastus medialis muscle was active during weight-bearing, providing the required force to stabilize the knee. This action occurred in the absence of any notable activity in other muscles connected to the patella. The tension needed from the vastus medialis muscle to stabilize the joints was estimated to be less than 2% of the force needed if there was no ‘lock’ mechanism involved.

Implications of Findings

  • The findings suggest an active rather than passive process of stabilization in the equine hind limb. The idea that horses stand without muscular effort due to a locking mechanism is not completely accurate. Instead, active engagement of the vastus medialis muscle provides the necessary tension to stabilize the knee.
  • This research gives added insight into the diagnosis and treatment of patellar fixation disorders. Considering the role of the vastus medialis muscle in limb stability, the researchers propose that an overactive vastus medialis muscle could be a possible cause of this disorder.

Cite This Article

APA
Schuurman SO, Kersten W, Weijs WA. (2003). The equine hind limb is actively stabilized during standing. J Anat, 202(4), 355-362. https://doi.org/10.1046/j.1469-7580.2003.00166.x

Publication

Journal of anatomy
ISSN: 0021-8782
NlmUniqueID: 0137162
Country: England
Language: English
Volume: 202
Issue: 4
Pages: 355-362

Researcher Affiliations

Schuurman, Simon O
  • Department of Veterinary Anatomy and Physiology, PO Box 80157, 3508 TD Utrecht, Netherlands.
Kersten, Wim
    Weijs, Wim A

      MeSH Terms

      • Animals
      • Biomechanical Phenomena
      • Hindlimb / anatomy & histology
      • Hindlimb / physiology
      • Horses / anatomy & histology
      • Horses / physiology
      • Muscle, Skeletal / anatomy & histology
      • Muscle, Skeletal / physiology
      • Posture
      • Weight-Bearing

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      Citations

      This article has been cited 9 times.
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      3. St George LB, Spoormakers TJP, Smit IH, Hobbs SJ, Clayton HM, Roy SH, van Weeren PR, Richards J, Serra Bragança FM. Adaptations in equine appendicular muscle activity and movement occur during induced fore- and hindlimb lameness: An electromyographic and kinematic evaluation.. Front Vet Sci 2022;9:989522.
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      4. St George L, Clayton HM, Sinclair J, Richards J, Roy SH, Hobbs SJ. Muscle Function and Kinematics during Submaximal Equine Jumping: What Can Objective Outcomes Tell Us about Athletic Performance Indicators?. Animals (Basel) 2021 Feb 5;11(2).
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