title: Comparison of superficial digital flexor tendon loading on asphalt and sand in horses at the walk and trot.
abstract: The incidence of superficial digital flexor tendon (SDFT) injuries is one of the highest of all equine musculoskeletal conditions. Horses with SDFT injuries commonly show no improvement of lameness on soft ground, unlike those suffering from distal bone or joint lesions. The aim of this study was to compare the SDFT loading in five horses at the walk and trot on asphalt and sand using a non-invasive ultrasonic tendon force measurement device. Three horses were equipped with the ultrasonic device, whereas the other two horses were equipped with the ultrasonic device and a dynamometric horseshoe (DHS); the DHS was used to calibrate the measured values of tendon speed of sound (SOS) converted to tendon force, while a previously established ground reaction force pattern was used to calibrate SOS measurements for the other three horses. Although the horses tended to be slower on S, maximal tendon force was higher on sand than on asphalt at the trot (+6%); there was no significant difference between the two surfaces at the walk. The duration of tendon loading was longer on S (+5%) and the area under the tendon force-time curve was larger on S (+10%) at both walk and trot. SDFT loading is significantly affected by the ground surface and the observed increase in SDFT loading on sand compared with asphalt is consistent with clinical observations in horses with SDFT injuries.
authors.affiliation: Université Paris Est, Ecole Nationale Vétérinaire d'Alfort, USC 957 BPLC, F-94700 Maisons-Alfort, France; INRA, USC 957 BPLC, F-94700 Maisons-Alfort, France. Electronic address: ncrevier@vet-alfort.fr.
authors.forename: N
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Crevier-Denoix
authors.affiliation: Université Paris Est, Ecole Nationale Vétérinaire d'Alfort, USC 957 BPLC, F-94700 Maisons-Alfort, France; INRA, USC 957 BPLC, F-94700 Maisons-Alfort, France.
authors.forename: B
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Ravary-Plumioën
authors.affiliation: Université Paris Est, Ecole Nationale Vétérinaire d'Alfort, USC 957 BPLC, F-94700 Maisons-Alfort, France; INRA, USC 957 BPLC, F-94700 Maisons-Alfort, France.
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Vergari
authors.affiliation: Université Paris Est, Ecole Nationale Vétérinaire d'Alfort, USC 957 BPLC, F-94700 Maisons-Alfort, France; INRA, USC 957 BPLC, F-94700 Maisons-Alfort, France.
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Camus
authors.affiliation: Université Paris Est, Ecole Nationale Vétérinaire d'Alfort, USC 957 BPLC, F-94700 Maisons-Alfort, France; INRA, USC 957 BPLC, F-94700 Maisons-Alfort, France.
authors.forename: L
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Holden-Douilly
authors.affiliation: Université Paris Est, Ecole Nationale Vétérinaire d'Alfort, USC 957 BPLC, F-94700 Maisons-Alfort, France; INRA, USC 957 BPLC, F-94700 Maisons-Alfort, France.
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Falala
authors.affiliation: Service d'Anatomie, Ecole Nationale de Médecine Vétérinaire de Sidi Thabet, CP 202, Tunisia.
authors.forename: H
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Jerbi
authors.affiliation: Université Paris Est, Ecole Nationale Vétérinaire d'Alfort, USC EpiMAI, F-94700 Maisons-Alfort, France.
authors.forename: L
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Desquilbet
authors.affiliation: Université Paris Est, Ecole Nationale Vétérinaire d'Alfort, USC 957 BPLC, F-94700 Maisons-Alfort, France; INRA, USC 957 BPLC, F-94700 Maisons-Alfort, France.
authors.forename: H
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Chateau
authors.affiliation: Université Paris Est, Ecole Nationale Vétérinaire d'Alfort, USC 957 BPLC, F-94700 Maisons-Alfort, France; Université Paris Est, Ecole Nationale Vétérinaire d'Alfort, CIRALE, F-14430 Goustranville, France.
authors.forename: J-M
authors.initials: JM
authors.lastname: Denoix
authors.affiliation: Université Paris Est, Ecole Nationale Vétérinaire d'Alfort, USC 957 BPLC, F-94700 Maisons-Alfort, France; INRA, USC 957 BPLC, F-94700 Maisons-Alfort, France.
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Pourcelot
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001696:Biomechanical Phenomena; D005260:Female; D005552:Forelimb / Q000502:physiology*; D005684:Gait / Q000502:physiology*; D006736:Horses / Q000502:physiology*; D006838:Hydrocarbons; D008297:Male; D009043:Motor Activity; D012822:Silicon Dioxide; D013710:Tendons / Q000502:physiology*
chemical_list: D006838:Hydrocarbons; D012822:Silicon Dioxide; C006647:asphalt
keywords: Equine; Ground surface; Speed of sound; Superficial digital flexor tendon; Tendon force