| dc.description.abstract | The aim of this study was to observe the effects of water treadmill exercise on back kinematics and stride length. The range of motion was measured in a group of dressage horses on three parts of the back using inertial skin-mounted sensors. These were placed on top of the spinous processes (thoracic 13, lumbar 4, and sacral 5), each sensor measuring in three axes (rotation, flexion-extension, lateroflexion), also recording the mean stride length during each measurement. The values were obtained while horses walked on a water treadmill (at water heights of the hoof, fetlock, carpus, and shoulder joint).
Horses showed a change in range of motion of the back and in stride length at different water heights, suggesting an individual response in locomotion on water treadmill exercise. More correlations were found when comparing stride length with range of motion of the back. At the water heights at which individual horses showed the biggest stride length, there were correlations between stride length and kinematics of the back in rotation and flexion-extension in all sensors, and in lateroflexion in the most cranial sensor (T13). The correlation of the stride length with flexion-extension was bigger towards the more cranial part of the back.
So water treadmill exercise can be useful to increase range of motion of the back. It is possible to create more rotation and flexion-extension (T13, L4, S5), and lateroflexion (T13), when horses have a larger stride length. The use of the water treadmill must be adjusted to each horse to achieve these effects; the water height is seen to be subject to the individual preferences in horses, but velocity may also have an impact on the kinematics of the back. If used correctly, water treadmill exercise can aid in training programs in which horses need to increase the mobility of their backs. | |
