McCormick, Wanda D

Walker, Anna

York, Jessica

NECTAR

First described in the literature for horses by Auer in 19891, exercise on an aqua-treadmillhas increased in popularity as a mode of rehabilitation and therapy. Following this articlethere appears to be no further reference to an equine aqua-treadmill for over ten years2suggesting that aqua-treadmill practices are more anecdotal. It is well documented that thebiomechanics of equine treadmill locomotion differs to over ground locomotion3-6 butevidence to document the changes on an aqua-treadmill is increasingly being investigated.Recent studies have started to document kinematics of aqua-treadmill locomotion7-9. Jointsof the lower limb have been found to have an increased range of motion (ROM) when walkingin water and percentage duration of stance and swing phases have been found to decreaseand increase respectively7 and stride length has been found to increase with an increase inwater depth up to ulna level with a subsequent decrease in stride frequency8. Significantincreases in flexion and rotation of the back have been noted at increasing water depthswhile bending of the back was reduced at elbow and shoulder depth9.Control of locomotion aided with knowledge of the properties of water (buoyancy, viscosity,hydrostatic pressure, surface tension, specific gravity and temperature effects) shouldequate to constructive, specific and controlled therapeutic rehabilitation.This study aimed to investigate the effect of water depth on both forelimb and hindlimbmovement of the horse during aqua-treadmill exercise by:• Quantifying the vertical displacement of both the tuber sacrale and the withers of the horsein trot at a baseline level of water in the aqua-treadmill (mid-hoof).• Measuring vertical displacement of the tuber sacrale and the withers at increasing waterdepths up to mid knee.• Identifying effects of water depth on vertical pelvic displacement and vertical forelimbdisplacement.Vertical Displacement of theEquine Withers and Pelvis when Trotting on an Aqua-TreadmillJessica Yorkjessica.york@moulton.ac.ukSeventeen horses were habituated to aqua-treadmill exercise10. Horses were trotted on an aqua-treadmill at four different water depths that were specifically anatomically matched to eachindividual horse (third phalanx (P3) mid hoof, mid fetlock, mid third metacarpal (MC3), and mid carpus). Data were recorded using either an optical motion capture system (Qualisys©) N = 8or an inertial sensor system (Xsens©) N = 9. Markers for the motion capture system were located on the tuber sacrale, tuber coxae, withers and lumbar spine while sensors were located onthe tuber sacrale, tuber coxae, withers and poll. Data were cut into strides and displacement amplitudes calculated using custom written scripts (Matlab®) before undergoing statisticaltesting. Statistics: Two way ANOVA was carried out on displacement values of the tuber sacrale to identify the effect of increasing water depth (Fig 1). Two way ANOVA was carried out ondisplacement values of the withers to identify the effect of increasing water depth (Fig 2). Kruskal Wallis was used to establish the effect of depth on displacement symmetry (Fig 3).Introduction AimsMethodsResultsIncreasing water depth significantly effects vertical pelvicdisplacement (Fig 1) and vertical withers displacement (Fig 2).There is no significant effect of depth on displacement symmetry(withers p>0.05; tuber sacrale p>0.05) (Fig 3).DiscussionVertical Displacement of the pelvis and withers (Figs. 1 and 2)increased with increasing water depth suggesting that the horseworked harder to lift themself higher out of the water. This may agreewith a previous study where pelvic flexion was found to increase atincreasing water depths, although horses studied were walking nottrotting and a deeper water depth was used9. Horses became mostsymmetrical in the stride when the water was at Mid MC3 (Fig. 3) andleast symmetrical at Mid Carpus. Although this displacementsymmetry was not shown to be significant, likely due to the variedand low number of horses, the trend in the data is an importantconsideration when rehabilitating horses. Currently, no other studieshave investigated the symmetry of the trot on an aqua-treadmill.ConclusionVertical displacement of both the pelvis (tubersacrale) and withers increased significantlywith increasing water depth with an associatedtrend in displacement symmetry albeit notstatistically significant in the current study.Collecting data on anequine aqua-treadmillusing both Qualisys© (a)and