Rehabilitation: Proprioception, Incoordination, and Paresis

Area of Science:

• Equine physiotherapy
• Animal rehabilitation science
• Veterinary sports medicine

Background:

• Physiotherapeutic exercises are standard in human physical therapy for motor control, flexibility, and stability.
• These exercises demonstrably reduce pain and reinjury rates in human patients.
• Equine physiotherapy also utilizes exercises to enhance core strength and improve spinal kinematics.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate the role of core strengthening exercises in equine patients.
• To understand how these exercises activate deep epaxial musculature.
• To determine the impact on postural motor control and thoracolumbar kinematics in horses.

Main Methods:

• Investigation of baited and passive exercises for equine core strengthening.
• Analysis of exercises promoting stretching during dynamic phases.
• Analysis of exercises promoting strengthening during static phases.

Main Results:

• Core strengthening exercises activate deep epaxial musculature in horses.
• Improved postural motor control and altered thoracolumbar kinematics were observed.
• Both baited and passive exercises offer distinct benefits for stretching and strengthening.

Conclusions:

• Equine physiotherapy exercises are effective for improving motor control, flexibility, and stability.
• Individualized exercise prescription is essential, considering handler safety and patient ability.
• A blanket approach to exercise prescription is not advised for equine rehabilitation.