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Serious racetrack injuries are less common in Australia
Does exercise increase tendon collagen fibril size and strength?
From
Equine Veterinary Journal (1997) 29 (2)
A study was undertaken in England by J. C. Patterson-Kane, et al., to determine the effects of exercise on equine tendon collagen fibril size and strength. While it seems that exercise should increase collagen strength as occurs with a variety of other tissues in the body, the hypothesis had never been tested. Fibril diameters were measured in central and peripheral regions of superficial digital flexor tendon (SDFT) samples from five 18month-old horses which underwent a subsequent 18-month training program and 6 age- and sex-matched controls. Central region fibrils from the trained horses had a mass-average diameter (MAD) of 105.3 nm, which was significantly lower (P<0.01) than that of 131.7 nm for the same region in the control horses. This reduction in fibril diameter in the region of tendon which is predisposed to injury was interpreted as evidence of microtrauma, as it implies the region is weakened by the training regimen. Repeated episodes of microtrauma may accumulate and eventually result in degenerative lesions and clinical tendinitis.
MRI and ultrasound images compared
From
Equine Veterinary Journal (1997) 29 (2)
In a recent paper in EVJ, normal and abnormal ultrasonographic images are presented of the proximal scutum (proximal sesamoid bones and palmar ligament) in the horse. Comparison between anatomical sections, MRI (magnetic resonance imaging) and ultrasound scans enabled the authors to establish the normal ultrasonographic anatomy of the palmar fetlock. Nine cases of proximal scutum injuries were identified ultrasonographically. On normal limbs, the facies flexoria of the proximal sesamoid bones appeared as a thin and regular hyperechoic line and the palmar ligament was regularly echogenic. Lesions of the proximal scutum, that could be documented ultrasonographically, included rupture of the palmar ligament, avulsion fractures of the proximal sesamoid bones and palmar ligament desmopathy. Thinning or degeneration of the palmar ligament, concurrent with osteolysis of the proximal sesamoid bones, were indicative of palmar ligament enthesopathy. Ultrasonographic examination provided essential information for an accurate diagnosis of proximal scutum damage.
Serious racetrack injuries are less common in Australia See the complete text at http://www.usyd.edu.au/su/rirdc/ welcome.html
304
An article in Equine Research News (Issue 1/97) compares flat racing fatalities in Australia, the United Kingdom and the United States. A study by Dr. Craig Bailey, at the University of Sydney, involved detailed statistical analysis of serious injuries recorded in races at Randwick and Warwick Farm racecourses in Sydney and at JOURNAL OF EQUINE VETERINARY SCIENCE
Flemington, Moonee Valley, Caulfield and Sandown racecourses in Melbourne. The horses with serious injuries were compared with control horses that were randomly selected on the basis that they had raced without signs of injury. A range of risk factors that were thought to have potential for serious injury were examined and included: age, sex, total number of race starts, days since the previous start, track, track condition, class of race, distance of race, field size, weight carried, barrier position, distance of previous race, type of race (flat, hurdle or steeplechase) and season. In the study that concentrated on the Melbourne racing centre the most significant factors associated with serious injury were track condition, age of the horse, track and type of race. With the track condition, horses racing on a fast or good track were twice as likely to suffer a serious limb injury as those running on a dead, slow or heavy track. A progressive increase in risk of serious injury was shown with increasing age. Horses 4 to 5 years of age were about 1.5 times more likely to suffer a serious injury compared to those aged 2 and 3 years. As anticipated, the type of race had a big impact on the risk of injury. Horses in hurdle races were 4 times more likely to suffer serious injury while those competing in steeplechase races were 7.5 times more likely to sustain a serious injury, compared to races on the fiat. The overall fatality rate for Sydney and Melbourne tracks combined was less than that reported in the United Kingdom and considerably lower than in the USA.
Comparison of Flat Racing Fatalities between Countries 0.1
Austraila
I O Musculoskeletal
UK fatalities
USA
*1
D All fatalities
J
Training on treadmills Referring to a paper by C.N. Kobluk (JEVS 16:511-513) which reported successful training of Thoroughbred racehorses on a treadmill in Minnesota, the editor of Equine Research News (Issue 1/97) described training on treadmills in Australia. "Treadmills have been available and used in Australia since the early 1980s. In the main, these machines have been used to condition yearlings but some have been used to condition racehorses in training. Most treadmills have been used to walk and trot horses but more recently, higher speed machines have been available allowing horses to be exercised up to racing speed. "Some of the advantages of treadmills are that horses exercise on a consistent surface, speed can be accurately controlled and there is a reduction in the weight the horse carries. Furthermore because horses can be exercised in any weather conditions if the treadmill is maintained indoors, it enables horses to be worked more consistently, despite the variations in outside track conditions."
