Clayton H M, Stubbs N C, Lavagnino M
McPhail Equine Performance Center, College of Veterinary Medicine, Michigan State University, East Lansing, USA.
Equine Vet J. 2015 Jan;47(1):113-8. doi: 10.1111/evj.12251. Epub 2014 Apr 7.
Trotting over poles is frequently used therapeutically to restore swing phase ranges of joint motion. It is not known whether ground reaction forces (GRFs) increase as the swing phase limbs are lifted higher to clear the poles. Higher GRFs might be painful or jeopardise healing of musculoskeletal injuries.
To measure stance phase kinematics and GRFs in the forelimbs and hindlimbs of horses trotting on level ground, over low poles and over high poles, and to test the hypothesis that trotting over poles is associated with increases in peak GRFs and impulses in the supporting hindlimb and forelimb compared with trotting over level ground.
Repeated measures experimental study on horses with normal gait.
Kinematic and GRF data were collected from 8 horses trotting on level ground under 3 conditions performed in random order: no poles, low (11 cm) poles and high (20 cm) poles spaced 1.05 ± 0.05 m apart. Spatiotemporal and angular kinematic variables and GRFs were measured during stance. Comparisons among conditions were made using repeated measures ANOVA (P<0.05) with Bonferroni correction for post hoc testing.
The only GRF component that increased when trotting over poles was peak forelimb braking GRF. Forelimb vertical and braking impulses increased and the transverse impulse changed from medially to laterally directed. Extension of the metatarsophalangeal and metacarpophalangeal joints did not change.
The fact that peak vertical forces and extension of the metatarsophalangeal and metacarpophalangeal joints did not increase when trotting over poles suggests that loading of the musculoskeletal tissues is comparable with that associated with trotting on level ground in horses with symmetrical movement at trot. The findings support the use of trot poles during rehabilitation from lameness in horses that move symmetrically. The generation of laterally directed forelimb transverse forces suggests that trotting over poles may recruit the forelimb adductor musculature.
跨越横杆常用于治疗性恢复关节运动的摆动期范围。目前尚不清楚当摆动期肢体抬高以越过横杆时，地面反作用力（GRF）是否会增加。更高的GRF可能会引起疼痛或危及肌肉骨骼损伤的愈合。
测量马匹在平坦地面、低横杆和高横杆上小跑时前肢和后肢的站立期运动学和GRF，并检验与在平坦地面小跑相比，跨越横杆小跑与支撑后肢和前肢的峰值GRF及冲量增加相关的假设。
对步态正常的马匹进行重复测量实验研究。
从8匹马中收集运动学和GRF数据，这些马在平坦地面上以随机顺序进行3种条件下的小跑：无横杆、低（11厘米）横杆和高（20厘米）横杆，横杆间距为1.05±0.05米。在站立期测量时空和角运动学变量以及GRF。使用重复测量方差分析（P<0.05）并采用Bonferroni校正进行事后检验，对各条件之间进行比较。
跨越横杆小跑时唯一增加的GRF分量是前肢制动GRF峰值。前肢垂直冲量和制动冲量增加，横向冲量从内侧指向变为外侧指向。跖趾关节和掌指关节的伸展没有变化。
跨越横杆小跑时峰值垂直力以及跖趾关节和掌指关节的伸展没有增加，这一事实表明，在小跑时运动对称的马匹中，肌肉骨骼组织的负荷与在平坦地面小跑时相当。这些发现支持在对称运动的跛行马匹康复过程中使用小跑横杆。前肢横向力向外生成表明跨越横杆小跑可能会调动前肢内收肌。
