Discussion on Trotting and suspensory stress
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Debra Dove
Member
Username: 9193
Post Number: 148
Registered: 7-2004
| | Posted on Friday, Jan 13, 2006 - 12:59 pm: |   |
While doing our trotting block on Justin, my daughter and I got to wondering which direction when trotting puts the most stress on the medial and lateral suspensories?
His injuries are the left front lateral and medial suspensory, with the medial more injured than the lateral.
I originally assumed that trotting to the left would place more stress on the suspensories because the leg is to the inside while making the turn. But we are wondering is there more stress on the medial or lateral suspensory?
What is happening on the opposite front leg?
Which suspensories are getting the greater stress when making turns and circles?
We are doing generous (larger than 20 meter circles and wide sweeping turns. When he is trotting balanced, off of the leg, relatively light on the forehand, on the bit and swinging his hindquarters, we can't decide which direction would be putting more stress on the left front leg.
I really do have a life!! This is just one of those wierd wonderments that came up between my daughter and I while we were timing our trot block session on Justin. My daughter laughed and suggested I send this to HA and see what we learn from our HA horse friends.
Thanks so much,
Smiles,
Debra |
LL
Member
Username: Frances
Post Number: 207
Registered: 3-2004
| | Posted on Saturday, Jan 14, 2006 - 6:38 am: | |
Hi Debra,
I seem to remember from the article that some suspensory sprains show up as lameness when the injured leg is on the OUTSIDE of a circle, so presumably that is when the greatest stress is felt.
But DrO will tell us ..... 
All the best,
Lynn |
Robert N. Oglesby DVM
Moderator
Username: Dro
Post Number: 14513
Registered: 1-1997
| | Posted on Saturday, Jan 14, 2006 - 10:59 am: | |
Great questions guys and I wish I did have clear information here but these type studies are very difficult and I have not seen any published studies on the difference in the m. and l. branches of the suspensory. In general I would assume that the inside of a lower leg receives more compressive force (weight) during weight bearing than the outside, with the respect to the lunging circle. Conversely the outside of a leg will receive more tension (pulling apart) force.
It would not surprise me to find that the way the horse goes in a circle makes a big difference in this equation. Some horses, like the experienced dressage horse, will do the circle in a very upright, well balanced manner and executes the circle by curving his body around the circle. I would say there is very little shift in the center of gravity and as a result little change in weight bearing. On the other hand there is the inexperienced lunger that tilts his body toward the center moving his center of gravity over the inside legs. These horses must have a remarkably greater load on the inside legs and because the foot does not land level far different forces on the inside of the leg compared with the outside.
I have seen several high suspensory/inf. check ligament strains that were worse on the outside and have a hard time explaining why. The best explanation I have read about this phenomena is that in this case the pain is worse under tension rather than compression. However this does not explain why the "head bob up" is still consistent when the outside leg is on the ground.
DrO |