Volume 17, Number 6, 1997
305
From
Equine Veterinary Journal (1997) 29 (2)
A study was undertaken in England by J. C. Patterson-Kane, et al., to determine the effects of exercise on equine tendon collagen fibril size and strength. While it seems that exercise should increase collagen strength as occurs with a variety of other tissues in the body, the hypothesis had never been tested. Fibril diameters were measured in central and peripheral regions of superficial digital flexor tendon (SDFT) samples from five 18month-old horses which underwent a subsequent 18-month training program and 6 age- and sex-matched controls. Central region fibrils from the trained horses had a mass-average diameter (MAD) of 105.3 nm, which was significantly lower (P<0.01) than that of 131.7 nm for the same region in the control horses. This reduction in fibril diameter in the region of tendon which is predisposed to injury was interpreted as evidence of microtrauma, as it implies the region is weakened by the training regimen. Repeated episodes of microtrauma may accumulate and eventually result in degenerative lesions and clinical tendinitis.
MRI and ultrasound images compared
From
Equine Veterinary Journal (1997) 29 (2)
In a recent paper in EVJ, normal and abnormal ultrasonographic images are presented of the proximal scutum (proximal sesamoid bones and palmar ligament) in the horse. Comparison between anatomical sections, MRI (magnetic resonance imaging) and ultrasound scans enabled the authors to establish the normal ultrasonographic anatomy of the palmar fetlock. Nine cases of proximal scutum injuries were identified ultrasonographically. On normal limbs, the facies flexoria of the proximal sesamoid bones appeared as a thin and regular hyperechoic line and the palmar ligament was regularly echogenic. Lesions of the proximal scutum, that could be documented ultrasonographically, included rupture of the palmar ligament, avulsion fractures of the proximal sesamoid bones and palmar ligament desmopathy. Thinning or degeneration of the palmar ligament, concurrent with osteolysis of the proximal sesamoid bones, were indicative of palmar ligament enthesopathy. Ultrasonographic examination provided essential information for an accurate diagnosis of proximal scutum damage.
Serious racetrack injuries are less common in Australia See the complete text at http://www.usyd.edu.au/su/rirdc/ welcome.html
304
An article in Equine Research News (Issue 1/97) compares flat racing fatalities in Australia, the United Kingdom and the United States. A study by Dr. Craig Bailey, at the University of Sydney, involved detailed statistical analysis of serious injuries recorded in races at Randwick and Warwick Farm racecourses in Sydney and at JOURNAL OF EQUINE VETERINARY SCIENCE
Flemington, Moonee Valley, Caulfield and Sandown racecourses in Melbourne. The horses with serious injuries were compared with control horses that were randomly selected on the basis that they had raced without signs of injury. A range of risk factors that were thought to have potential for serious injury were examined and included: age, sex, total number of race starts, days since the previous start, track, track condition, class of race, distance of race, field size, weight carried, barrier position, distance of previous race, type of race (flat, hurdle or steeplechase) and season. In the study that concentrated on the Melbourne racing centre the most significant factors associated with serious injury were track condition, age of the horse, track and type of race. With the track condition, horses racing on a fast or good track were twice as likely to suffer a serious limb injury as those running on a dead, slow or heavy track. A progressive increase in risk of serious injury was shown with increasing age. Horses 4 to 5 years of age were about 1.5 times more likely to suffer a serious injury compared to those aged 2 and 3 years. As anticipated, the type of race had a big impact on the risk of injury. Horses in hurdle races were 4 times more likely to suffer serious injury while those competing in steeplechase races were 7.5 times more likely to sustain a serious injury, compared to races on the fiat. The overall fatality rate for Sydney and Melbourne tracks combined was less than that reported in the United Kingdom and considerably lower than in the USA.
Comparison of Flat Racing Fatalities between Countries 0.1
Austraila
I O Musculoskeletal
UK fatalities
USA
*1
D All fatalities
J
Training on treadmills Referring to a paper by C.N. Kobluk (JEVS 16:511-513) which reported successful training of Thoroughbred racehorses on a treadmill in Minnesota, the editor of Equine Research News (Issue 1/97) described training on treadmills in Australia. "Treadmills have been available and used in Australia since the early 1980s. In the main, these machines have been used to condition yearlings but some have been used to condition racehorses in training. Most treadmills have been used to walk and trot horses but more recently, higher speed machines have been available allowing horses to be exercised up to racing speed. "Some of the advantages of treadmills are that horses exercise on a consistent surface, speed can be accurately controlled and there is a reduction in the weight the horse carries. Furthermore because horses can be exercised in any weather conditions if the treadmill is maintained indoors, it enables horses to be worked more consistently, despite the variations in outside track conditions."
Volume 17, Number 6, 1997
305