International Society of Biomechanics in Sports (ISBS)
Abstract
The purpose of this study was to investigate the forces placed on the lower limbs of jockeys during riding and to determine whether these were comparable to the impact forces associated with traditional weight bearing activities such as walking and running. Evaluation of these forces will allow isolation of the key causes of the previously reported high incidence of low bone mineral density (BMD) associated with this population and indicate as to whether a lack of weight bearing exercise is a causative factor in this phenomenon. Eight apprentice jockeys completed 6 different activities including walking, running and riding (walk, trot, canter, gallop), where accelerometry data was collected to determine the amount of impact loading applied to the lower limbs. The impact accelerations of the lower limbs in horse riding were significantly lower than those seen in running (
