Yamada Ana Lúcia M, Pinheiro Marcelo, Marsiglia Marília F, Hagen Stefano Carlo F, Baccarin Raquel Yvonne A, da Silva Luís Cláudio L C
Department of Surgery, School of Veterinary Medicine and Animal Science, University of São Paulo, São Paulo, SP 05508 270, Brazil.
Independant Veterinarian, Alameda do Parque 400, Jd Plaza Athene, Itu, SP 13302 225, Brazil.
J Vet Sci. 2020 May;21(3):e21. doi: 10.4142/jvs.2020.21.e21.
Physical exercise is known to cause significant joint changes. Thus, monitoring joint behavior of athletic horses is essential in early disorders recognition, allowing the proper management.
The aims of this study were to determine the morphological patterns, physical examination characteristics and ultrasound findings of show jumping horses in training and to establish a score-based examination model for physical and ultrasound follow-ups of metacarpophalangeal joint changes in these animals.
A total of 52 metacarpophalangeal joints from 26 horses who were initially in the taming stage were evaluated, and the horses' athletic progression was monitored. The horses were evaluated by a physical examination and by B-mode and Doppler-mode ultrasound examinations, starting at time zero (T0), which occurred concomitantly with the beginning of training, and every 3 months thereafter for a follow-up period of 18 months.
The standardized examination model revealed an increase in the maximum joint flexion angles and higher scores on the physical and ultrasound examinations after scoring was performed by predefined assessment tools, especially between 3 and 6 months of evaluation, which was immediately after the horses started more intense training. The lameness score and the ultrasound examination score were slightly higher at the end of the study.
The observed results were probably caused by the implementation of a training regimen and joint adaptation to physical conditioning. The joints most likely undergo a pre-osteoarthritic period due to work overload, which can manifest in a consistent or adaptive manner, as observed during this study. Thus, continuous monitoring of young athlete horses by physical and ultrasound examinations that can be scored is essential.
已知体育锻炼会导致显著的关节变化。因此，监测运动马匹的关节行为对于早期疾病识别至关重要，有助于进行适当的管理。
本研究的目的是确定训练中的场地障碍赛马的形态模式、体格检查特征和超声检查结果，并建立一个基于评分的检查模型，用于对这些动物掌指关节变化进行体格和超声随访。
对最初处于驯化阶段的26匹马的52个掌指关节进行了评估，并监测了马匹的运动进展。从训练开始时的时间零点（T0）开始，对马匹进行体格检查以及B型和多普勒模式超声检查，此后每3个月进行一次，为期18个月的随访。
标准化检查模型显示，在使用预定义评估工具进行评分后，最大关节屈曲角度增加，体格和超声检查得分更高，尤其是在评估的3至6个月之间，即马匹开始更强化训练后不久。在研究结束时，跛行评分和超声检查评分略高。
观察到的结果可能是由于实施了训练方案以及关节对身体状况的适应。由于工作负荷过大，关节很可能经历一个骨关节炎前期，如本研究中观察到的，这种情况可能以持续或适应的方式表现出来。因此，通过可评分的体格和超声检查对年轻运动马匹进行持续监测至关重要。
