Biomechanics & Movement Analysis Flashcards

How does shoeing with elevated heels affect the biomechanics of the equine forelimb and spine?

Answer: Reduces deep digital flexor tension and shifts the horse's center of mass caudally

Elevated heels reduce tension in the deep digital flexor tendon and shift weight distribution caudally, temporarily offloading palmar foot structures — but may increase proximal limb and spinal loading.

Which of the following best explains why horses with 'cold back' syndrome (muscle spasm on saddling) are at risk of compensatory cervical dysfunction?

Answer: Thoracolumbar pain causes the horse to raise and stiffen the neck to shift weight forward, loading the cervical facets

Thoracolumbar pain prompts the horse to adopt a raised, stiff neck posture to shift the center of mass forward and offload the painful back, chronically overloading cervical facet joints.

What is the clinical relevance of assessing the 'pelvic tilt' (rotation in the sagittal plane) in a chiropractic examination?

Answer: Anterior pelvic tilt increases lumbosacral compression and hindlimb engagement capacity

Anterior pelvic tilt (ventral rotation) increases lumbosacral compression and can restrict hindlimb engagement, while posterior tilt facilitates collection and propulsion.

A horse showing unilateral gluteal muscle atrophy most likely has dysfunction at which anatomical location?

Answer: Ipsilateral sacroiliac joint or lumbosacral region causing reduced nerve supply or disuse

Ipsilateral sacroiliac or lumbosacral dysfunction reduces nerve supply to the gluteal muscles and/or causes chronic weight-shifting off that limb, leading to disuse atrophy.

Which of the following describes the 'reciprocal apparatus' in the equine hindlimb and its biomechanical significance?

Answer: A ligamentous system that links stifle and hock flexion-extension so they move together, storing and releasing energy

The reciprocal apparatus (peroneus tertius and superficial digital flexor) mechanically links the stifle and hock so they flex and extend simultaneously, enabling passive energy storage and release.

In equine chiropractic practice, motion palpation of the atlantoaxial (C1–C2) joint primarily assesses which motion plane?

Answer: Axial rotation

The atlantoaxial joint is specialized for axial rotation (the 'yes-yes' turn left/right), and motion palpation at this level primarily assesses rotational mobility.

When a horse consistently 'breaks' at the third or fourth cervical vertebra rather than at the poll during lateral flexion, what does this indicate from a chiropractic perspective?

Answer: Restricted poll mobility causing compensatory hypermobility at the mid-cervical level

Breaking at mid-cervical vertebrae instead of the poll indicates restricted atlanto-occipital or atlantoaxial motion, forcing the more mobile mid-cervical joints to compensate.