Response of the Thoroughbred Forelimb to Perturbations Caused by a Change in Ground Surface

•A model of the Thoroughbred forelimb tested strain of the tendons and ligaments.•Responses of the suspensory tissues to changes in the riding surface were calculated.•Horses were ridden on a baseline sand surface, and across two perturbation surfaces.•Proximal limb was more compliant in the perturb...

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Veröffentlicht in:Journal of equine veterinary science 2022-05, Vol.112, p.103897-103897, Article 103897
Hauptverfasser: Bardin, Alienor L., Taylor, Nila C., Robert Colborne, G.
Format: Artikel
Sprache:eng
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Zusammenfassung:•A model of the Thoroughbred forelimb tested strain of the tendons and ligaments.•Responses of the suspensory tissues to changes in the riding surface were calculated.•Horses were ridden on a baseline sand surface, and across two perturbation surfaces.•Proximal limb was more compliant in the perturbed stance phase in the hard surface.•Distal limb was more flexed and more strained in response to the soft perturbation. Thoroughbred racehorses are often affected by musculoskeletal injuries, leading to involuntary rest, early retirement or death. Hardness and consistency of the track surface have been implicated as major risk factors for limb injury. The purpose was to test the utility of a preliminary AnyBody musculoskeletal model of the equine forelimb for its responses on two perturbing surfaces. A musculoskeletal model was developed using CT, muscle, tendon and ligament properties, and kinematic data were applied from ridden trials using five Thoroughbred horses. Horses were ridden at trot and canter on a baseline sand surface, and through two perturbation pits containing a harder and a softer surface for one stance phase. In response to the hard perturbation, the proximal limb was more compliant at trot and canter, as measured by increased shoulder flexion in the perturbed stance phase and increased elbow and carpal flexion in the subsequent swing phase. The suspensory ligaments and muscle-tendon units were less strained while lacertus fibrosus was more strained. In response to the soft perturbation, the coffin joint was more flexed and the elbow was more extended in the acute stance phase at trot, resulting in increased strain to the DDF, extensor branches and lacertus fibrosus. At canter, the coffin was more flexed, the fetlock less hyperextended and so the suspensory structures were less strained in the perturbed stance phase, but more strained in the second stance phase. Changes in ground surface affect both the perturbed stance phase, and the following stance phase.
ISSN:0737-0806
1542-7412
DOI:10.1016/j.jevs.2022.103897