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Monitoring of Fitness, Training Progression, and Responses to Rehabilitation Therapies in Veterinary Medicine

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A special issue of Animals (ISSN 2076-2615). This special issue belongs to the section "Equids".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: closed (1 November 2021) | Viewed by 13791

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Special Issue Editor

Dr. Ana Muñoz

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Guest Editor

Department of Animal Medicine and Surgery, Equine Sport Medicine Center, School of Veterinary Medicine, University of Cordoba, Cordoba, Spain
Interests: equine exercise physiology; equine sport medicine; equine sport performance; exercise test; lameness; rehabilitation; training
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Dear Colleagues,

The horse is a superb athletic species, with physical abilities (endurance, speed, and strength) that quantitatively exceed those of the rest of the athletic species, including human beings. In recent years, another athletic species, the dog, has been receiving specific and separate attention apart from the classic pet dog, due to its greater involvement in sports activities. The assessment of fitness is of primary importance to establish a starting point for both programming and monitoring training progression during the training and competition season in order to achieve the maximal performance; to reduce the risk of musculoskeletal injuries, overtraining, and undertraining; and to detect a reduction in performance as soon as possible. On the other hand, rehabilitation therapy, not only after an injury, but also as an aid to promote a quicker recovery after an intense training session, should be monitored in an objective way. For all these reasons, original and clinical investigations and reviews focused on objective methods of evaluation of fitness, training level, and responses to the application of various rehabilitation therapies in dogs and in horses are welcome.

Dr. Ana Muñoz
Guest Editor

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Keywords

biomechanics
dog
exercise test
fitness
horse
lactate
monitoring
rehabilitation
training

Published Papers (4 papers)

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Research

13 pages, 862 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Association of Thoroughbred Racehorse Workloads and Rest Practices with Trainer Success

by Ashleigh V. Morrice-West, Peta L. Hitchens, Elizabeth A. Walmsley, Adelene S. M. Wong and R. Chris Whitton

Animals 2021, 11(11), 3130; https://doi.org/10.3390/ani11113130 - 01 Nov 2021

Cited by 5 | Viewed by 2086

Abstract

Understanding the relationship between the training practices of Thoroughbred racehorses and race performance is important to ensure advice given to trainers for injury prevention or management is practical and consistent. We assessed associations between intended volume and speed of gallop training (i.e., typical workloads for horses free of injury or other performance limiting conditions) and rest practices on official trainer career and previous season success rates (rate of wins and places, prizemoney per start). Sixty-six Australian Thoroughbred trainers were surveyed. Multivariable negative binomial regression models were employed for the outcomes career and previous season wins and places, and linear regression models for prizemoney per start. Intended training workload was not associated with prizemoney. Pre-trial total galloping distances (≥13.3 m/s) between 7500 m and 15,000 m were associated with a higher rate of career wins, and previous season wins and places per start (p < 0.05). Slow-speed (13.3–14.3 m/s) galloping distance to trial between 5000 m to 12,500 m was associated with higher rate of career placings per start, with reduced performance over 12,500 m (p = 0.003). Greater time between race starts was associated with a greater rate of previous season wins and prizemoney per start until three weeks between starts, with decline in performance thereafter (p < 0.05). Greater frequency of rest breaks was associated with greater prizemoney per start earnt in the previous season (p ≤ 0.01). These results suggest that modifications to training programs aimed at injury prevention, such as avoiding long galloping distances, should not adversely affect trainer success. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Monitoring of Fitness, Training Progression, and Responses to Rehabilitation Therapies in Veterinary Medicine)

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9 pages, 1301 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Platelet-Rich Plasma for the Treatment of Degenerative Lumbosacral Stenosis: A Study with Retired Working Dogs

by Ángel María Hernández-Guerra, José María Carrillo, Joaquín Jesús Sopena, José Manuel Vilar, Pau Peláez, Belén Cuervo, Angelo Santana and Mónica Rubio

