Water treadmill exercise reduces equine limb segmental accelerations and increases shock attenuation
Abstract Background Equine water treadmills (WTs) are growing in popularity because they are believed to allow for high resistance, low impact exercise. However, little is known about the effect of water height on limb loading. The aim of this study was to evaluate the effect of water height and spe...
| Main Authors: | , , , |
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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BMC
2019-09-01
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| Series: | BMC Veterinary Research |
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| Online Access: | http://link.springer.com/article/10.1186/s12917-019-2075-6 |
| _version_ | 1818994097093869568 |
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| author | Persephone Greco-Otto Michael Baggaley W. B. Edwards Renaud Léguillette |
| author_facet | Persephone Greco-Otto Michael Baggaley W. B. Edwards Renaud Léguillette |
| author_sort | Persephone Greco-Otto |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Abstract Background Equine water treadmills (WTs) are growing in popularity because they are believed to allow for high resistance, low impact exercise. However, little is known about the effect of water height on limb loading. The aim of this study was to evaluate the effect of water height and speed on segmental acceleration and impact attenuation during WT exercise in horses. Three uniaxial accelerometers (sampling rate: 2500 Hz) were secured on the left forelimb (hoof, mid-cannon, mid-radius). Horses walked at two speeds (S1: 0.83 m/s, S2: 1.39 m/s) and three water heights (mid-cannon, carpus, stifle), with a dry WT control. Peak acceleration of each segment was averaged over five strides, attenuation was calculated, and stride frequency was estimated by the time between successive hoof contacts. Linear mixed effects models were used to examine the effects of water height, speed, and accelerometer location on peak acceleration, attenuation and stride frequency (p < 0.05). Results Peak acceleration at all locations was lower with water of any height compared to the dry control (p < 0.0001). Acceleration was reduced with water at the height of the stifle compared to mid-cannon water height (p = 0.02). Water at the height of the stifle attenuated more impact than water at the height of the cannon (p = 0.0001). Conclusions Water immersion during treadmill exercise reduced segmental accelerations and increased attenuation in horses. WT exercise may be beneficial in the rehabilitation of lower limb injuries in horses. |
| first_indexed | 2024-12-20T20:52:32Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-e58bc146f17743b2ac40548e1441f1c7 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 1746-6148 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-12-20T20:52:32Z |
| publishDate | 2019-09-01 |
| publisher | BMC |
| record_format | Article |
| series | BMC Veterinary Research |
| spelling | doaj.art-e58bc146f17743b2ac40548e1441f1c72022-12-21T19:26:54ZengBMCBMC Veterinary Research1746-61482019-09-0115111010.1186/s12917-019-2075-6Water treadmill exercise reduces equine limb segmental accelerations and increases shock attenuationPersephone Greco-Otto0Michael Baggaley1W. B. Edwards2Renaud Léguillette3Department of Veterinary Clinical and Diagnostic Sciences, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of CalgaryHuman Performance Lab, Faculty of Kinesiology, University of CalgaryHuman Performance Lab, Faculty of Kinesiology, University of CalgaryDepartment of Veterinary Clinical and Diagnostic Sciences, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of CalgaryAbstract Background Equine water treadmills (WTs) are growing in popularity because they are believed to allow for high resistance, low impact exercise. However, little is known about the effect of water height on limb loading. The aim of this study was to evaluate the effect of water height and speed on segmental acceleration and impact attenuation during WT exercise in horses. Three uniaxial accelerometers (sampling rate: 2500 Hz) were secured on the left forelimb (hoof, mid-cannon, mid-radius). Horses walked at two speeds (S1: 0.83 m/s, S2: 1.39 m/s) and three water heights (mid-cannon, carpus, stifle), with a dry WT control. Peak acceleration of each segment was averaged over five strides, attenuation was calculated, and stride frequency was estimated by the time between successive hoof contacts. Linear mixed effects models were used to examine the effects of water height, speed, and accelerometer location on peak acceleration, attenuation and stride frequency (p < 0.05). Results Peak acceleration at all locations was lower with water of any height compared to the dry control (p < 0.0001). Acceleration was reduced with water at the height of the stifle compared to mid-cannon water height (p = 0.02). Water at the height of the stifle attenuated more impact than water at the height of the cannon (p = 0.0001). Conclusions Water immersion during treadmill exercise reduced segmental accelerations and increased attenuation in horses. WT exercise may be beneficial in the rehabilitation of lower limb injuries in horses.http://link.springer.com/article/10.1186/s12917-019-2075-6EquineAccelerometryWater treadmillSports medicine |
| spellingShingle | Persephone Greco-Otto Michael Baggaley W. B. Edwards Renaud Léguillette Water treadmill exercise reduces equine limb segmental accelerations and increases shock attenuation BMC Veterinary Research Equine Accelerometry Water treadmill Sports medicine |
| title | Water treadmill exercise reduces equine limb segmental accelerations and increases shock attenuation |
| title_full | Water treadmill exercise reduces equine limb segmental accelerations and increases shock attenuation |
| title_fullStr | Water treadmill exercise reduces equine limb segmental accelerations and increases shock attenuation |
| title_full_unstemmed | Water treadmill exercise reduces equine limb segmental accelerations and increases shock attenuation |
| title_short | Water treadmill exercise reduces equine limb segmental accelerations and increases shock attenuation |
| title_sort | water treadmill exercise reduces equine limb segmental accelerations and increases shock attenuation |
| topic | Equine Accelerometry Water treadmill Sports medicine |
| url | http://link.springer.com/article/10.1186/s12917-019-2075-6 |
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