Hi Group 2,
Welcome to Equine SEL sign off 2, 556AVN - Biomechanical assessment and exercise prescription.
In your group, using your allocated scenario, discuss a remedial exercise programme appropriate to your case and stage of repair, which would improve locomotion and proprioception. You are required to discuss the pros, cons of the chosen exercises and recommendations when performing these exercises. You all have from now until 5pm on Thursday 7th May to contribute to this blog. You must contribute to this blog to get your SEL signed off. Ensure that your entries are based on evidence and that you are reactive to one another to allow a good discussion of the topic. I will be keeping an eye on the blog, but if you have any issues, you should email me. Please ensure that you register your name with your comments so that I know who has written what.
Rosa
I think a good start would be dynamic mobilisation exercises, so baited stretches laterally, as this would help to improve the multifidus mm. (Stubbs et al., 2011), but also would act as a weight bearing exercise for the forelimbs, therefore helping to strengthen the triceps. What do you guys think?
ReplyDeleteThis comment has been removed by the author.
DeleteEmma Sharman
DeleteYes I agree. Oliverira et al (2015) supports this as they found that doing dynamic mobilisation exercises as well as pole work helped to increase stride length and tracking distance. They also found that doing these exercises strengthened the epaxial muscles. This could help our filly to be able to carry herself better and in turn move effectively that will allow the triceps and other muscles to strengthen correctly.
Good point Emma, these could be done over all 4 weeks and 6-7 times a week. During the first week, each exercise should be done twice on each side and held for up to 5 seconds, then during the second week, the frequency can be increased to 3 times per side. During the third week, the duration could be increased so each movement lasts 7 seconds and then in the final week, each exercise should be done 4 times on each side and held for 7 seconds.
DeleteIn hand walking - everyday - Week 1 - Changing surfaces (sand, gravel, concrete, etc), changing directions (figure 8s, patterns around obstacles, stop and starts, backing up, etc)
ReplyDeletePaulekas and Haussler (2009) discusses how changing the surface can increase sensory and proprioceptive fibers compared to walking on an unchanging surface. Also that changes in direction and transitions required the horse to have dynamic balance control, coordination and neuromotor control of limb and body.
This exercise will help the filly to have better proprioception and a start on fitness and strengthening, due to the horses weight having to shift on turns and transitions and using different muscles to be able to do the exercise.
Emma Sharman
DeleteI created a word document so we could see what each other were working on if you want to contribute to that - Ellie
DeleteHi Emma, just to add that also the figures of 8 would be beneficial as a form of active weight shifting, which would help encourage weight bearing and improve muscle mass in areas of weakness. An by working on the circles/bends, would encourage greater protraction of the outside length (greater SL) which was shown by Hobbs et al (2011) who found that the outside leg on a circle can have a stride length of 11cm longer than the inside leg. This would be beneficial in this case to encourage greater LF protraction when on the right rein.
DeleteStart with big figures of 8 plenty of room to maneuver- progress by making your figure of 8 smaller
DeleteEllie
Wither rocks - focusing on the left hand side
ReplyDeleteImprove:
Muscle strength
Reduce compensatory issues
Limb awareness
Pros:
Easy to carry out
Targets specifically the left hand side
Non time consuming
Easy explanation to an owner
Cons:
?
Daily: start with 5-8 reps week 1-2 and 10-15 week 3-4
Hold 5-10 seconds
Ellie Dawson
DeleteThis comment has been removed by the author.
Deletethe only potential negative for wither rocks that I can think of, is that due to the case's young nature, they may struggle to not fidget during the exercise, however over time as they become accustomed to it, this will improve. I agree that this exercise is beneficial by improving weight bearing and muscle mass, particularly on the LF, and due to easy nature, can be fitted into the owners lifestyle easily.
DeleteFreya Abbott
Polework
ReplyDeleteImprove joint flexion and therefore ROM - activates flexor musculature, therefore reducing the horse’s toe drag(Brown et al., 2015).
