The Effect of Core Abdominal Muscle Rehabilitation Exercises on Return to Training and Performance in Horses After Colic Surgery.
Authors: Holcombe Susan J, Shearer Tara R, Valberg Stephanie J
Journal: Journal of equine veterinary science
Summary
Following abdominal surgery for colic, horses face a protracted recovery period during which compromised core stability may hinder rehabilitation and performance restoration. Researchers at Michigan State University compared outcomes between 62 performance horses that either completed or skipped a structured 4-week core abdominal rehabilitation exercise (CARE) programme in the years following colic surgery, analysing return-to-work timelines and subsequent athletic performance through retrospective medical record review and owner/trainer follow-up. Horses undertaking the CARE programme demonstrated substantially faster resumption of work (P = 0.002) and return to training (P = 0.0002), with the most striking finding being that 81% of CARE horses improved their pre-surgery performance level compared to only 7.8% of control horses (P < 0.001)—a difference that proved independent of age, surgical procedure type, and other confounding variables. Critically, all participating horses completed the programme without complication, suggesting that appropriately prescribed core rehabilitation poses negligible risk during post-operative convalescence. For farriers, veterinarians and other equine professionals involved in post-colic management, these outcomes suggest that structured core stability work represents a valuable adjunct to conventional recovery protocols, potentially expediting athletic return whilst simultaneously offering genuine performance enhancement rather than merely restoring pre-injury capability.
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Practical Takeaways
- •Consider implementing a structured 4-week core abdominal rehabilitation program for performance horses recovering from colic surgery to potentially accelerate return to work and training
- •CARE protocol appears safe with no reported complications when properly administered, making it a low-risk adjunct to post-operative recovery management
- •Horses undergoing CARE showed dramatically higher rates of performance improvement (81% vs 7.8%), suggesting this rehabilitation approach has substantial practical value for maintaining or restoring athletic function
Key Findings
- •All 11 horses completing the 4-week core abdominal rehabilitation exercise (CARE) program post-surgery experienced no complications
- •CARE horses returned to work significantly faster than controls (P = 0.002) and to training faster (P = 0.0002)
- •81% of CARE horses improved their performance level after surgery compared to only 7.8% of control horses (P < 0.001)
- •Core abdominal rehabilitation exercises appear safe and may facilitate faster convalescence and improved performance in horses recovering from colic surgery