Sport horses frequently injure tendons of the lower limb. Tendon boots are commonly applied for structural support and trauma prevention during competitions. However these boots may increase heat stress in the area. Two separate studies were carried out with the aim to improve understanding of the effect of boots on heat around the tendon area. Study 1 measured heat emitted from two types of boots (traditional and perforated, cross-over design) covering the superficial digital flexor tendon in 4 horses during a set ridden and lunged exercise test. Study 2, a field test, measured the effect of boot style (traditional, perforated and open fronted) on skin surface temperature in 130 horses, after completing a cross country event test (either a BE 100 three day event or a CIC* - two day short format event). An infrared thermometer was used to measure temperatures during both studies. Boots designed with perforations demonstrated greater heat emissions than traditional (non-perforated) boots (+3.5 ° C, P<0.01). In Study 2 mean tendon surface temperature for perforated type boots (28.0 °C) was significantly lower than for traditional boots (32.3 °C) and for open fronted tendon boots (31.1 °C) (P<0.001). As this was an applied field study, additional environmental factors, such as speed and fitness level of horses, may have influenced results. Although exact mechanisms leading to these findings and the link between heat and tendon injury needs to be researched further, it is advisable to design boots to minimise tendon exposure to high temperatures, which may contribute to tendon injury.
Purchase
Buy instant access (PDF download and unlimited online access):
Institutional Login
Log in with Open Athens, Shibboleth, or your institutional credentials
Personal login
Log in with your brill.com account
Bardy, E., Mollendorf, J. and Pendergast, D., 2006. A comparison of the thermal resistance of a foam neoprene wetsuit to a wetsuit fabricated from aerogel-syntactic foam hybrid insulation Journal of Physics D: Applied Physics 39: 4068-4076.
'A comparison of the thermal resistance of a foam neoprene wetsuit to a wetsuit fabricated from aerogel-syntactic foam hybrid insulation ' () 39 Journal of Physics D: Applied Physics : 4068 -4076 .
Birch, H.L., Wilson, A.M. and Goodship, A.E., 1997. The effect of exercise induced hyperthermia on tendon cell survival. Journal of Experimental Biology 200: 1703-1708.
'The effect of exercise induced hyperthermia on tendon cell survival ' () 200 Journal of Experimental Biology : 1703 -1708 .
Birch, H.L., Smith, T.J., Poulton, C., Peiffer, D. and Goodship, A.E., 2002. Do regional variations in flexor tendons predispose to site-specific injuries? Equine Veterinary Journal Suppl. 34: 288-292.
'Do regional variations in flexor tendons predispose to site-specific injuries? ' () Equine Veterinary Journal : 288 -292 .
Burrows, S., Patterson-Kane, J.C., Fleck, R.A. and Becker, D.L., 2008. Alterations in gap junction communication in tenocyte monolayers following an episode of hyperthermia. Transactions of the Orthopaedic Research Society 33: 0323.
'Alterations in gap junction communication in tenocyte monolayers following an episode of hyperthermia ' () 33 Transactions of the Orthopaedic Research Society : 0323 .
Ely, E.R., Avella, C.S., Price, J.S., Smith, R.K.W., Wood, J.L.N. and Verheyen, K.L.P., 2009. Descriptive epidemiology of fracture, tendon and suspensory ligament injuries in National Hunt racehorses in training. Equine Veterinary Journal 41: 372-378.
'Descriptive epidemiology of fracture, tendon and suspensory ligament injuries in National Hunt racehorses in training ' () 41 Equine Veterinary Journal : 372 -378 .
Holden, G., Kricheldorf, H.R. and Quirk, R.P., 2000. Thermoplastic elastomers. 3rd edition. Hanser Publisher, Munich, Germany.
Thermoplastic elastomers , ().
Malvankar, S. and Khan, W.S., 2011. Evolution of the Achilles tendon: the athlete's Achilles heel? Foot 21: 193-197.
'Evolution of the Achilles tendon: the athlete's Achilles heel? ' () 21 Foot : 193 -197 .
Murphy, J., 2008. Boots on horses: limb protection or hyperflexion training aids in the Showjumping horse. Journal of Applied Animal Welfare Science 11: 223-227.
'Boots on horses: limb protection or hyperflexion training aids in the Showjumping horse ' () 11 Journal of Applied Animal Welfare Science : 223 -227 .