Increase contraction of the rectus abdominis musculature, thus improving core strength and balance, which is particularly beneficial in this case to improve balance and gait (Brown et al., 2019).
Improve proprioception- awareness of limbs in order to step over the poles, reducing toe drag
Improve protraction by encouraging the horse to step over and clear of the pole, particularly when using sequenced poles by encouraging the horse to make the correct distance between
Begin with scatter poles (flat) in hand in walk - 3 x per week, 3 repetitions per pole
Progress to 4 sequenced walk poles (flat) approximately 0.9m between - 4 repetitions on each rein, 3 x per week (if struggling to make the protraction distance, reduce the distance between poles)
Progress further by raising the poles to further increase joint ROM (Brown et al., 2015) - raising poles does not cause significant changes in GRF therefore will not cause unnecessary / excessive internal forces on the weakened musculoskeletal system (Clayton et al., 2015). - 4 repetitions on each rein, 3 x per week
Placing poles on a fan (wider distance on the outside) to be performed on a circle to encourage the outside leg to protract further (greater stride length - Hobbs et al. (2011) found the outside leg stride length (SL) to be 11m longer than the inside SL) - begin on left rein due to greater ROM on RF than LF, followed by right rein. 3 repetitions per rein, 3 x per week.
Once lunging has been introduced, polework can begin to be incorporated on the lunge, which enables trot poles to be incorporated.
Note - always have a suitable warm up and cool down before exercising over poles - in this case this should be in hand walking.
Pros: can be performed in hand, so easy to perform, improves ROM and provides stimulation for the horse compared to just in hand walking or long reining.
Cons: requires poles and correct distances set (which may need to be modified for the horse at different stages of rehabilitation), young horses may find this excitable or daunting therefore must adapt the exercise to suit them for example begin with fewer poles, further apart
Freya Abbott
Another progression: once the horse is comfortable with the set distance between the poles, progressively edge the poles slightly wider to increase the stride length = increase protraction of forelimb.
DeleteDo this in hand = better control so the horse does not jump the slightly wider pole start with walk and progress later to trot when the horse can accomplish walking the wider poles comfortable and naturally
Ellie
Long lining
ReplyDeleteWeek 1 - 6-10 minutes including warm up and cool down, 2-3 times per week.
Week 2 - 10-15 minutes ‘ ‘ (can introduce varied surfaces)
Week 3 - 15-20 minutes ‘ ‘ (gentle inclines and declines are introduced)
Will help the horse to build up equal muscle mass through symmetrical exercise
Long lining can help to improve balance and coordination whilst increasing stride length and joint flexion (Jones, 2014).
Long lining can be done over varied surfaces and can introduce incline and decline work:
(Joy)
Variations in Surfaces- Dyson (2017) explains that differing surface types can greatly increase proprioception, however, it is important that horses are gradually introduced to these surfaces so they can adapt where necessary.
DeletePros
Can be done in hand, which is suitable as the horse cannot be ridden.
Concussive forces from hard surfaces strengthens bones (Wolff's law).
Cons
If the ground is too soft/deep it can cause extra strain on soft tissue, and this can cause damage.
Simba
Long lining pro - symmetrical exercise help to build up muscle and can incorporate different surfaces and incline decline work while doing it.
