Effects of early exercise on metacarpophalangeal joints in horses.
OBJECTIVE
To determine the effects of exercise at an early age on tissues in the metacarpophalangeal joints of horses.


METHODS
Twelve 18-month-old horses.


METHODS
All horses were pasture reared, but 6 horses had additional exercise starting at 3 weeks of age until 18 months of age. At that time, computed tomography, articular cartilage metabolism evaluation, and histologic assessments of synovial membrane, articular cartilage, and subchondral bone were performed.


RESULTS
Exercised horses had fewer gross lesions, less articular cartilage matrix staining in the dorsal aspect of the condyle, greater bone fraction in the dorsolateral aspect of the condyle, and higher bone formation rate, compared with nonexercised horses.


CONCLUSIONS
Exercise at a young age may be protective to joints, although more research is needed to characterize changes in articular cartilage matrix. Results suggested that exercise can be safely imposed at an early age.
Kawcak
Chris E
CE
Equine Orthopaedic Research Center, Department of Clinical Sciences, College of Veterinary Medicine and Biomedical Sciences, Colorado State University, Fort Collins, CO 80523, USA. ckawcak@colostate.edu
McIlwraith
C Wayne
CW
Firth
Elwyn C
EC
D000375:Aging; D000818:Animals; D001842:Bone and Bones / Q000033:anatomy & histology / Q000502:physiology; D002358:Cartilage, Articular / Q000033:anatomy & histology / Q000502:physiology; D005260:Female; D005552:Forelimb / Q000502:physiology*; D006736:Horses / Q000502:physiology*; D007596:Joints / Q000033:anatomy & histology / Q000502:physiology*; D008297:Male; D010805:Physical Conditioning, Animal / Q000502:physiology*