A pilot study on objective quantification and anatomical modelling of in vivo head and neck positions commonly applied in training and competition of sport horses

A E Elgersma; I D Wijnberg; J Sleutjens; J H van der Kolk; P R van Weeren; W Back

doi:10.1111/j.2042-3306.2010.00228.x

A pilot study on objective quantification and anatomical modelling of in vivo head and neck positions commonly applied in training and competition of sport horses

A E Elgersma, I D Wijnberg, J Sleutjens, J H van der Kolk, P R van Weeren, W Back

Department of Orthopedics, University Medical Center Utrecht, Utrecht, The Netherlands; Department of Equine Sciences, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Utrecht University, Utrecht, The Netherlands.

Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › Academic › peer-review

Abstract

REASONS FOR PERFORMING STUDY: Head and neck positions (HNP) in sport horses are under debate in the equine community, as they could interfere with equine welfare. HNPs have not been quantified objectively and no information is available on their head and neck loading.

OBJECTIVES: To quantify in vivo HNPs in sport horses and develop o a model to estimate loading on the cervical vertebrae in these positions.

METHODS: Videos were taken of 7 Warmbloods at walk on a straight line in 5 positions, representing all HNPs during Warmblood training and competition. Markers were glued at 5 anatomical landmarks. Two-dimensional angles and distances were determined from video frames for the 5 HNPs and statistically compared (P < 0.05). A new simulation model was developed to estimate nuchal ligament cervical loading at these HNPs.

RESULTS: The mean angles were significantly different between the 5 HNPs for the line between C1 and T6 with the horizontal and for the line connecting the facial crest (CF) and C1 with the vertical, while the vertical distance from CF to the lateral styloid process of the radius (PS) was significantly different between all 5 positions (P < 0.05). The estimated nuchal ligament loading appeared to be largest at the origin of C2 for all HNPs, except for the 'hyperextended' HNP5; the 'hyperflexed' HNP4 showed the largest loading values on the nuchal ligament origins at all locations.

CONCLUSIONS: HNPs can be accurately quantified in the sagittal plane from angles and distances based on standard anatomical landmarks and home-video captured images. Nuchal ligament loading showed the largest estimated values at its origin on C2 in hyperflexion (HNP4).

POTENTIAL RELEVANCE: Modelling opens further perspectives to eventually estimate loading for individual horses and thus ergonomically optimise their HNP, which may improve the welfare of the sport horse during training and competition.

Original language	English
Pages (from-to)	436-43
Number of pages	8
Journal	Equine veterinary journal. Supplement
Issue number	38
DOIs	https://doi.org/10.1111/j.2042-3306.2010.00228.x
Publication status	Published - Nov 2010

Keywords

Animals
Biomechanical Phenomena
Female
Head/physiology
Horses/physiology
Male
Models, Biological
Neck/physiology
Physical Conditioning, Animal
Posture
Sports
Videotape Recording

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10.1111/j.2042-3306.2010.00228.x

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Elgersma, A. E., Wijnberg, I. D., Sleutjens, J., van der Kolk, J. H., van Weeren, P. R., & Back, W. (2010). A pilot study on objective quantification and anatomical modelling of in vivo head and neck positions commonly applied in training and competition of sport horses. Equine veterinary journal. Supplement, (38), 436-43. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.2042-3306.2010.00228.x

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abstract = "REASONS FOR PERFORMING STUDY: Head and neck positions (HNP) in sport horses are under debate in the equine community, as they could interfere with equine welfare. HNPs have not been quantified objectively and no information is available on their head and neck loading.OBJECTIVES: To quantify in vivo HNPs in sport horses and develop o a model to estimate loading on the cervical vertebrae in these positions.METHODS: Videos were taken of 7 Warmbloods at walk on a straight line in 5 positions, representing all HNPs during Warmblood training and competition. Markers were glued at 5 anatomical landmarks. Two-dimensional angles and distances were determined from video frames for the 5 HNPs and statistically compared (P < 0.05). A new simulation model was developed to estimate nuchal ligament cervical loading at these HNPs.RESULTS: The mean angles were significantly different between the 5 HNPs for the line between C1 and T6 with the horizontal and for the line connecting the facial crest (CF) and C1 with the vertical, while the vertical distance from CF to the lateral styloid process of the radius (PS) was significantly different between all 5 positions (P < 0.05). The estimated nuchal ligament loading appeared to be largest at the origin of C2 for all HNPs, except for the 'hyperextended' HNP5; the 'hyperflexed' HNP4 showed the largest loading values on the nuchal ligament origins at all locations.CONCLUSIONS: HNPs can be accurately quantified in the sagittal plane from angles and distances based on standard anatomical landmarks and home-video captured images. Nuchal ligament loading showed the largest estimated values at its origin on C2 in hyperflexion (HNP4).POTENTIAL RELEVANCE: Modelling opens further perspectives to eventually estimate loading for individual horses and thus ergonomically optimise their HNP, which may improve the welfare of the sport horse during training and competition.",

keywords = "Animals, Biomechanical Phenomena, Female, Head/physiology, Horses/physiology, Male, Models, Biological, Neck/physiology, Physical Conditioning, Animal, Posture, Sports, Videotape Recording",

author = "Elgersma, {A E} and Wijnberg, {I D} and J Sleutjens and {van der Kolk}, {J H} and {van Weeren}, {P R} and W Back",

note = "{\textcopyright} 2010 EVJ Ltd.",

year = "2010",

month = nov,

doi = "10.1111/j.2042-3306.2010.00228.x",

language = "English",

pages = "436--43",

journal = "Equine veterinary journal. Supplement",

issn = "2042-3306",

publisher = "British Equine Veterinary Association",

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T1 - A pilot study on objective quantification and anatomical modelling of in vivo head and neck positions commonly applied in training and competition of sport horses