Xsens© (b)(a) (b)Figure 1:  Vertical displacement of the tuber sacrale increases significantly from the baseline level of water at mid hoof (P3) to mid fetlock, mid MC3, and mid carpus (F=28.78, p<0.01). There is no evidence that there is an interaction between diagonal limb pair and the depth of the water (F=0.00, p=1).Figure 2: Vertical displacement of the withers increases significantly from thebaseline level of water at mid hoof (P3) to mid fetlock, mid MC3, and midcarpus (F=29.55, p<0.01). There is no evidence that there is an interactionbetween diagonal limb pair and the depth of the water (F=0.01, p=0.999).Further WorkUnderstanding how a horse moves on an aqua-treadmill is vitalfor tailoring specific therapy treatments in order to mostsuccessfully rehabilitate the horse from injury. Investigation toquantify the effects of increasing water depth on asymmetrichorses should be carried out to further inform and support itsapplication as a tool for rehabilitation.1. Auer, J. A., (1989) Physical therapy and rehabilitation. In: Jones, W. E., Equine Sports Medicine.  Malvern PA: Lea and Febiger, p249-251.2. Tokuriki, M., Ohtsuki, R., Kai, M., Hiraga, A., Oki, H., Miyahara, Y., and Aoki, O., (1999) EMG activity of the muscles of the neck and forelimbs during the different forms of locomotion.  Equine Veterinary Journal Supplement 30: 231-234.3. Buchner, H. H. F., Savelberg, H. H. C. M., Schamhardt, H. C., Merkens, H. W., and Barneveld, A., (1994a) Kinematics of Treadmill Versus Overground Locomotion in Horses.  The Veterinary Quarterly 16 Suppl. 2: 84-90.4. Buchner, H. H. F., Savelberg, H. H. C. M., Schamhardt, H. C., Merkens, H. W., and Barneveld, A., (1994b) Habituation of horses to treadmill locomotion.  Equine Veterinary Journal Supplement 17: 13-15.5. Leach, D. H., and Drevemo, S., (1991) Velocity-Dependent Changes in a Stride Frequency and Length of Trotters on a Treadmill.  Equine Exercise Physiology. 3: 136-140.6. Fredricson, S., Drevemo, S., Dalin, G., Hjertén, G., Björne, K., Rynde, R., and Franzen, G., (1983) Treadmill forEquine Locomotion Analysis.  Equine Veterinary Journal 15(2): 111-115.7. Mendez-Angulo, J. L., Firshman, A. M., Groschen, D. M., Kieffer, P. J., Trumble, T. N., (2013) Effect of water depth on amount of flexion and extension of joints of the distal aspects of the limbs in healthy horses walking on an underwater treadmill.  American Journal of Veterinary Research 74(4): 557-566.8. Scott, R., Nankervis, K., Stringer, C., Westcott, K., and Marlin, D., (2010) The effect of water height on stride frequency, stride length and heart rate during water treadmill exercise.  Equine Veterinary Journal 42 Supplement 38: 662-664.9. Mooij, M. J. W., Jans, W., den Heijer, de Pater, M., and Back, W., (2013) Biomechanical responses of the back of riding horses to water treadmill exercise.  The Veterinary Journal 198: 120-123.10. Nankervis, K. J., and Williams, R. J., (2006) Heart rate responses during acclimation of horses to water treadmill exercise. Equine Veterinary Journal Supplement 36: 110-112.ReferencesAcknowledgementsMany thanks to the Royal Veterinary College for the loan ofthe equipment and to the Thomas Harrison Trust at MoultonCollege for funding the project.5.98 5.97 5.777.306.00 5.74 5.656.06012345678910Mid Hoof (P3) Mid Fetlock Mid MC3  Mid CarpusDisplacement (mm)Water DepthChange in vertical displacement symmetry of the withers  and tuber sacrale with increasing water depthWithersTuber sacraleFigure 3: Displacement symmetry within a stride appears to increasefrom mid hoof (P3) to mid fetlock and to mid MC3. Symmetry appears todecrease between mid MC3 and Mid Carpus however, Kruskal Wallisrevealed no significant effect of depth on symmetry for the withers(H=0.97, p=0.808) or the tuber sacrale (H=0.26, p=0.967).Dr Wanda McCormickMoulton CollegeDr Anna WalkerRoyal Veterinary CollegeAn image to illustrate the vertical displacement of the tuber sacrale or ‘croup’,the highest point of the equine pelvis and axial skeleton in the hind limb.Image is taken from two frames in the same video clip.An image to illustrate the vertical displacement of the withers, the highestpoint of the axial skeleton in the forelimb. Image is taken from two frames inthe same video clip.

Vertical displacement of the equine withers and pelvis when trotting on an aqua-treadmill

http://nectar.northampton.ac.uk/9382/1/UoN%20Poster%20Comp%202015%20-%20JY.pdf

Vertical displacement of the equine withers and pelvis when trotting on an aqua-treadmill

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