Hostname: page-component-7479d7b7d-pfhbr Total loading time: 0 Render date: 2024-07-13T23:51:55.081Z Has data issue: false hasContentIssue false

A field study on hoof deceleration at impact in Standardbred trotters at various speeds

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  09 March 2007

Pia Gustås*
Affiliation:
Department of Anatomy and Physiology, Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences, 75007 Uppsala, Sweden
Christopher Johnston
Affiliation:
Department of Anatomy and Physiology, Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences, 75007 Uppsala, Sweden Equine Hospital Strömsholm, 73040 Kolbäck, Sweden
Ulf Hedenström
Affiliation:
National Education Centre for Trotters, Wången, 83040 Nälden, Sweden
Lars Roepstorff
Affiliation:
Department of Anatomy and Physiology, Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences, 75007 Uppsala, Sweden
Stig Drevemo
Affiliation:
Department of Anatomy and Physiology, Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences, 75007 Uppsala, Sweden
*
*Corresponding author: Pia.Gustas@kirmed.slu.se
Get access

Abstract

Impact-related peak decelerations with high loading rates are described as indicators of mechanical stress to the limb. The hoof deceleration pattern in the beginning of the stance phase has recently been described, together with ground reaction force measurements at slow speed; however, no information is available at high speeds. The objective of the present study was to investigate the hoof deceleration pattern following impact at slow speeds, comparable to earlier force plate studies, and at high speeds on a racetrack. Eight Standardbreds equipped with triaxial accelerometers mounted on fore- and hind hooves were driven from a jogcart on a harness-training racetrack with a stone dust surface at the mean speeds of 4.7, 5.7, 10.1 and 12.7ms−1. The accelerometer signals were sampled at 10kHz during 10s of constant speed along one straight of the racetrack. The signal was studied for each speed by the analysis of representative peak decelerations. At slow trot, the deceleration pattern was similar to what was found in earlier studies over the force plate. The peak values of both the vertical and horizontal decelerations increased significantly with a higher speed (P≤0.01). It was shown that a higher speed results in changes of the hoof deceleration pattern with higher peak decelerations. The maximum horizontal deceleration, together with the second vertical peak deceleration, were suggested to be major indicators on the mechanical stress subjected to the limb.

Type
Research Article
Copyright
Copyright © Cambridge University Press 2006

Access options

Get access to the full version of this content by using one of the access options below. (Log in options will check for institutional or personal access. Content may require purchase if you do not have access.)