AU - Elgersma, A E

AU - Wijnberg, I D

AU - Sleutjens, J

AU - van der Kolk, J H

AU - van Weeren, P R

AU - Back, W

PY - 2010/11

Y1 - 2010/11

N2 - REASONS FOR PERFORMING STUDY: Head and neck positions (HNP) in sport horses are under debate in the equine community, as they could interfere with equine welfare. HNPs have not been quantified objectively and no information is available on their head and neck loading.OBJECTIVES: To quantify in vivo HNPs in sport horses and develop o a model to estimate loading on the cervical vertebrae in these positions.METHODS: Videos were taken of 7 Warmbloods at walk on a straight line in 5 positions, representing all HNPs during Warmblood training and competition. Markers were glued at 5 anatomical landmarks. Two-dimensional angles and distances were determined from video frames for the 5 HNPs and statistically compared (P < 0.05). A new simulation model was developed to estimate nuchal ligament cervical loading at these HNPs.RESULTS: The mean angles were significantly different between the 5 HNPs for the line between C1 and T6 with the horizontal and for the line connecting the facial crest (CF) and C1 with the vertical, while the vertical distance from CF to the lateral styloid process of the radius (PS) was significantly different between all 5 positions (P < 0.05). The estimated nuchal ligament loading appeared to be largest at the origin of C2 for all HNPs, except for the 'hyperextended' HNP5; the 'hyperflexed' HNP4 showed the largest loading values on the nuchal ligament origins at all locations.CONCLUSIONS: HNPs can be accurately quantified in the sagittal plane from angles and distances based on standard anatomical landmarks and home-video captured images. Nuchal ligament loading showed the largest estimated values at its origin on C2 in hyperflexion (HNP4).POTENTIAL RELEVANCE: Modelling opens further perspectives to eventually estimate loading for individual horses and thus ergonomically optimise their HNP, which may improve the welfare of the sport horse during training and competition.

AB - REASONS FOR PERFORMING STUDY: Head and neck positions (HNP) in sport horses are under debate in the equine community, as they could interfere with equine welfare. HNPs have not been quantified objectively and no information is available on their head and neck loading.OBJECTIVES: To quantify in vivo HNPs in sport horses and develop o a model to estimate loading on the cervical vertebrae in these positions.METHODS: Videos were taken of 7 Warmbloods at walk on a straight line in 5 positions, representing all HNPs during Warmblood training and competition. Markers were glued at 5 anatomical landmarks. Two-dimensional angles and distances were determined from video frames for the 5 HNPs and statistically compared (P < 0.05). A new simulation model was developed to estimate nuchal ligament cervical loading at these HNPs.RESULTS: The mean angles were significantly different between the 5 HNPs for the line between C1 and T6 with the horizontal and for the line connecting the facial crest (CF) and C1 with the vertical, while the vertical distance from CF to the lateral styloid process of the radius (PS) was significantly different between all 5 positions (P < 0.05). The estimated nuchal ligament loading appeared to be largest at the origin of C2 for all HNPs, except for the 'hyperextended' HNP5; the 'hyperflexed' HNP4 showed the largest loading values on the nuchal ligament origins at all locations.CONCLUSIONS: HNPs can be accurately quantified in the sagittal plane from angles and distances based on standard anatomical landmarks and home-video captured images. Nuchal ligament loading showed the largest estimated values at its origin on C2 in hyperflexion (HNP4).POTENTIAL RELEVANCE: Modelling opens further perspectives to eventually estimate loading for individual horses and thus ergonomically optimise their HNP, which may improve the welfare of the sport horse during training and competition.

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KW - Biomechanical Phenomena

KW - Female

KW - Head/physiology

KW - Horses/physiology

KW - Male

KW - Models, Biological

KW - Neck/physiology

KW - Physical Conditioning, Animal

KW - Posture

KW - Sports

KW - Videotape Recording

U2 - 10.1111/j.2042-3306.2010.00228.x

DO - 10.1111/j.2042-3306.2010.00228.x

M3 - Article

C2 - 21059042

SN - 2042-3306

SP - 436

EP - 443

JO - Equine veterinary journal. Supplement

JF - Equine veterinary journal. Supplement

IS - 38

ER -

A pilot study on objective quantification and anatomical modelling of in vivo head and neck positions commonly applied in training and competition of sport horses

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