Study and evaluation of the impacts on the saddle in the L4-L5 and S1 lumbar area during horse riding training session through the use of the last generation inertial sensor
Authors: R. Izzo, Alessandra Convertini, T. D’Isanto, A. Cejudo, C. H. Varde’i
Journal: Journal of Human Sport and Exercise
Summary
# Editorial Summary Chronic spinal pathology affects 5–15% of equestrian athletes, yet biomechanical data on load transmission through the lumbosacral spine during ridden work has remained largely undocumented until now. Using inertial measurement units (IMU) positioned at the L4–L5 and S1 vertebral levels, Izzo and colleagues quantified spinal acceleration events across the three basic gaits in a competitive rider, recording 15 trials per gait over 50-metre distances. Walk produced no acceleration events exceeding 1g, whilst trot generated 363 such events and gallop 422—demonstrating that diagonal and three-beat gaits impose substantially greater compressive and impact forces on the lumbosacral spine than many practitioners may have assumed. These findings underscore the inadequacy of conventional training programmes and highlight the clinical relevance of integrating targeted spinal stabilisation and mobility work into riders' conditioning protocols, particularly prior to introducing or increasing trotting and galloping work. For farriers, physiotherapists and coaches, this data provides objective justification for periodised training that prioritises spine-specific strengthening phases before high-impact work, potentially reducing the incidence of cumulative trauma and chronic back pathology in the riding population.
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Practical Takeaways
- •Incorporate specific spinal mobilization and strengthening exercises into training programmes, particularly before introducing or intensifying trot and gallop work
- •Be aware that faster gaits produce dramatically higher spinal impacts (363-422 acceleration events vs. 0 in walk), suggesting progressive conditioning is necessary
- •Consider using sensor-based feedback to individualise training loads and monitor rider spinal stress during development
Key Findings
- •Walk produced no acceleration events >1g, while trot generated 363 such events and gallop 422 events
- •Spinal impacts increase significantly with gait speed, with gallop producing the highest acceleration forces
- •Current training protocols may inadequately prepare riders for spinal loading at faster gaits
- •Inertial measurement units can quantify previously unspecified spinal loading patterns during riding