References

1Gustå, P, Johnston, C, Roepstorff, L, Drevemo, S and Lanshammar, H (2004). Relationships between fore- and hindlimb ground reaction force and hoof deceleration patterns in trotting horses. Equine Veterinary Journal 36: 737742.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
2Radin, EL, Yang, KH, Riegger, C, Kish, VL and O'Connor, JJ (1991). Relationship between lower limb dynamics and knee joint pain. Journal of Orthopedic Research 9: 398405.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
3Radin, EL, Parker, HG, Pugh, JW, Steinberg, RS, Paul, IL and Rose, RM (1973). Response of joints to impact loading – III relationship between trabecular microfractures and cartilage degeneration. Journal of Biomechanics 6: 5157.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
4Serink, MT, Nachemson, A and Hansson, G (1977). The effect of impact loading on rabbit knee joints. Acta Orthopedica Scandinavica 48: 250262.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
5Lahm, A, Uhl, M, Erggelet, C, Haberstroh, J and Mrosek, E (2004). Articular cartilage degeneration after acute subchondral bone damage. An experimental study in dogs with histopathological grading. Acta Orthopaedica Scaninavica 75: 762767.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
6Lahm, A, Uhl, M, Edlich, M, Erggelet, C, Haberstroh, J and Kreuz, PC (2005). An experimental canine model for subchondral lesions of the knee joint. The Knee 12: 5155.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
7Pratt, GW and O'Connor, JT Jr (1976). Force plate studies of equine biomechanics. American Journal of Veterinary Research 37: 12511255.Google ScholarPubMed
8Hjertén, G and Drevemo, S (1994). Semi-quantitative analysis of hoof-strike in the horse. Journal of Biomechanics 27: 9971004.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
9Merkens, HW and Schamhardt, HC (1994). Relationships between ground reaction force patterns and kinematics in the walking and trotting horse. Equine Veterinary Journal Supplement 17: 6770.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
10Back, W, Schamhardt, HC, Savelberg, HH, van den Bogert, AJ, Bruin, G, Hartman, W and Barneveld, A (1995a). How the horse moves: significance of graphical representations of equine forelimb kinematics. Equine Veterinary Journal 27: 3138.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
11Back, W, Schamhardt, HC, Savelberg, HHCM, van den Bogert, AJ, Bruin, G, Hartman, W and Barneveld, A (1995b). How the horse moves: 2. Significance of graphical representations of equine hind limb kinematics. Equine Veterinary Journal 27: 3945.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
12Back, W, Schamhardt, HC, Hartman, W and Barneveld, A (1995c). Kinematic differences between the distal portions of the forelimbs and hind limbs of horses at the trot. American Journal of Veterinary Research 56: 15221528.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
13Johnston, C, Roepstorff, L, Drevemo, S and Ronéus, N (1995). Kinematics of the distal forelimb during the stance phase in the fast trotting Standardbred. Equine Veterinary Journal Supplement 18: 170174.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
14Johnston, C, Roepstorff, L, Drevemo, S and Kallings, P (1996). Kinematics of the distal hindlimb during stance phase in the fast trotting Standardbred. Equine Veterinary Journal 28: 263268.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
15Lanovaz, JL, Clayton, HM and Watson, LG (1998). In vitro attenuation of impact shock in equine digits. Equine Veterinary Journal Supplement 26: 96102.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
16Willemen, MA, Jacobs, MWH and Schamhardt, HC (1999). In vitro transmission and attenuation of impact vibrations in the distal forelimb. Equine Veterinary Journal Supplement 30: 245248.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
17Dyhre-Poulsen, P, Smedegard, HH, Roed, J and Korsgaard, E (1994). Equine hoof function investigated by pressure transducers inside the hoof and accelerometers mounted on the first phalanx. Equine Veterinary Journal 26: 362366.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
18Gustås, P, Johnston, C, Roepstorff, L and Drevemo, S (2001). In vivo transmission of impact shock waves in the distal forelimb of the horse. Equine Veterinary Journal Supplement 33: 1115.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
19Barrey, E, Landjerit, B and Wolter, R (1991). Shock and vibration during the hoof impact on different track surfaces. In: Persson, SG, Lindholm, A, Jeffcott, LB(eds), Equine Exercise Physiology 3, (pp. 97106). Davis, CA: ICEEP Publications.Google Scholar
20Benoit, P, Barrey, E, Regnault, JC and Brochet, JL (1993). Comparison of the damping effect of different shoeing by the measurement of hoof acceleration. Acta Anatomica 146: 109113.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
21Burn, JF, Wilson, A and Nason, GP (1997). Impact during equine locomotion: techniques for measurement and analysis. Equine Veterinary Journal Supplement 23: 912.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
22Altman, A (1991). Practical statistics for medical research. 1st edn. London, UK: Chapman & Hall, 611 pp.Google Scholar
23Fredricson, I, Drevemo, S, Moen, K, Dandanell, R and Andersson, B (1972). A method of three-dimensional analysis of kinematics and co-ordination of equine extremity joints. Acta Veterinaria Scandinavica Supplement 37: 343.Google ScholarPubMed
24Schamhardt, HC and Merkens, HW (1994). Objective determination of ground contact of equine limbs at the walk and trot: comparison between ground reaction forces, accelerometer data and kinematics. Equine Veterinary Journal Supplement 17: 7579.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
25Riemersma, DJ, Schamhardt, HC, Hartman, W and Lammertink, JLMA (1987a). Kinetics and kinematics of the equine hind limb: In vivo tendon loads and force plate measurements in ponies. American Journal of Veterinary Research 49: 13441352.Google Scholar
26Riemersma, DJ, van den Bogert, AJ, Schamhardt, HC and Hartman, W (1987b). Kinetics and kinematics of the equine hind limb: In vivo tendon strain and joint kinematics. American Journal of Veterinary Research 49: 13531359.Google Scholar
27Fredricson, I and Drevemo, S (1972). Methodological aspects of kinematics of the joints in the forelimbs of fast moving horses. Acta Veterinaria Scandinavica Supplement 37: 95133.Google Scholar
28Latash, ML (1998). Neurophysiological Basis of Movement Champaign, IL, USA, 267 pp.Google Scholar
29Boyer, KA and Nigg, BM (2004). Muscle activity in the leg is tuned in response to impact force characteristics. Journal of Biomechanics 37: 15831588.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
30Clayton, HM, Lanovaz, JL, Schamhardt, HC, Willemen, MA and Colborne, GR (1998). Net joint moments and powers in the equine forelimb during the stance phase of the trot. Equine Veterinary Journal 30: 384389.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed