Hereditary muscular disease is well described in racehorses, yet little is known about traumatic muscle disease associated with unaccustomed exercise or training. The objective of the study was to compare sedentary horses, racehorses undergoing training for the first time (unaccustomed exercise), and experienced racehorses during a training season (accustomed exercise) to investigate the effect of exercise and training on serum muscle enzyme activities and other variables.
Myology
Elevations in serum muscle enzyme activities in racehorses due to unaccustomed exercise and training
Journal: The Veterinary Record
Journal: American Journal of Veterinary Research
Objective—To assess differences in activities of back and pelvic limb muscles by use of surface electromyography (SEMG) in chronically lame and nonlame horses during walking and trotting. Animals—12 nonlame horses and 12 horses with unilateral chronic mild to moderate pelvic limb lameness. Procedures—On each horse, bipolar electrodes were attached to the skin over the midpoints of the right and left longissimus thoracis (Lot), semitendinosus (Set), biceps femoris (Bif), gluteus medius (Glm), and extensor digitorum longus (Edl) muscles.
Journal: American Journal of Veterinary Research
Objective—To evaluate whether administering a tart cherry juice blend (TCJB) prior to exercise would reduce skeletal and cardiac muscle damage by decreasing the inflammatory and oxidative stress response to exercise in horses.
Animals—6 horses.
Journal: American Journal of Veterinary Research
Objective—To determine insulin sensitivity, proportions of muscle fiber types, and activities of glycogenolytic and glycolytic enzymes in Belgians with and without polysaccharide storage myopathy (PSSM). Animals—10 Quarter Horses (QHs) and 103 Belgians in which PSSM status had been determined. Procedures—To determine insulin sensitivity, a hyperinsulinemic euglycemic clamp (HEC) technique was used in 5 Belgians with PSSM and 5 Belgians without PSSM. Insulin was infused IV at 3 mU/min/kg for 3 hours, and concentrations of blood glucose and plasma insulin were determined throughout.
Journal: Equine Veterinary Journal
Reasons for performing study: The longissimus dorsi is the largest muscle in the equine back and plays an important role in locomotor ability and performance in the horse. In vivo studies suggest that the mechanical function varies between different muscle segments, in part determined by anatomy. It is possible therefore that variations in function reflect variations in the anatomy of the longissimus dorsi along its length.
Objectives: To identify if there are regional variations in muscle architecture of the longissimus dorsi.
Journal: Equine Veterinary Journal
Abstract:Reasons for performing study: There are few detailed reports describing muscular disorders in Warmblood horses. Objectives: To determine the types of muscular disorders that occur in Warmblood horses, along with presenting clinical signs, associated risk factors and response to diet and exercise recommendations, and to compare these characteristics between horses diagnosed with polysaccharide storage myopathy (PSSM), those diagnosed with a neuromuscular disorder other than PSSM (non-PSSM) and control horses.