Abstract
This study aimed to evaluate the influence of the track surface on which horses are examined, regarding the phase of lameness presentation. Ten horses with lameness in at least one limb were evaluated with wireless inertial sensors on three track surfaces (concrete, loose sand and grass). Six crossover track sequences were established. The variables vector sum, maximum and minimum height of the head and pelvis, variation coefficient of the maximum and minimum height of the head and pelvis were analyzed using ANOVA, followed by Tukey test to compare means between track surface and sequence, at 5% significance level. The lameness phase (impact or pushoff) was analyzed considering the proportion of affected animals. There were no differences on vector sum, maximum and minimum height or variation coefficient of head and pelvis. Difference was observed on the number of strides registered on sand compared to grass and concrete (p <0.0001) for fore and hindlimbs. Impact lameness on forelimbs was presented by a larger number of animals on the concrete surface; pushoff lameness was more evident on the grass surface. In the hindlimbs, impact lameness was more evident on the grass surface, while pushoff lameness was in greater number of animals on concrete surfaces. The track sequence on which horses were trotted during evaluation does not seem to be a factor, but the number of lame horses and the phase of lameness manifestation can vary between track surfaces, as some horses showed impact lameness on soft ground and elevation lameness on hard ground.
Highlights
Musculoskeletal injuries are a common health problem in athletic horses, and the lesions have a significant relationship with the sport discipline (Smith et al, 2011)
Evaluations of push-off lameness on the hindlimbs showed a higher number of lame horses on the concrete surface compared to grass and loose sand surfaces (26/22/9, respectively)
The present study aimed to investigate the possible influence of the track surface on which horses were examined over the impact and pushoff lameness when evaluated by a computerbased system with known efficiency and repeatability
Summary
Musculoskeletal injuries are a common health problem in athletic horses, and the lesions have a significant relationship with the sport discipline (Smith et al, 2011). Type and condition of track surface on which horses are exercised directly affect performance and predisposition to musculoskeletal injuries in these animals (Nigg and Segesser, 1988; Williams et al, 2001). Soft surfaces that allow a greater sinking/immersion of the hoof in the ground predispose to a high variety of soft tissue injuries that could be related to fatigue. Some of these injuries are fetlock desmitis of the suspensory ligament, superficial digital flexor tendonitis, inferior accessory ligament desmitis and gluteal myositis. Hard surfaces predispose to injuries like hoof, joint, bone lesions and pain in the axial skeleton (Maher and Snyder, 2011)
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