Ultrasound evaluation of digital flexor tendons of jumping horses undergoing treadmill training.
Abstract: This study aimed to perform ultrasonographic evaluation of the digital flexor tendons of jumping horses undergoing complementary training on a treadmill. Fifteen Brazilian Sport horses were divided into two groups: Group I with 7 animals in physical training complementary to the standard training at the Brazilian Army's Riding School; and Group II with 8 animals in standard training used in the Brazilian Army's Riding School. Complementary training was performed on a treadmill on an inclined plane. Ultrasonographic images were taken at the beginning and at the end of training. The left thoracic and pelvic limbs of horses were evaluated for echogenicity values and cross-sectional areas of the superficial digital flexor tendons (SDFTs) and deep digital flexor tendons (DDFTs) in zones IA, IIB, and IIIB. The mean areas of the SDFT were 93.7 mm and 95.8 mm at the beginning and the end of training, respectively. The cross-sectional area of DDFT increased from 124.6 mm at the beginning of training to 136.8 mm at the end of training. The echogenicity values of both tendons were between 0 and 1 as expected, concluding that clinically, the animals showed adaptation to the exercise protocol with no signs of tendon injury being detected, implying that traditional training and complementary training are safe. Esta pesquisa teve como objetivo proceder avaliações ultrassonográficas dos tendões flexores digitais de equinos em treinamento complementar em esteira ergométrica. Foram utilizados 15 equinos da raça Brasileiros de Hipismo (BH), divididos em dois grupos: Grupo I, com sete animais em treinamento físico complementar ao treinamento padrão da Escola de Equitação do Exército; Grupo II, com oito animais em treinamento padrão utilizados na Escola de Equitação do Exército. O treinamento complementar foi executado na esteira ergométrica, em plano inclinado. As imagens ultrassonográficas foram realizadas no início e no final do treinamento. Foram avaliados os membros locomotores torácico e pélvico esquerdos dos equinos quanto a ecogenicidade e a área da seção transversal dos tendões flexores digitais superficiais (TFDS) e tendões flexores digitais profundos (TFDP), nas zonas IA, IIB e IIIB. A média da área dos TFDS foi de 93,7 mm e de 95,8 mm, no início e no final do treinamento, respectivamente. O DDFT apresentou um aumento da área da seção transversa, de 124,6 mm no início do treinamento e, de 136,8 mm no final do treinamento. A ecogenicidade de ambos os tendões se apresentou entre 0 e 1, como esperado, concluindo-se que clinicamente os animais apresentaram adaptação ao exercício atribuído, não sendo detectados sinais de lesões tendíneas, qualificando o treinamento tradicional e o treinamento complementar como seguros.
Copyright Buzzetti et al.
Publication Date: 2022-04-12 PubMed ID: 35749103PubMed Central: PMC9179202DOI: 10.29374/2527-2179.bjvm004421Google Scholar: Lookup
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Summary
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The research studied the effects of treadmill training on the digital flexor tendons of jumping horses using ultrasound. The study concludes that both traditional and complementary treadmill exercises were safe for the horses as they showed no signs of injury.
Introduction
- This study involved fifteen Brazilian Sport horses which were analyzed for the impact of standard and complementary physical training on their superficial digital flexor tendons (SDFTs) and deep digital flexor tendons (DDFTs).
- These horses were divided into two groups – Group I (7 horses) underwent standard plus complementary physical training, and Group II (8 horses) underwent only standard physical training at the Brazilian Army’s Riding School.
Methodology
- The complementary training was performed on a treadmill on an inclined plane.
- Ultrasonographic imaging was carried out at the start and end of the training period to evaluate the impact of the training on their tendons.
- Specific attention was given to the echogenicity values (quantitative ultrasound attribute that establishes the brightness levels of an image) and cross-sectional areas of the SDFTs and DDFTs in zones IA, IIB, and IIIB of the left thoracic and pelvic limbs.
Findings
- The average areas of the SDFT were found to be 93.7 mm at the start and 95.8 mm at the end of training.
- The cross-sectional area of DDFT increased from 124.6 mm at the beginning of training to 136.8 mm by the end of the training period.
- The echogenicity values for both types of tendons remained within the normal ranges i.e., between 0 and 1 throughout the training period.
Conclusion
- Based on the ultrasonographic evaluations, it was concluded that the horses showed good adaptation to the prescribed exercise regimen.
- No signs of tendon injuries were detected in any of the horses, implying that both traditional and complementary training exercises can be safely implemented for these animals.
Cite This Article
APA
Buzzetti AP, Nothaft IT, Paganela JC, Franzan BC, Braga GI, Barreira APB, de Lima LR, de Almeida FQ.
(2022).
Ultrasound evaluation of digital flexor tendons of jumping horses undergoing treadmill training.
Braz J Vet Med, 44, e004421.
https://doi.org/10.29374/2527-2179.bjvm004421 Publication
Researcher Affiliations
- Veterinarian, MSc. Curso de Pós-Graduação em Medicina Veterinária, Departamento de Medicina e Cirurgia Veterinária (DMCV), Instituto de Veterinária (IV), Universidade Federal Rural do Rio de Janeiro (UFRRJ). Campus Seropédica, RJ, Brazil.
- Veterinarian, MSc. Curso de Pós-Graduação em Medicina Veterinária, Departamento de Medicina e Cirurgia Veterinária (DMCV), Instituto de Veterinária (IV), Universidade Federal Rural do Rio de Janeiro (UFRRJ). Campus Seropédica, RJ, Brazil.
- Veterinarian, EquiClinic, Rio de Janeiro, RJ, Brazil.
- Animal Scientist, DSc. Programa de Pós-Graduação em Ciência Animal. Instituto de Ciência Animal, UFRRJ, Campus Seropédica, RJ, Brazil.
- Veterinarian, MSc. Curso de Pós-Graduação em Medicina Veterinária, Departamento de Medicina e Cirurgia Veterinária (DMCV), Instituto de Veterinária (IV), Universidade Federal Rural do Rio de Janeiro (UFRRJ). Campus Seropédica, RJ, Brazil.
- Veterinarian, DSc. DMCV, IV, UFRRJ. Campus Seropédica, RJ, Brazil.
- Veterinarian, DSc. DMCV, IV, UFRRJ. Campus Seropédica, RJ, Brazil.
- Veterinarian, DSc. DMCV, IV, UFRRJ. Campus Seropédica, RJ, Brazil.
Conflict of Interest Statement
Conflict of interests: APB, ITN, JCP, ICF, GIB, APBB, LRL and FQA - No conflict of interest
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