Clinical Research Abstracts of the British Equine Veterinary Association Congress 2015.

Abstract

REASONS FOR PERFORMING STUDY: Training and rehabilitation techniques which improve core muscle strength are beneficial for improvement of dynamic stability of the equine vertebral column. The Equiband&#x2122; system, consisting of resistance bands attached to a customised saddle pad, is suggested to provide constant proprioceptive feedback during motion to encourage recruitment of abdominal and hindquarter musculature. OBJECTIVES: To quantify the effect of the Equiband&#x2122; system on back kinematics and movement symmetry. STUDY DESIGN: Longitudinal intervention study. METHODS: Quantitative analysis of back movement and gait symmetry before/after a 4-week exercise programme. Inertial sensor data was collected from 7 horses at Weeks 0 and 4 of a fixed exercise protocol. Analysis with and without the Equiband&#x2122; system was completed at trot in hand on a hard surface, and for both reins on the lunge on a soft surface. Six back kinematic and 3 movement symmetry parameters were calculated according to published methods. Movement symmetry values were side-corrected to allow comparison between reins on the lunge. A mixed model (P<0.05) evaluated the effects of the Equiband&#x2122; system over time, and trotting direction on back kinematic and movement symmetry parameters. RESULTS: The Equiband&#x2122; system significantly reduced (all P<0.02) roll, pitch and mediolateral displacement in the cranial-mid thoracic region. Across all horses, back displacement and range of motion values were significantly greater (P<0.01) on the lunge than in a straight line, movement symmetry was consistent with having corrected all horses to be left-sided. CONCLUSION: Preliminary results suggest the Equiband&#x2122; system may aid dynamic stabilisation of the vertebral column. Ethical animal research:&#x2002;This study was authorised by the Ethics and Welfare Committee of the Royal Veterinary College, London (URN Approval Number 1238). Written consent was obtained from the owner/keeper of each animal. SOURCE OF FUNDING: Royal Veterinary College. Competing interests:&#x2002;N.C. Stubbs and N. Rombach developed the Equiband&#x2122; system. The remaining authors have no competing interests.