Electromyography activity of the equine splenius muscle and neck kinematics during walk and trot on the treadmill

Zsoldos, Rebeka R.; Kotschwar, A.; Groesel, M.; Licka, Theresia; Peham, Christian

doi:10.1111/j.2042-3306.2010.00263.x

Cited by 28 publications

(20 citation statements)

References 30 publications

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“…In contrast, Zsoldos et al. () found significant differences between the right and the left m. splenius, but we could not confirm these findings in this study.…”

Section: Discussioncontrasting

confidence: 99%

“…Our measurements were made over ground, not by using a treadmill (as Zsoldos et al. () did), because between these two forms of locomotion are only minor differences (Gomez Álvarez et al., ) and normal horses are used to walk over ground.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Their results are in full agreement with experimental studies: The m. brachiocephalicus was described as a muscle which primarily moves the front limb and shoulder forward (Tokuriki and Aoki, ; Tokuriki et al., ; Hodson‐Tole, ) but could also be used for flexion of the head (Hodson‐Tole, ). The m. splenius was identified as functional stabiliser of the head–neck against gravitational forces (Tokuriki and Aoki, ; Giovagnoli et al., ; Robert et al., ; Zsoldos et al., ). In addition, its activity seemed to be related to the elevation of the head on the neck (Robert et al., ; Zsoldos et al., ).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…The m. splenius was identified as functional stabiliser of the head–neck against gravitational forces (Tokuriki and Aoki, ; Giovagnoli et al., ; Robert et al., ; Zsoldos et al., ). In addition, its activity seemed to be related to the elevation of the head on the neck (Robert et al., ; Zsoldos et al., ). The m. trapezius is recorded in just one study (Robert et al., ) with very little information about its activity.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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The effect of three different head–neck positions on the average EMG activity of three important neck muscles in the horse

Kienapfel

2014

Animal Physiology Nutrition

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Summary The Knowledge of muscle activity in common head–neck positions (HNPs) is a necessary precondition for making judgements on HNPs. The aim of the study was to record the surface electromyography activities of important muscles of the horse's neck in various HNPs. The electrical activities of the m. splenius, brachiocephalicus and trapezius were recorded on both sides. Five horses, both with and without a rider, were examined in all three gaits on both hands in three different HNPs: a ‘free’ position, a ‘gathered’ (head higher, neck more flexed) position with the noseline in front of the vertical and a ‘hyperflexed’ position. Averages of ten consecutive gait cycles in each HNP were evaluated and compared by standard statistical methods. No difference between ridden and unridden horses could be detected. The m. brachiocephalicus was in the hyperflexed position in all gaits significantly (p < 0.01) more active than in the gathered and free position, which were not significantly different. By contrast, the m. splenius was in the hyperflexed position less active than in the free position (p < 0.02), in which it always showed the highest activity. In walking, the muscle activities in the free and gathered positions deviated significantly (p < 0.01). The m. trapezius was in the hyperflexed posture during walking significantly less active than in the free (p < 0.01) and gathered (p < 0.01) positions with the strongest activities in the free position. Again, the free and gathered positions differed significantly (p < 0.01). In trot, the same pattern occured, although the gathered and hyperflexed positions did not differ significantly. In the canter, the activities of the m. trapezius showed no differences between HNPs. In HNPs with the noseline in front of the vertical, the muscles of the topline (m. splenius, m. trapezius) are activated and trained. In the hyperflexed position, however, a major muscle of the lower topline (m. brachiocephalicus) is activated and trained.

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“…In contrast, Zsoldos et al. () found significant differences between the right and the left m. splenius, but we could not confirm these findings in this study.…”

Section: Discussioncontrasting

confidence: 99%

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

See 2 more Smart Citations

The effect of three different head–neck positions on the average EMG activity of three important neck muscles in the horse

Kienapfel

2014

Animal Physiology Nutrition

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“…In vivo electromyography of the cervical musculature of walking horses showed that the splenius muscle exhibits bilateral activity during the single support stance of each forelimb [37][38][39], that is when head and neck reach the lowest position. It would seem that the activity pattern of this main dorsal muscle of the cervical spine is enough to induce the observed vertical motion of the head-neck unit.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Timing of head movements is consistent with energy minimization in walking ungulates

Loscher

Meyer

Kracht³

et al. 2016

Proc. R. Soc. B.

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Many ungulates show a conspicuous nodding motion of the head when walking. Until now, the functional significance of this behaviour remained unclear. Combining in vivo kinematics of quadrupedal mammals with a computer model, we show that the timing of vertical displacements of the head and neck is consistent with minimizing energy expenditure for carrying these body parts in an inverted pendulum walking gait. Varying the timing of head movements in the model resulted in increased metabolic cost estimate for carrying the head and neck of up to 63%. Oscillations of the head-neck unit result in weight force oscillations transmitted to the forelimbs. Advantageous timing increases the load in single support phases, in which redirecting the trajectory of the centre of mass (COM) is thought to be energetically inexpensive. During double support, in which-according to collision mechanics-directional changes of the impulse of the COM are expensive, the observed timing decreases the load. Because the head and neck comprise approximately 10% of body mass, the effect shown here should also affect the animals' overall energy expenditure. This mechanism, working analogously in high-tech backpacks for energy-saving load carriage, is widespread in ungulates, and provides insight into how animals economize locomotion. BackgroundThe majority of larger mammals use the quadruped walking gait as the main form of locomotion for travelling large distances [1][2][3][4][5]. Running gaits are used in bursts and for high-speed locomotion, e.g. for hunting and escaping, so an animal's life depends largely on the effective outputs of this behaviour. Nevertheless, it is the walking gait in which on average the most energy in absolute terms is consumed over an entire day [4,6,7]. As locomotion is an important energy-consuming factor for most mammals [4,[6][7][8], the main selective pressure shaping the walking gait used in slow locomotion should be energy efficiency rather than high performance.Many large mammals, such as horses, exhibit a conspicuous nodding of the head when walking. The head and neck of mammals form a highly mobile cantilever on the trunk that constitutes a substantial part of the animal's whole body mass. To date, biomechanical studies on the locomotion of quadrupedal mammals have focused almost exclusively on movements of the limbs and the trunk. The potentially energy-consuming effects of head movements relative to the trunk remain for the most part unexplored in large mammals, but have been shown to be significant in birds [9]. The few existing studies on head movements that accompany the quadrupedal mammalian walking gait [10][11][12][13][14], confirm that the head's kinematics are decoupled from the movements

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Electrodiagnostic Evaluation of the Nervous System

Strain¹,

Andrews²,

Lacombe³

2015

Equine Neurology

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Electromyography activity of the equine splenius muscle and neck kinematics during walk and trot on the treadmill

Cited by 28 publications

References 30 publications

The effect of three different head–neck positions on the average EMG activity of three important neck muscles in the horse

The effect of three different head–neck positions on the average EMG activity of three important neck muscles in the horse

Timing of head movements is consistent with energy minimization in walking ungulates

Electrodiagnostic Evaluation of the Nervous System

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