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Home / Equine Research Bank / Animals (Basel) / The Impact of Circular Exercise Diameter on Bone and Joint H...
Animals : an open access journal from MDPI2022; 12(11); 1379; doi: 10.3390/ani12111379

The Impact of Circular Exercise Diameter on Bone and Joint Health of Juvenile Animals.

Abstract: Circular exercise is used in many equestrian disciplines and this study aimed to determine if circle diameter impacts juvenile animal forelimb bone and joint health. On day 0, 24 calves at 9 weeks of age were assigned the following exercise treatments: small circle (12 m clockwise), large circle (18-m clockwise), treadmill, or non-exercised control. Exercise was initiated at 1.1−1.5 m/s for 5 min/d and increased 5 min weekly until reaching 30 min/d. On day 49, synovial fluid was collected from multiple joints, cartilage was collected from the proximal surface of fused third and fourth metacarpi (MC III and IV), and forelimbs underwent computed tomography scans. A statistical analysis (PROC mixed) was performed in SAS 9.4. The inside leg of the small circle treatment had a larger MC III and IV dorsopalmar external diameter than the outside (p = 0.05). The medial proximal phalanx had a greater mediolateral diameter than the lateral proximal phalanx of the small circle treatment (p = 0.01). Fetlock nitric oxide was greater in the large circle and treadmill treatments (p < 0.0001). Cartilage glycosaminoglycan concentration was greater in the outside leg of the small circle exercise treatment than the inside leg (p = 0.03). Even at slow speeds, circular exercise diameter can impact joint and bone health, but faster speeds may have greater alterations.
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Publication Date: 2022-05-27 PubMed ID: 35681842PubMed Central: PMC9179390DOI: 10.3390/ani12111379Google 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.

The research article investigates how different diameters of circular exercise impact the bone and joint health of juvenile animals, using calves as a subject. The study finds that different diameters do indeed have different impacts, potentially posing risks or benefits to the animal’s development.

Introduction to the Research

  • The study’s premise was based on understanding the impact of circular exercises on bone and joint health in juvenile animals. This topic was considered interesting due to the prevalent practice of using circular exercise in various equestrian disciplines.
  • The researchers manipulated the circle diameter during the exercise regime to see if that variable had any effect on the juvenile animal’s bones and joints. The diameters used were small circle (12 m clockwise), large circle (18 m clockwise), treadmill, or non-exercise control.
  • A total of 24 calves, all 9 weeks old, were used as subjects for the study. The exercise regime started at a low-intensity pace of 1.1−1.5 m/s for five minutes a day. This time was increased weekly by five minutes until it reached 30 minutes a day.
  • The research spanned over a period of 49 days.

Methodology and Results

  • On the 49th day, the researchers collected synovial fluid from multiple joints, cartilage from the proximal surface of third and fourth metacarpi (MC III and IV), and carried out computed tomography scans on the forelimbs. This data collection helped in assessing the impact of different exercise regimes on the subject animals’ bone and joint health.
  • The statistical analysis was carried out using the PROC mixed method in SAS 9.4.
  • The study found that the inside leg of the calves that underwent the small circle treatment exhibited larger MC III and IV dorsopalmar external diameter when compared to the outside leg.
  • Additionally, the medial proximal phalanx was larger in terms of mediolateral diameter than the lateral proximal phalanx in calves that underwent the small circle treatment. Furthermore, fetlock nitric oxide was greater in both the large circle and treadmill treatments.
  • The concentration of glycosaminoglycan in the cartilage was found to be greater in the outside leg of the small circle exercise treatment than the inside leg.
  • The study concludes that even at slow speeds, the diameter of the circular exercise can impact the joint and bone health of juvenile animals.
  • However, it is also hinted that faster speeds may induce greater alterations in bone and joint health.

Cite This Article

APA
Logan AA, Nielsen BD, Hiney KM, Robison CI, Manfredi JM, Buskirk DD, Popovich JM. (2022). The Impact of Circular Exercise Diameter on Bone and Joint Health of Juvenile Animals. Animals (Basel), 12(11), 1379. https://doi.org/10.3390/ani12111379

Publication

Animals : an open access journal from MDPI
ISSN: 2076-2615
NlmUniqueID: 101635614
Country: Switzerland
Language: English
Volume: 12
Issue: 11
PII: 1379

Researcher Affiliations

Logan, Alyssa A
  • Department of Animal Science, Michigan State University, 474 S. Shaw Ln., East Lansing, MI 48824, USA.
Nielsen, Brian D
  • Department of Animal Science, Michigan State University, 474 S. Shaw Ln., East Lansing, MI 48824, USA.
Hiney, Kristina M
  • Department of Animal and Food Sciences, Oklahoma State University, 201J Animal Sciences, Stillwater, OK 74074, USA.
Robison, Cara I
  • Department of Animal Science, Michigan State University, 474 S. Shaw Ln., East Lansing, MI 48824, USA.
Manfredi, Jane M
  • Department of Pathobiology and Diagnostic Investigation, Michigan State University, 784 Wilson Rd., East Lansing, MI 48824, USA.
Buskirk, Daniel D
  • Department of Animal Science, Michigan State University, 474 S. Shaw Ln., East Lansing, MI 48824, USA.
Popovich, John M
  • Center for Neuromusculoskeletal Clinical Research, Department of Osteopathic Manipulative Medicine, Michigan State University, 965 Wilson Rd., B439, East Lansing, MI 48824, USA.

Grant Funding

  • (AA-19-034) / Michigan Alliance for Animal Agriculture

Conflict of Interest Statement

The authors declare no conflict of interest. The funders had no role in the design of the study; in the collection, analyses, or interpretation of data; in the writing of the manuscript, or in the decision to publish the results.

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Citations

This article has been cited 2 times.
  1. Logan AA, Snyder AJ, Nielsen BD. Circle Diameter Impacts Stride Frequency and Forelimb Stance Duration at Various Gaits in Horses.. Sensors (Basel) 2023 Apr 24;23(9).
    doi: 10.3390/s23094232pubmed: 37177435google scholar: lookup
  2. Nielsen BD. A Review of Three Decades of Research Dedicated to Making Equine Bones Stronger: Implications for Horses and Humans.. Animals (Basel) 2023 Feb 22;13(5).
    doi: 10.3390/ani13050789pubmed: 36899647google scholar: lookup
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