What question did this study set out to answer?

This research aims to measure superficial muscle activity in horses during various dynamic mobilization and therapeutic trunk exercises.

May 21, 2026Open Access

View Full Paper

The effect of dynamic mobilization exercises and therapeutic trunk exercises on superficial epaxial and hypaxial muscle activity in horses

LHL.M. HarrisonThe University of Queensland LGL.B. St. GeorgeUniversity of Lancashire LGL.M. GoffQueensland University of Technology

Key Points

This research aims to measure superficial muscle activity in horses during various dynamic mobilization and therapeutic trunk exercises.
Bilateral surface electromyography data were collected from 7 horses performing exercises: dynamic mobilization to chest, dynamic mobilization to hip, lateral tail pulls, and pelvic rounding.
Muscle activity was analyzed using average rectified values calculated and grouped by movement direction (ipsilateral, contralateral).
Linear mixed models were used to assess associations between different exercises and muscle activity, with horse as a random effect.
Ipsilateral dynamic mobilization to hip showed significantly greater muscle activity for external abdominal oblique (207.0 [178.7, 235.4]), rectus abdominus (172.1 [140.8, 203.4]), and longissimus dorsi at T14 (136.8 [126.4, 147.3]).
Longissimus dorsi at L1 demonstrated higher activity during both ipsilateral dynamic mobilization to hip (120.4 [114.9-125.9]) and pelvic rounding (123.0 [117.5, 128.5]).
The findings indicate that dynamic mobilization exercises are effective for activating specific trunk muscles.

Abstract

• Greatest rectus abdominus (RA) activity during dynamic mobilisation to hip (DMEHip) • Longissimus dorsi (LD) activity greatest at L1 during pelvic rounding and DMEHip • Greatest external abdominal oblique (EAO) and LD at T14 activity during DMEHip • Greater ipsi- than contralateral muscle activity in DMEHip and lateral tail pulls • Across exercises, the lowest EAO, RA, and LD activity occurred during DME to chest Equine back rehabilitation commonly integrates dynamic mobilization exercises (DME), including DME to the chest (DMEChest) and DME to the hip (DMEHip), and therapeutic trunk (TTE) exercises, including pelvic rounding (Rounding), and lateral tail pulls (LatTail). However, limited evidence supports their use for selectively activating trunk muscles. To quantify and compare superficial epaxial and hypaxial muscle activity during selected DMEs and TTEs using surface electromyography (sEMG). Increased muscle activity was hypothesized across exercises, specifically in external abdominal oblique (EAO) during lateral bending (DMEHip, LatTail), and longissimus dorsi (LD) and rectus abdominus (RA) during spinal flexion (DMEChest, Rounding) exercises. Bilateral sEMG data, from the EAO, RA, and LD (T14 and L1) of n=7 horses executing DMEChest, DMEHip, LatTail, and Rounding, were band-pass filtered (40-450 Hz), full-wave rectified, and amplitude normalized. Average rectified value (ARV) was calculated and grouped by movement direction (ipsilateral, contralateral) for DMEHip and LatTail. Linear mixed models assessed associations between exercise and normalized ARV, with horse as a random effect. Compared to other exercises, estimated marginal mean ARV (%) 95% CI was significantly greater (P < 0.05) during ipsilateral DMEHip for EAO (207.0, 178.7, 235.4), RA (172.1, 140.8, 203.4) and LD at T14 (136.8, 126.4, 147.3), and during both ipsilateral DMEHip (120.4, 114.9 -125.9) and Rounding (123.0 117.5, 128.5) for LD at L1. Findings support the use of DMEs and TTEs for the targeted activation of EAO, RA and LD, particularly during DMEHip and Rounding where the greatest increases in muscle activity were observed.

KI fragen

Bookmark

View Full Paper

Cite This Study

Harrison et al. (Fri,) studied this question.

synapsesocial.com/papers/6a0ea074be05d6e3efb5f259 https://doi.org/https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jevs.2026.105940

KI fragen

Bookmark

View Full Paper