Assessment of the Equine Spine: Difference between revisions
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Introduction | == Introduction == | ||
Back pain and dysfunction can lead to poor performance and cause changes in a horse’s spinal kinematics.<ref>Hardeman AM, Byström A, Roepstorff L, Swagemakers JH, van Weeren PR, Serra Bragança FM. Range of motion and between-measurement variation of spinal kinematics in sound horses at trot on the straight line and on the lunge. PLoS One. 2020;15(2):e0222822.</ref> However, it is often difficult to distinguish whether the spine or limb is the primary cause of lameness in a horse as spinal problems are often related to limb lameness.<ref>Haussler KK. Review of the examination and treatment of back and pelvic disorders. AAEP Focus Meeting - Lameness and Imaging. 2007.</ref> | |||
A comprehensive assessment is, therefore, essential to determine the cause of lameness in a horse. As with any assessment, it is important to first obtain a subjective history of the equine patient, including background information, training / discipline history, history of presenting condition, past medical history and special questions / red flags. The subjective assessment is discussed in detail [[Subjective Assessment of the Equine Patient|here]]. | |||
The objective assessment will be guided by your findings in the subjective interview. A discussion of the overall objective assessment of horses is found [[Objective Assessment of the Equine Patient|here]], including conformation, gait and lameness assessments, range of motion, muscle strength, palpation and the neurological assessment. This page will discuss assessments specific to the equine spine that are not discussed in detail in the [[Objective Assessment of the Equine Patient|general assessment page]]. | |||
== Range of Motion == | |||
It is difficult to ask a horse to perform specific active movements of either the front or hind limbs, so active movement is best assessed during different gait activities. | |||
The horse’s stay mechanism (i.e. the tendinous structures that support the limbs during standing<ref>Gussekloo SW, Lankester J, Kersten W, Back W. Effect of differences in tendon properties on functionality of the passive stay apparatus in horses. Am J Vet Res. 2011 Apr;72(4):474-83. </ref>) makes localisation of passive testing to a specific joint difficult. Thus, careful observations of the horse’s responses to manipulations of its joints are very important.<ref name=":0">Van der Walt A. Assessment and Management of the Equine Spine Presentation. Physioplus, 2021.</ref> | |||
Abnormal responses to range of motion tests include:<ref name=":0" /> | |||
* Resistance to being moved | |||
* Excessive movement at proximal (more common) or distal motion segments | |||
* Excessive stance adjustments with the other limbs | |||
[[Category:Animal Physiotherapy]] | |||
[[Category:Course Pages]] | |||
Revision as of 12:01, 28 April 2021
Introduction[edit | edit source]
Back pain and dysfunction can lead to poor performance and cause changes in a horse’s spinal kinematics.[1] However, it is often difficult to distinguish whether the spine or limb is the primary cause of lameness in a horse as spinal problems are often related to limb lameness.[2]
A comprehensive assessment is, therefore, essential to determine the cause of lameness in a horse. As with any assessment, it is important to first obtain a subjective history of the equine patient, including background information, training / discipline history, history of presenting condition, past medical history and special questions / red flags. The subjective assessment is discussed in detail here.
The objective assessment will be guided by your findings in the subjective interview. A discussion of the overall objective assessment of horses is found here, including conformation, gait and lameness assessments, range of motion, muscle strength, palpation and the neurological assessment. This page will discuss assessments specific to the equine spine that are not discussed in detail in the general assessment page.
Range of Motion[edit | edit source]
It is difficult to ask a horse to perform specific active movements of either the front or hind limbs, so active movement is best assessed during different gait activities.
The horse’s stay mechanism (i.e. the tendinous structures that support the limbs during standing[3]) makes localisation of passive testing to a specific joint difficult. Thus, careful observations of the horse’s responses to manipulations of its joints are very important.[4]
Abnormal responses to range of motion tests include:[4]
- Resistance to being moved
- Excessive movement at proximal (more common) or distal motion segments
- Excessive stance adjustments with the other limbs
- ↑ Hardeman AM, Byström A, Roepstorff L, Swagemakers JH, van Weeren PR, Serra Bragança FM. Range of motion and between-measurement variation of spinal kinematics in sound horses at trot on the straight line and on the lunge. PLoS One. 2020;15(2):e0222822.
- ↑ Haussler KK. Review of the examination and treatment of back and pelvic disorders. AAEP Focus Meeting - Lameness and Imaging. 2007.
- ↑ Gussekloo SW, Lankester J, Kersten W, Back W. Effect of differences in tendon properties on functionality of the passive stay apparatus in horses. Am J Vet Res. 2011 Apr;72(4):474-83.
- ↑ 4.0 4.1 Van der Walt A. Assessment and Management of the Equine Spine Presentation. Physioplus, 2021.
