06/27/2022
πΈπͺπΈπͺ ICEEP RESEARCH πΈπͺπΈπͺ presented by Victoria Walker
EFFECT OF WALKING OVER GROUND AND RAISED POLES VERSUS NO POLES ON EQUINE LIMB AND BACK KINEMATICS
V. Walker, R. Murray, R. MacKechnie-guire, J. Spear, R. Newton and C. Tranquille
Walking over raised-poles (RP) is often recommended for equine rehabilitation and strengthening, but there is limited information on movement patterns in horses walking over poles. 41 horses (mean age Β± SD:9Β±5 yrs; mean height Β± SD:148Β±12 cm) deemed clinically sound by an orthopaedic specialist, wore 36 hemispherical markers at predetermined sites, and inertial-measurement-units (IMUs) fixed to the poll/withers/tuber coxae (TC)/sacrum. Three lanes were set- up in a waxed-sand-fibre surface arena: (1) no poles (NP); (2) five ground-poles (GP); (3) five RP. Horses walked in-hand four times down each lane at their own comfortable pace; half started with NP and the other half started over RP in randomised order. High-speed-motion-capture (240 Hz) and digital-image-analysis software were used to measure limb joint angles at mid-stance and mid-swing. Spinal kinematics were determined using IMU data. Descriptive statistics, and univariable/multivariable-mixed-effects-linear-regression analyses were performed, with horse included as a random effect term to account within animal repeated measures; a significance value of Pβ€0.05 was used. A significant increase in joint range-of-motion (increase 0.6-60.8Β°/joint) and mid-swing flexion of the fetlock, carpus, elbow, shoulder, tarsus, stifle and hip (increase 2-34Β°/joint) when walking over GP/RP compared to NP. The withers/sacrum/left and right TCs moved significantly more in a mediolateral direction and significantly less in a craniocaudal direction when walking over GP/RP compared to NP (Pβ€0.0001 for all variables). The changes over GP/RP may be due to stepping up over the poles: increasing limb flexion, increasing lateral bend and inducing rotation/tilting of the pelvis. This information can help direct rehabilitation/training programmes.