Abstract
Background: Little is known about the response of the equine respiratory muscles to training.
Objectives: To measure an index of inspiratory muscle strength (IMSi) before and after a period of conventional exercise training (phase 1) and inspiratory muscle training (IMT), comparing high-load (treatment) and low-load (control) groups (phase 2).
Study Design: Prospective randomised controlled trial.
Materials and Methods: Phase 1: Twenty National Hunt Thoroughbred racehorses performed an inspiratory muscle strength test (IMST) twice on two occasions; when unfit at timepoint A (July), and when race fit at timepoint B (October). Phase 2: Thirty-five Thoroughbred racehorses at race fitness were randomly assigned into a high-load (treatment, n=20) or low-load (control, n=15) IMT group. The high-load group followed an IMT protocol that gradually increased the inspiratory pressure applied every 4 days. The low-load group underwent sham IMT with a low training load. The IMT was performed 5 days/week for 10 weeks. The IMST was performed twice on two occasions, timepoint B (October) and timepoint C (January). Conventional exercise training and racing continued during the study period. The peak IMSi values obtained from the different groups at timepoints A, B, and C were compared using a Wilcoxon Signed Rank Test.
Results: Phase 1: There was a significant increase in IMSi from timepoint A: 22.5cmH2O (21-25) to timepoint B: 26cmH2O (24-30) (p=0.015). Phase 2: From timepoint B to C there was a significant increase in IMSi for the high load group 34cmH2O (28-36) (p=0.001) but not the low load group 26cmH2O (24-30) (p=0.929). The peak IMSi at timepoint C was significantly higher for the high-load than low-load group (p=0.019).
Main Limitations: Single centre study with only National Hunt horses undergoing race-training included.
Conclusions: In horses undergoing race training there is a significant increase in IMSi in response to conventional exercise training and high-load IMT.
Objectives: To measure an index of inspiratory muscle strength (IMSi) before and after a period of conventional exercise training (phase 1) and inspiratory muscle training (IMT), comparing high-load (treatment) and low-load (control) groups (phase 2).
Study Design: Prospective randomised controlled trial.
Materials and Methods: Phase 1: Twenty National Hunt Thoroughbred racehorses performed an inspiratory muscle strength test (IMST) twice on two occasions; when unfit at timepoint A (July), and when race fit at timepoint B (October). Phase 2: Thirty-five Thoroughbred racehorses at race fitness were randomly assigned into a high-load (treatment, n=20) or low-load (control, n=15) IMT group. The high-load group followed an IMT protocol that gradually increased the inspiratory pressure applied every 4 days. The low-load group underwent sham IMT with a low training load. The IMT was performed 5 days/week for 10 weeks. The IMST was performed twice on two occasions, timepoint B (October) and timepoint C (January). Conventional exercise training and racing continued during the study period. The peak IMSi values obtained from the different groups at timepoints A, B, and C were compared using a Wilcoxon Signed Rank Test.
Results: Phase 1: There was a significant increase in IMSi from timepoint A: 22.5cmH2O (21-25) to timepoint B: 26cmH2O (24-30) (p=0.015). Phase 2: From timepoint B to C there was a significant increase in IMSi for the high load group 34cmH2O (28-36) (p=0.001) but not the low load group 26cmH2O (24-30) (p=0.929). The peak IMSi at timepoint C was significantly higher for the high-load than low-load group (p=0.019).
Main Limitations: Single centre study with only National Hunt horses undergoing race-training included.
Conclusions: In horses undergoing race training there is a significant increase in IMSi in response to conventional exercise training and high-load IMT.
| Original language | English |
|---|---|
| Pages (from-to) | 1-9 |
| Journal | Equine Veterinary Journal |
| Early online date | 16 Jun 2022 |
| DOIs | |
| Publication status | E-pub ahead of print - 16 Jun 2022 |
Bibliographical note
Publisher Copyright:© 2022 The Authors. Equine Veterinary Journal published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd on behalf of EVJ Ltd.