Romy wrote:
I have to admit that this is not really a topic that interests me very much, but maybe here is some of the research that you are looking for, Donald?
Evaluation of support bandaging during measurement of proximal sesamoidean ligament strain in horses by use of a mercury strain gauge.Unfortunately this is only the abstract, because it´s from one of the journals where I don´t have access with our university subscription, but here is the website of
Mr. Keegan (the first author) with his email address and he can surely send you the full article or direct you to related work on the topic.
You can also search further by clicking on "See all Related Articles" at the right side of the page in the link to the abstract that I posted.
Have fun!
Thank you, Romy.
The first article abstract in the list to the right did in fact have an interesting finding.
The first one you linked to I was unable to locate a finding or conclusion(s).
It stated what the strain mean was (6%) but no baseline figure to compare to. That is, what strain would be estimated to register without the support wrappings.
It seems to say 'some,' but the wraps are not evaluated against the whole set of support systems for comparison.
Unless I'm missing something and or reading it incorrectly.
The second one, however, did have an excellent comparison figure:
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/1245 ... scovery_RA
" Smith RK, McGuigan MP, Hyde JT, Daly AS, Pardoe CH, Lock AN, Wilson AM.
Department of Veterinary Clinical Sciences, The Royal Veterinary College, University of London, UK.
Metacarpophalangeal (MCP) joint extension is primarily resisted by the digital flexor tendons and suspensory ligament. A variety of external support techniques are used to protect these supporting structures from or after injury by resisting MCP joint extension, although not all are effective and/or practical for use in an exercising horse. In this study, 7 forelimbs were loaded in vitro to determine the effect of a simple gamgee bandage, a 3-layered bandage with and without a contoured palmar splint, a neoprene exercise boot, and an innovative carbon fibre composite exercise boot (Dalmar tendon support boot). There was no significant resistance to MCP joint extension by the gamgee or neoprene exercise boot. The 3-layered bandage had a significant (P<0.01) supporting effect at MCP angles of > or = 245 degrees, and when combined with the contoured splint at angles of > or = 230 degrees. The Dalmar tendon support boot resisted MCP extension at angles of > or = 245 degrees (settings 1 and 2) and > or = 225 degrees (setting 3). These data demonstrate that the contoured splint and the Dalmar tendon support boot (which is also easily fitted for use during exercise) are useful for the management of tendon/ligament injury and during rehabilitation.
PMID: 12455845 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE]
Related Links
* Influence of support boots on fetlock joint angle of the forelimb of "
Of course this is a comparison of related appliances or fixtures, such as common wraps and special wraps and contrivances to ease the stress pressure.
In other words, the first abstract may be saying and the second more clearly is saying that it's accepted that wrapping (of some kind or variety) does in fact provide relief and we are simply comparing between those kinds.
It is a lead though, and may bring up other leads, as searching can do.
I was not able to find the the email address from the page you referenced.
The name listed, with it being a link, in fact go to a document summary, just like the one we read with the first link from you.
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/1827 ... d_RVDocSum
Keegan, et al obviously do some significant research on leg and soundness, though I'm uncomfortable with descriptions that include things like "... induces lameness examined on a treatmill ..."
It might in time serve other horses, but I suspect research of that kind is more supported by the racing and other sports industries.
The mercury pressure gauge measurements are standard for many fields, and I'm vaguely familiar with it.
I'll look for more with search terms of "strain gauge" and parts of the horses lower leg. Especially fetlock and pastern.
Keegan does say this though, and as recently as last year, which as you know is very significant as to timelines in research:
"Keegan KG.
Department of Veterinary Medicine and Surgery, College of Veterinary Medicine, University of Missouri, Columbia, MO 65211, USA.
keegank@missouri.edu <keegank@missouri.edu>
Kinematic and kinetic gait analysis potentially offers veterinarians an objective method of determining equine limb lameness. Subjective analyses have been shown to be somewhat flawed, and there does not seem to be a high degree of intraobserver agreement when evaluating individual horses. In addition, recognition of the compensatory effects of primary lameness may be helpful for the practicing equine veterinarian."
This is then not an old outdated viewpoint.
This does not give me much hope for finding something definitive.
I am more inclined now to want to see more of posters here collected opinions, and their personal observations. Simon, emmerrie and others that have commented.
It's possible they do know of some research more hopeful than this we've just looked at.
I am not convinced protective wrapping, correctly, is either harmless or harmful at this point.
I'd like to be convinced.
If you followed it in Horsecare and Health, you know that I contributed a citation on vision in horses.
And I once had the very latest vet school information, and did eye exams myself with an opthalmoscope. The NEW information changed my understand profoundly.
So I'm not stuck with my own observations, so much as relying on them until I have better information. I never observed, in twenty years, protective wrapping causing harm to a horse.
But then, I'm no more willing to play Russian Roulette with wrapping as I am with non-wrapping. I want to KNOW. At least what current knowledge is.
And I think you know that I'm conservative in matters relating to horse and human safety. For others, if not sometimes for myself, and have the broken bones and scars to prove it.
I'll not protective wrap unless the situation really calls for it.
Thanks again. We forge ahead.
Donald Redux