VETERINARY BIOMECHANICS AND INJURY PREVENTION IN RACEHORSES

Abstract

This paper examines biomechanical factors that expose racehorses to the risk of being injured and etal analyses of how to ensure that they are not injured.  We investigated biomechanics of locomotion locomotor mechanics and ground reaction force (GRF) at high speed among Thoroughbreds in training in various environments with the use of high-speed kinematic analysis and GRF platforms.  The high vGRF and irregular limbs greatly increased the probability of horses in having joint and tendon issues.  Indeed, wearable sensors allowed constantly monitoring gait and detecting biomechanical alterations that occur when one is fatigued at their earliest stages.  It was found by statistical study, that measures such as surface modulation and physiotherapy, which are specifically tailored to the individual, reduced injury levels by 42%.  A model based on limb loads, stride variability and angular joint kinematics in predicting injury risk was 85 percent accurate.  Such findings indicate the value of real-time biomechanical profiling as a way of enhancing performance of racing horses and preventing major injuries.