Relation between type and local of orthopedic injuries with physical activity in horses

Abstract

Equine sport modalities influence the prevalence and predisposition of musculoskeletal injuries in horses. This study aimed to evaluate the prevalence of location and type of orthopedic injuries of horses undergoing various physical activities. Data from 116 horses of different breeds and ages was analyzed. Physical activities included dressage, racing, polo pony, jumping, work and western performance. All horses had history of orthopedic lameness diagnosed by radiographs and/or ultrasound scans. The effect of sport on the affected anatomical site and type of lesion was performed using Fisher's exact test. Desmitis was more prevalent in animals that performed western sports than in the working ones. The number of fractures was greater in racing and polo pony animals than in working horses. Stifle lesions were more prevalent in dressage horses than working horses and had lower occurrence of shoulder injuries than jumping horses. Hind limb tendon injuries were lower in jumping than in dressage and western horses. We conclude that there is a relationship between location and type of injury and physical activities. In racing horses there is a predominance of young animals and higher prevalence of orthopedic injuries from traumatic events such as tendonitis, desmitis and fractures. In physical activities that require longer training and that animals were used for longer periods, eg. jumping, polo pony, dressage and work, age-related degenerative, such as joint disease, were predominant. In western sport animals the most common lesion was desmitis. Regarding limbs, forelimb injures were more often observed in racing horses, polo pony, jumping and working animals; whereas, dressage and Western sports horses presented more injuries in hind limbs.

Ultrasound and clinical findings in the metacarpophalangeal joint assessment of show jumping horses in training

“…The most striking result that emerged was that some joints undergo a period of overload adaptation and exercise adjustment, while others may or may not progress to pre-osteoarthritis or osteoarthritis. The metacarpophalangeal joint was chosen as the object of study because it is known that this structure is frequently affected by osteoarthritis in jumping horses due to the stress applied to it and its wide range of motion [2,26]. Furthermore, it is particularly 9/14 https://vetsci.org https://doi.org/10.4142/jvs.2020.…”

“…Furthermore, it is particularly 9/14 https://vetsci.org https://doi.org/10.4142/jvs.2020. 21.e21 Physical and ultrasound examination in joint monitoring of athletic horses susceptible to chondral damage, especially on the dorsal surface, and it is also predisposed to ligament injuries due to hyperextension [2,26,27].…”

“…However, the lameness scores increased over time, which may indicate that some overload changes became permanent. The intensity and frequency of training of jumping horses, corresponding to a high degree of exercise performed by these animals, can significantly contribute to the development of joint injuries, and it is always necessary to respect and observe the recommended limits to maintain joint and tissue health [2,31]. The idea that some animals may not recover from the exercise adjustment phase and may develop pre-osteoarthritis and consequently osteoarthritis should be considered.…”

“…Among jumping horses, especially those that are trained for competitions, there is a high incidence of orthopedic injuries, including joint injuries. This high incidence of injuries can be explained by the high performance and the intense and long training times required for jumping horses involved in competitions [1,2]. Moreover, the repetitive trauma and impact resulting from the execution of jumping movements overload the distal structures of the thoracic limbs, and the metacarpophalangeal joints, flexor tendons and hooves are the areas that are most affected by injuries [2].…”

“…This high incidence of injuries can be explained by the high performance and the intense and long training times required for jumping horses involved in competitions [1,2]. Moreover, the repetitive trauma and impact resulting from the execution of jumping movements overload the distal structures of the thoracic limbs, and the metacarpophalangeal joints, flexor tendons and hooves are the areas that are most affected by injuries [2]. The metacarpophalangeal joint, which is commonly called the fetlock, is constantly subjected to maximum exertion, which causes a large amount of biomechanical stress during locomotion, resulting in frequent injury to the soft tissue and articular surface [3,4].…”