Hostname: page-component-586b7cd67f-rdxmf Total loading time: 0 Render date: 2024-11-26T11:14:28.692Z Has data issue: false hasContentIssue false
  • English
  • Français

Hoof landing velocity is related to track surface properties in trotting horses

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  09 March 2007

Jeremy F Burn  and
Steven J Usmar
Jeremy F Burn*
Affiliation:
Department of Anatomy, University of Bristol, Southwell Street, Bristol BS2 8EJ, UK
Steven J Usmar
Affiliation:
Department of Anatomy, University of Bristol, Southwell Street, Bristol BS2 8EJ, UK
*
*[email protected]
Get access

Abstract

The resistance of a track surface to deformation is known to be positively related to the magnitude of foot impact experienced during locomotion. Although passive mechanics suggests that this might be entirely due to the action of the track surface material decelerating the foot, it is also possible that the dynamics of locomotion are altered in a way that changes the landing velocity of the foot. The observed relationship between track properties and foot impact would then be due to a combination of the direct effect of the surface material and altered foot kinematics at impact. In this study we measured hoof landing velocity, stance time and limb landing angle in horses trotting over surfaces that differed significantly in their deformability. In comparison with a surface that underwent negligible deformation during stance phase, a surface that deformed 25 mm led to significantly increased stance time, significantly greater leg landing angle and significantly greater hoof landing velocity. Although the increased hoof landing velocity would act to counteract the increased shock absorption on the softer surface, we suggest that this effect is relatively small.

Keywords

impactkinematicscompliancegait
Type
Research Paper
Information
Equine and Comparative Exercise Physiology , Volume 2 , Issue 1 , February 2005 , pp. 37 - 41
Copyright
Copyright © Cambridge University Press 2005

Access options

Get access to the full version of this content by using one of the access options below. (Log in options will check for institutional or personal access. Content may require purchase if you do not have access.)

References

1Folman, Y, Wosk, J, Voloshin, A and Liberty, S (1986) Cyclic impacts on heel strike: a possible biomechanical factor in the etiology of degenerative disease of the human locomotor system. Archives of Orthopaedic and Trauma Surgery 104: 363–365.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
2Radin, EL, Orr, RB, Kelman, JL, Paul, IL and Rose, RM (1982) Effect of prolonged walking on concrete on the knees of sheep. Journal of Biomechanics 15: 487–492.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
3Simon, SR, Paul, IL, Mansour, J, Munro, M, Abernethy, PJ and Radin, EL (1981) Peak dynamic force in human gait. Journal of Biomechanics 14: 817–822.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
4Nigg, BM, Bahlsen, HA, Luethi, SM, Stokes, S (1987) The influence of running velocity and midsole hardness on external impact forces in heel toe running. Journal of Biomechanics 20: 951–959.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
5Burn, JF, Wilson, A and Nason, GP (1997) Impact during equine locomotion: techniques for measurement and analysis. Equine Veterinary Journal Supplement 23: 9–12.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
6Benoit, P, Barrey, E, Regnault, JC and Brochet, JL (1993) Comparison of the damping effect of different shoeing by measurement of hoof acceleration. Acta Anatomica 146: 109–113.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
7Whittle, MW (1999) Generation and attenuation of transient impulsive forces beneath the foot: a review. Gait and Posture 10: 264–275.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
8Barrey, E, Landjerit, B and Wolter, R (1991) Shock and vibration during hoof impact on different track surfaces. Equine Exercise Physiology 3: 97–106.Google Scholar
9Ferris, DP, Liang, K and Farley, CT (1999) Runners adjust leg stiffness for their first step on a new running surface. Journal of Biomechanics 32: 787–794.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
10Moritz, CT and Farley, CT (2003) Human hopping on damped surfaces: strategies for adjusting leg mechanics. Proceedings of the Royal Society of London. Series B. Biological Sciences 270: 1741–1746.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
11Lejeune, TM, Willems, PA and Heglund, NC (1998) Mechanics and energetics of human locomotion on sand. Journal of Experimental Biology 201: 2071–2080.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
12Drevemo, S and Hjerten, G (1991) Evaluation of a shock absorbing layer on a harness racetrack. Equine Exercise Physiology 3: 107–112.Google Scholar
13Cheney, JA, Shen, CK and Wheat, JD (1973) Relationship of racetrack surface to lameness in the Thoroughbred racehorse. American Journal of Veterinary Research 34: 1285–1289.Google ScholarPubMed
14Sprigings, E and Leach, D (1986) Standardised technique for determining the centre of gravity of the body and limb segments of horses. Equine Veterinary Journal 18: 43–49.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
15Hodson, E, Clayton, HM, and Lanovaz, JL (2001) The hindlimb in walking horses: 1. Kinematics and ground reaction forces. Equine Veterinary Journal 33: 38–43.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
16Back, W, Hartman, W, Schamhardt, HC, Bruin, G and Barnveld, A (1995) Kinematic response to a 70 day training period in trotting Dutch Warmbloods. Equine Veterinary Journal Supplement 18: 127–131.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
17Deuel, NR and Park, J (1993) Gallop kinematics of three-day event horses. Acta Anatomica 146: 166–174.Google ScholarPubMed