Impact of walking surface on the range of motion of equine distal limb joints for rehabilitation purposes.
Authors: Mendez-Angulo Jose L, Firshman Anna M, Groschen Donna M, Kieffer Philip J, Trumble Troy N
Journal: Veterinary journal (London, England : 1997)
Summary
# Editorial Summary Understanding how different surfaces influence joint motion is crucial for designing effective rehabilitation programmes, yet little evidence has guided the selection of walking surfaces for recovery from limb injuries. Researchers used two-dimensional motion analysis to track distal limb kinematics in nine sound horses walked across three conditions—hard ground, soft ground, and a land treadmill—measuring flexion, extension and range of motion (ROM) at the carpus, tarsus and fetlocks over five consecutive gait cycles. Land treadmill work produced the greatest overall ROM at the carpus and fetlocks, whilst soft ground yielded maximum ROM at the tarsus; notably, maximal tarsal and hind fetlock flexion increased substantially on treadmill and soft surfaces compared to hard ground, whereas the carpus extended more fully on hard surfaces. The stance phase duration of the hind limb varied significantly across all three surfaces, indicating that footing choice fundamentally alters biomechanical loading patterns throughout the stride. For practitioners, these findings suggest that surface selection should be tailored to rehabilitation goals—softer surfaces and treadmills appear advantageous for mobilising joints that require greater flexion (particularly the hind limb), whilst hard ground may be appropriate when extension ROM is the priority, supporting a strategic, evidence-based approach to walking rehabilitation protocols.
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Practical Takeaways
- •Land treadmill and soft ground surfaces should be prioritized for rehabilitation cases requiring increased joint flexion, particularly for tarsal and fetlock recovery
- •Hard ground surfaces promote greater carpus extension and may be useful for specific rehabilitation phases but should not be the primary rehabilitation surface
- •Vary walking surfaces strategically during rehabilitation programs — soft ground for flexion-focused recovery, land treadmill for overall range of motion gains
Key Findings
- •Maximal flexion of tarsus and hind fetlock was significantly greater on land treadmill and soft ground compared to hard ground
- •Carpus demonstrated greatest range of motion on land treadmill compared to hard and soft ground surfaces
- •Tarsus achieved greatest overall range of motion on soft ground compared to other surfaces
- •Walking surface significantly influences flexion/extension angles across all three joint types (carpus, tarsus, fetlocks) in healthy horses