Murray, R.C., Dyson, S.J., Tranquille, C. and Adams, V., 2006. Association of type of sport and performance level with anatomical site of orthopaedic injury diagnosis. Equine Veterinary Journal 38: 411-416.
'Association of type of sport and performance level with anatomical site of orthopaedic injury diagnosis ' () 38 Equine Veterinary Journal : 411 -416 .
Patterson-Kane, J.C. and Firth, E.C., 2009. The pathobiology of exercise-induced superficial digital flexor tendon injury in Thoroughbred racehorses. Veterinary Journal 181: 79-89.
'The pathobiology of exercise-induced superficial digital flexor tendon injury in Thoroughbred racehorses ' () 181 Veterinary Journal : 79 -89 .
Rouabah, F., Fois, M., Ibos, L., Boudenne, A., Dadache, D., Haddaoui, N. and Ausset, P., 2007. Mechanical and thermal properties of polycarbonate. II. Influence of titanium dioxide content and quenching on pigmented polycarbonate. Journal of Applied Polymer Science 106: 2710-2717.
'Mechanical and thermal properties of polycarbonate ' () 106 II. Influence of titanium dioxide content and quenching on pigmented polycarbonate. Journal of Applied Polymer Science : 2710 -2717 .
Singer, E.R., Barnes, J., Saxby, F. and Murray, J.K., 2008. Injuries in the event horse: training versus competition. Veterinary Journal 175: 76-81.
'Injuries in the event horse: training versus competition ' () 175 Veterinary Journal : 76 -81 .
Smith, R.K.W., 2004. Equine tendon adaptation to training: which type of exercise does what? In: Lindner, A. (ed.) The elite race and endurance horse. CESMAS 2004. AgPferd, Jülich, Germany, pp. 23-25.
The elite race and endurance horse. CESMAS 2004. AgPferd , () 23 -25 .
Wilson, A.M. and Goodship, A.E., 1994. Exercise-induced hyperthermia as a possible mechanism for tendon degeneration. Journal of Biomechanics 27: 899-905.
'Exercise-induced hyperthermia as a possible mechanism for tendon degeneration ' () 27 Journal of Biomechanics : 899 -905 .
Yamasaki, H., Goto, M., Yoshihara, T., Sekigushi, M., Konno, K., Momoi, Y. and Iwasaki, T., 2001. Exercise-induced superficial digital flexor tendon hyperthermia and the effect of cooling sheets on thoroughbreds. Journal of Equine Science 12: 85-91.
'Exercise-induced superficial digital flexor tendon hyperthermia and the effect of cooling sheets on thoroughbreds ' () 12 Journal of Equine Science : 85 -91 .
All Time | Past 365 days | Past 30 Days | |
---|---|---|---|
Abstract Views | 525 | 337 | 25 |
Full Text Views | 59 | 36 | 2 |
PDF Views & Downloads | 125 | 89 | 4 |
Sport horses frequently injure tendons of the lower limb. Tendon boots are commonly applied for structural support and trauma prevention during competitions. However these boots may increase heat stress in the area. Two separate studies were carried out with the aim to improve understanding of the effect of boots on heat around the tendon area. Study 1 measured heat emitted from two types of boots (traditional and perforated, cross-over design) covering the superficial digital flexor tendon in 4 horses during a set ridden and lunged exercise test. Study 2, a field test, measured the effect of boot style (traditional, perforated and open fronted) on skin surface temperature in 130 horses, after completing a cross country event test (either a BE 100 three day event or a CIC* - two day short format event). An infrared thermometer was used to measure temperatures during both studies. Boots designed with perforations demonstrated greater heat emissions than traditional (non-perforated) boots (+3.5 ° C, P<0.01). In Study 2 mean tendon surface temperature for perforated type boots (28.0 °C) was significantly lower than for traditional boots (32.3 °C) and for open fronted tendon boots (31.1 °C) (P<0.001). As this was an applied field study, additional environmental factors, such as speed and fitness level of horses, may have influenced results. Although exact mechanisms leading to these findings and the link between heat and tendon injury needs to be researched further, it is advisable to design boots to minimise tendon exposure to high temperatures, which may contribute to tendon injury.
All Time | Past 365 days | Past 30 Days | |
---|---|---|---|
Abstract Views | 525 | 337 | 25 |
Full Text Views | 59 | 36 | 2 |
PDF Views & Downloads | 125 | 89 | 4 |