Geiger Tobias, Lindenhahn Liesa, Delarocque Julien, Geburek Florian
Clinic for Horses, University of Veterinary Medicine Hanover, Bünteweg 9, Hannover, 30559, Germany.
Tieraerztliche Klinik Für Pferde Wolfesing, Wolfesing, Germany.
BMC Vet Res. 2025 Jul 29;21(1):495. doi: 10.1186/s12917-025-04950-2.
Data about efficacy of different training modalities during rehabilitation of horses with back pain is scarce. The aim of this study was to analyze the effect of water treadmill training, lunging and dry treadmill training in horses with back pain.
Eighteen warmblood riding horses referred with confirmed clinical signs of back pain including abnormal responses to passive mobilisation were randomized into three groups to participate in a 6-week water treadmill training, lunging or dry treadmill program under otherwise identical conditions. Two clinicians, one blinded to the program, performed a structured clinical examination of the back at three time-points (baseline, week 3, week 6). Mechanical nociceptive thresholds were determined with pressure algometry.
Visual muscle development scores for the lumbar region (p = 0.001) and palpation sensitivity scores along the thoracic and lumbar region significantly improved at week 6, compared to baseline (p < 0.001). No differences in mechanical nociceptive thresholds were detected between water treadmill training, lunging and dry treadmill training at any time-point (p > 0.05). At week 3 and 6 of all programs mechanical nociceptive thresholds significantly increased at the level of the 10th to 18th thoracic (T18) and 3rd lumbar vertebra (L3) compared to baseline.
DISCUSSION/MAIN LIMITATIONS: Small group size, lack of control group with ridden rehabilitation exercise.
Different training programs without a rider could be beneficial for horses with back pain. Water treadmill training seems equivalent to dry treadmill training and lunging to increase mechanical nociceptive thresholds in the region with main saddle contact.
关于背部疼痛马匹康复期间不同训练方式疗效的数据稀缺。本研究的目的是分析水疗跑步机训练、牵遛训练和干式跑步机训练对背部疼痛马匹的影响。
18匹有确诊背部疼痛临床体征（包括对被动活动有异常反应）的温血骑乘马被随机分为三组，在其他条件相同的情况下，分别参加为期6周的水疗跑步机训练、牵遛训练或干式跑步机训练项目。两名临床医生，其中一名对训练项目不知情，在三个时间点（基线、第3周、第6周）对背部进行结构化临床检查。用压力痛觉计测定机械性伤害感受阈值。
与基线相比，第6周时腰椎区域的视觉肌肉发育评分（p = 0.001）以及胸腰椎区域的触诊敏感性评分显著改善（p < 0.001）。在任何时间点，水疗跑步机训练、牵遛训练和干式跑步机训练之间的机械性伤害感受阈值均未检测到差异（p > 0.05）。在所有训练项目的第3周和第6周，与基线相比，第10至第18胸椎（T18）和第3腰椎（L3）水平的机械性伤害感受阈值显著增加。
讨论/主要局限性：样本量小，缺乏骑乘康复运动的对照组。
对于背部疼痛的马匹，不同的无骑手训练项目可能有益。水疗跑步机训练似乎等同于干式跑步机训练和牵遛训练，可提高主要鞍座接触区域的机械性伤害感受阈值。