DeleteCons - can only be done in walk and very short periods of trot (only if safe to do so)
Joy
Tactile Stimulation with bracelet or boot - focusing on the left hand side
ReplyDeleteImprove:
Toe drag
Limb awareness / proprioception
Increase the height of the flight arc of the instrumented hooves (Clayton et al., 2008; Stubbs, 2019)
Increase ROM (Clayton et al., 2008; Stubbs, 2019)
Muscle strength (Clayton et al., 2008; Stubbs, 2019)
Light tactile stimulus progress on to heavy (Stubbs, 2019)
Ellie Dawson
Jensen et al. (2018) found using a singular boot placed on the weaker limb, in this case the LF, can improve muscular imbalances due to proprioception. This would be beneficial to improve unilateral tricep atrophy by placing a boot on LF. Furthermore, can reduce the case’s toe drag by encouraging a higher arc of flight (Rumpler et al., 2010)
Pros: improve proprioception, can be used during in hand exercise or long reining/lunging (easy to incorporate into daily routine)
Cons: habituation means that it is unlikely to be effective for long periods of time, therefore should only be used in short bursts, warm up and cool down without the boot on, requires owner to have a boot and for the horse to accept wearing boots (which may be challenging due to the young age)
Freya Abbott
Use weeks 1-2
Application of the stimulators for short periods (e.g. trotting 50–100 m) = goal of rehabilitation is to maximize muscle facilitation (Clayton, 2008)
If rehabilitation is being used to mobilize the joints or to improve strength or endurance of atrophied flexor muscles, longer periods of treatment (e.g. trotting 200–300 m) (Clayton, 2008)
It is unknown how rapidly horses rehabituate to the effect of tactile stimulation of the pastern, which would be useful information with regard to how frequently the techniques should be reapplied.
Ellie Dawson
*correction* left hand side = Left fore limb
DeleteHill work- Introduce gentle inclines and declines in week 3 and continue in week 4, this can be done in hand or long lining. 15-20 minutes 2/3 times a week.
ReplyDeleteUsing hilly terrain will be beneficial as it alters joint loading and can aid in building different muscle groups (Van Weeren, 2014).
Hill work strengthens key muscles enabling better self carriage and muscle symmetry. Up hill work stimulates contraction of the abdominal, iliopsoas and pelvic limb muscles. Down hill work encourages the horse to reach further under its body, again strengthening the thoracic limb, pelvic limb and abdominal muscles, it also aims to improve balance (Paulekas and Haussler, 2009).
Avoid high gradient inclines early on because this will put too much stress and strain on the forelimbs. Instead gradually introduce inclines and decline. If the horse is struggling the gradient might be too intense for the horse’s condition.
Simba
Clayton (2016) also states that walking down gentle slopes enables thoracic sling strengthening due to increased forelimb gravitational loading, which would be particularly beneficial in this case to help strengthen the lateral shoulder muscles.
DeleteLunging with two lines
ReplyDeleteWeek 3 - 10-15 minutes including warm up and cool down, 2-3 times per week
Week 4 - 15 - 20 minutes “ “
Trot transitions can be introduced on the lunge in week 4 for 3 or 4 strides and then back to walk this will help the filly to build up strength while doing symmetrical exercise and encouraging equal build up of muscle.
Helps with balance and proprioception
Engage all musculature, encourage correct bend and work on muscle asymmetry
Pros - More control over the horse lunging and able to make the horse engage more and work equal muscle. All gaits can be worked so it is a versatile tool.
Cons - May put too much stress on the weaker limb if the circle is too tight.
Joy
As the horse is weaker on their left, it may be beneficial in commencing lunging on the right rein as therefore they will be weight bearing more on their stronger limb, and then progressing onto their weaker rein. Although it is important to use both reins equally to prevent uneven muscle hypertrophy, as as you mentioned using two reins is beneficial to encourage symmetry by controlling the outside shoulder, preventing drifting.
DeleteEmma Sharman
ReplyDeleteGoing over poles in a slalom, so that the horse goes over the pole laterally to strengthen the abduction and adduction muscles could be a good addition to the pole exercises. Though it does call for good control of the horses feet so that there is little risk of stepping on or tripping over the poles.
Ballou (2018) states that lateral work can help restore mobility, asymmetrical or imbalanced muscular development.
Sorry this was supposed to go under the pole exercise section
DeleteTransitions - halt, walk, trot on the lunge
ReplyDeleteImprove:
Coordination (Paulekas, 2009)
Neuromotor Control (Paulekas, 2009)
Strength (Tans et al., 2009)
Improve Core (Paulekas, 2009)
Stimulation
Pros:
Incorporated into lunging - no extra work
Benefits to fluency when riding comences (Tans et al., 2009)
Cons:
Requires patience - young horse will take time to understand what is required
Weeks 3-4 incorporate into lunging routine
Ellie Dawson