Nankervis Kathryn, Tranquille Carolyne, Tacey Jack, Deckers Isabeau, MacKechnie-Guire Russell, Walker Vicki, Hopkins Emily, Newton Richard, Murray Rachel
Equine Department, Hartpury University, Gloucester GL19 3BE, UK.
JBT Veterinary Physiotherapy, Nottingham NG10 4EH, UK.
Animals (Basel). 2024 Aug 18;14(16):2393. doi: 10.3390/ani14162393.
Repeated exposure to water treadmill (WT) exercise could elicit kinematic responses reflecting adaptation to WT exercise. The study's aim was to compare the responses of a group of sport horses to a standardised WT exercise test (WT) carried out at three time points, week 0 ( = 48), week 20 ( = 38), and week 40 ( = 29), throughout a normal training programme incorporating WT exercise. Horses were recruited from the existing client populations of two commercial water treadmill venues for the purpose of this longitudinal, observational study. Limb, back, poll, wither, and pelvic kinematics were measured during the WT using videography, optical motion capture, and inertial motion sensors. Forelimb and hindlimb protraction increased ( < 0.001 for both), and forelimb and hindlimb retraction decreased ( < 0.001 for both) at week 40 compared to week 0. Caudal thoracic flexion-extension and lateral bend ranges of movement were greater at week 40 compared to week 0 ( < 0.001 and = 0.009, respectively). Increased training speed was associated with increased craniocaudal poll movement ( = 0.021), decreased forelimb protraction ( = 0.008), and increased forelimb retraction ( = 0.021). In addition to characteristic changes in kinematics due to increasing water depth, regular WT exercise resulted in kinematic adaptation to movement in water. Factors such as the frequency of WT sessions and the type of session used with respect to depth and speed were seen to influence the nature of the adaptation. The results suggest that WT exercise sessions could be designed in accordance with specific training goals when used within a normal sport horse training programme.
反复进行水跑步机（WT）运动可引发反映对WT运动适应的运动学反应。本研究的目的是比较一组运动马在包含WT运动的正常训练计划中，在三个时间点（第0周（n = 48）、第20周（n = 38）和第40周（n = 29））进行标准化WT运动测试（WT）时的反应。为了进行这项纵向观察性研究，从两个商业水跑步机场地的现有客户群体中招募马匹。在WT运动期间，使用摄像、光学运动捕捉和惯性运动传感器测量肢体、背部、头顶、肩胛和骨盆的运动学数据。与第0周相比，第40周时前肢和后肢的伸展增加（两者均P < 0.001），前肢和后肢的回缩减少（两者均P < 0.001）。与第0周相比，第40周时胸段尾侧的屈伸和侧弯运动范围更大（分别为P < 0.001和P = 0.009）。训练速度的增加与头尾方向头顶运动的增加（P = 0.021）、前肢伸展的减少（P = 0.008）和前肢回缩的增加（P = 0.021）相关。除了因水深增加导致的运动学特征性变化外，定期的WT运动还导致了对水中运动的运动学适应。WT训练课程的频率以及与深度和速度相关的课程类型等因素被认为会影响适应的性质。结果表明，在正常的运动马训练计划中使用WT运动时，可以根据特定的训练目标设计WT运动课程。