Animals 2021, 11(10), 2965; https://doi.org/10.3390/ani11102965 - 14 Oct 2021

Cited by 4 | Viewed by 3511

Abstract

Traditionally, canine degenerative lumbosacral stenosis (DLS) has been defined as a multifactorial syndrome characterized by lumbosacral pain triggered by the compression of the nerve rootlets of the cauda equina. There is still no consensus on the treatment of this condition, probably because there are a plethora of possible causes. In addition to compression, inflammation is a very important factor in the physiopathology of the disorder. Platelet-rich plasma (PRP) consists of an increased concentration of autologous platelets suspended in a small amount of plasma. Platelets are a source of several growth factors. Growth factors were shown to help in wound healing and biological processes, such as chemotaxis, neovascularization and synthesis of extracellular matrix, and growth factors were used to improve soft tissue healing and bone regeneration. PRP also facilitates the restoration of the structural integrity of the affected anatomy. Fourteen dogs diagnosed with DLS were treated with three epidural injections of PRP on days 0, 15 and 45. All dogs showed clinical improvement 3 months after the initial treatment. Gait was also objectively assessed by means of the use of force platform analysis before and after treatment, showing significant improvement. The results show that PRP may provide a good alternative to other nonsurgical treatments, such as prednisolone epidural injection. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Monitoring of Fitness, Training Progression, and Responses to Rehabilitation Therapies in Veterinary Medicine)

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15 pages, 7116 KiB

Open AccessArticle

A Preliminary Investigation into Ridden Water Submersion Training as an Adjunct to Current Condition Training Protocols in Performance Horses

by Claire O’ Brien and Josephine Pegg

Animals 2021, 11(9), 2629; https://doi.org/10.3390/ani11092629 - 07 Sep 2021

Viewed by 2766

Abstract

This observational study aimed to elucidate the effects of RWST on the cardiovascular and musculoskeletal systems of horses and concurrently determine whether RWST limits distal limb temperature increases previously reported during gallop training on land. A group of 15 clinically sound international event horses were recruited, and heart rate (HR), speed (km/h) and thermal images of the distal limb were analysed at set intervals during RWST training. Intervals of RWST produced a total mean HR_max value of 65.18 ± 3.76%, which is within the parameters for increased aerobic stamina. Mean HR increased significantly (p < 0.01) while mean distal limb temperature decreased significantly (p < 0.01) between warm-up and RWST, which contrasts with positive correlations previously reported during gallop training on land. These preliminary results suggest that RWST can be classed as a moderate submaximal intensity exercise in elite international event horses whilst restricting an increase in temperature of the distal limb that is commonly associated with tendon rupture. Horses competing at very elite levels of eventing only represent a small percentage of the total performance population; therefore, further research is needed to ascertain the physiological effects of RWST in non-elite performance horses, as well as horses competing across various equestrian disciplines. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Monitoring of Fitness, Training Progression, and Responses to Rehabilitation Therapies in Veterinary Medicine)

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12 pages, 2551 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Thermographic Analysis of the Metacarpal and Metatarsal Areas in Jumping Sport Horses and Leisure Horses in Response to Warm-Up Duration

by Iwona Janczarek, Witold Kędzierski, Ewelina Tkaczyk, Beata Kaczmarek, Jarosław Łuszczyński and Karolina Mucha

Animals 2021, 11(7), 2022; https://doi.org/10.3390/ani11072022 - 06 Jul 2021

Cited by 3 | Viewed by 3788

Abstract

This study aimed to assess the impact of various types of warm-up on the metacarpal and metatarsal surface temperature in jumping sport horses in comparison to leisure horses, which work usually less intensively. Six clinically healthy sport geldings, contestants in showjumping competitions, and six geldings used for leisure riding were included in the study. The experiment was conducted for four consecutive days, during which the horses were warmed up by walking and trotting for various durations. Images were taken with a FLUKE Ti9 thermal imager to determine the resting, post-effort, and recovery temperature of the dorsal and plantar surface of the metacarpus and metatarsus of the four limbs. The obtained data were analysed with SmartView 4.1. software. The increase of measured rectal and surface temperatures was proportional to the warm-up duration. The surface temperature increase in the distal limb parts in jumping sport horses was greater than in horses used for leisure. The plantar surface was also warmer than the dorsal surface of the metacarpal/metatarsal areas, with a forelimb being warmer than a hind limb. Elevated temperatures after warm-up persist for 30 min in the recovery period, especially in jumping sport horses compared to leisure horses. Thus, the warming up effect is achieved earlier and lasts longer in heavily trained horses than in non-performance horses. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Monitoring of Fitness, Training Progression, and Responses to Rehabilitation Therapies in Veterinary Medicine)

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