Evaluation of water treadmill training, lunging and treadmill training in the rehabilitation of horses with back pain
Abstract Background Data about efficacy of different training modalities during rehabilitation of horses with back pain is scarce. The aim of this study was to analyze the effect of water treadmill training, lunging and dry treadmill training in horses with back pain. Materials and methods Eighteen...
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BMC
2025-07-01
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| Series: | BMC Veterinary Research |
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| Online Access: | https://doi.org/10.1186/s12917-025-04950-2 |
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| author | Tobias Geiger Liesa Lindenhahn Julien Delarocque Florian Geburek |
| author_facet | Tobias Geiger Liesa Lindenhahn Julien Delarocque Florian Geburek |
| author_sort | Tobias Geiger |
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| description | Abstract Background Data about efficacy of different training modalities during rehabilitation of horses with back pain is scarce. The aim of this study was to analyze the effect of water treadmill training, lunging and dry treadmill training in horses with back pain. Materials and methods Eighteen warmblood riding horses referred with confirmed clinical signs of back pain including abnormal responses to passive mobilisation were randomized into three groups to participate in a 6-week water treadmill training, lunging or dry treadmill program under otherwise identical conditions. Two clinicians, one blinded to the program, performed a structured clinical examination of the back at three time-points (baseline, week 3, week 6). Mechanical nociceptive thresholds were determined with pressure algometry. Results Visual muscle development scores for the lumbar region (p = 0.001) and palpation sensitivity scores along the thoracic and lumbar region significantly improved at week 6, compared to baseline (p < 0.001). No differences in mechanical nociceptive thresholds were detected between water treadmill training, lunging and dry treadmill training at any time-point (p > 0.05). At week 3 and 6 of all programs mechanical nociceptive thresholds significantly increased at the level of the 10th to 18th thoracic (T18) and 3rd lumbar vertebra (L3) compared to baseline. Discussion/Main limitations Small group size, lack of control group with ridden rehabilitation exercise. Conclusions Different training programs without a rider could be beneficial for horses with back pain. Water treadmill training seems equivalent to dry treadmill training and lunging to increase mechanical nociceptive thresholds in the region with main saddle contact. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-b4df79c7ee8a431a990058f868ebb075 |
| institution | Kabale University |
| issn | 1746-6148 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2025-07-01 |
| publisher | BMC |
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| series | BMC Veterinary Research |
| spelling | doaj-art-b4df79c7ee8a431a990058f868ebb0752025-08-20T03:46:03ZengBMCBMC Veterinary Research1746-61482025-07-0121111310.1186/s12917-025-04950-2Evaluation of water treadmill training, lunging and treadmill training in the rehabilitation of horses with back painTobias Geiger0Liesa Lindenhahn1Julien Delarocque2Florian Geburek3Clinic for Horses, University of Veterinary Medicine HanoverClinic for Horses, University of Veterinary Medicine HanoverClinic for Horses, University of Veterinary Medicine HanoverClinic for Horses, University of Veterinary Medicine HanoverAbstract Background Data about efficacy of different training modalities during rehabilitation of horses with back pain is scarce. The aim of this study was to analyze the effect of water treadmill training, lunging and dry treadmill training in horses with back pain. Materials and methods Eighteen warmblood riding horses referred with confirmed clinical signs of back pain including abnormal responses to passive mobilisation were randomized into three groups to participate in a 6-week water treadmill training, lunging or dry treadmill program under otherwise identical conditions. Two clinicians, one blinded to the program, performed a structured clinical examination of the back at three time-points (baseline, week 3, week 6). Mechanical nociceptive thresholds were determined with pressure algometry. Results Visual muscle development scores for the lumbar region (p = 0.001) and palpation sensitivity scores along the thoracic and lumbar region significantly improved at week 6, compared to baseline (p < 0.001). No differences in mechanical nociceptive thresholds were detected between water treadmill training, lunging and dry treadmill training at any time-point (p > 0.05). At week 3 and 6 of all programs mechanical nociceptive thresholds significantly increased at the level of the 10th to 18th thoracic (T18) and 3rd lumbar vertebra (L3) compared to baseline. Discussion/Main limitations Small group size, lack of control group with ridden rehabilitation exercise. Conclusions Different training programs without a rider could be beneficial for horses with back pain. Water treadmill training seems equivalent to dry treadmill training and lunging to increase mechanical nociceptive thresholds in the region with main saddle contact.https://doi.org/10.1186/s12917-025-04950-2EquineBack painRehabilitationTreadmill trainingLungingPressure algometry |
| spellingShingle | Tobias Geiger Liesa Lindenhahn Julien Delarocque Florian Geburek Evaluation of water treadmill training, lunging and treadmill training in the rehabilitation of horses with back pain BMC Veterinary Research Equine Back pain Rehabilitation Treadmill training Lunging Pressure algometry |
| title | Evaluation of water treadmill training, lunging and treadmill training in the rehabilitation of horses with back pain |
| title_full | Evaluation of water treadmill training, lunging and treadmill training in the rehabilitation of horses with back pain |
| title_fullStr | Evaluation of water treadmill training, lunging and treadmill training in the rehabilitation of horses with back pain |
| title_full_unstemmed | Evaluation of water treadmill training, lunging and treadmill training in the rehabilitation of horses with back pain |
| title_short | Evaluation of water treadmill training, lunging and treadmill training in the rehabilitation of horses with back pain |
| title_sort | evaluation of water treadmill training lunging and treadmill training in the rehabilitation of horses with back pain |
| topic | Equine Back pain Rehabilitation Treadmill training Lunging Pressure algometry |
| url | https://doi.org/10.1186/s12917-025-04950-2 |
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