title: Swing phase kinematics of horses trotting over poles.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Trotting over poles is used therapeutically to restore full ranges of limb joint motion. The mechanics of trotting over poles have not yet been described, hence quantitative evidence for the presumed therapeutic effects is lacking.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  To compare limb kinematics in horses trotting over level ground, over low poles and over high poles to determine changes in joint angulations and hoof flight arcs.
  
  
  METHODS
  Repeated measures experimental study in sound horses.
  
  
  METHODS
  Standard motion analysis procedures with skin-fixed reflective markers were used to measure swing phase kinematics from 8 horses trotting on level ground, over low (11 cm) and high (20 cm) poles spaced 1.05 ± 0.05 m apart. Spatiotemporal variables and peak swing phase joint flexion angles were compared using repeated measures ANOVA (P<0.05) with Bonferroni correction for pairwise post hoc testing.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Peak heights of the fore and hind hooves increased significantly and progressively from no poles (fore: 13.8 ± 3.8 cm; hind: 10.8 ± 2.4 cm) to low poles (fore: 30.9 ± 4.9 cm; hind: 24.9 ± 3.7 cm) and to high poles (fore: 41.0 ± 3.9 cm; hind: 32.7 ± 4.0 cm). All joints of the fore- and hindlimbs contributed to the increase in hoof height through increased swing phase flexion. The hooves cleared the poles due to increases in joint flexion rather than by raising the body higher during the suspension phases of the stride.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The increases in swing phase joint flexions indicate that trotting over poles is effective for activating and strengthening the flexor musculature. Unlike the use of proprioceptive stimulation devices in which the effects decrease over time due to habituation, the horse is required to elevate the hooves to ensure clearance whenever poles are present. The need to raise the limbs sufficiently to clear the poles and place the hooves accurately requires visuomotor coordination, which may be useful in the rehabilitation of neurological cases. The Summary is available in Chinese - see Supporting information.
authors.affiliation: McPhail Equine Performance Center, College of Veterinary Medicine, Michigan State University, East Lansing, USA.
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Brown
authors.forename: N C
authors.initials: NC
authors.lastname: Stubbs
authors.forename: L J
authors.initials: LJ
authors.lastname: Kaiser
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Lavagnino
authors.forename: H M
authors.initials: HM
authors.lastname: Clayton
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001696:Biomechanical Phenomena; D005684:Gait / Q000502:physiology*; D006736:Horses / Q000502:physiology*; D010805:Physical Conditioning, Animal
keywords: coordination; horse; physiotherapy; rehabilitation