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Effect of an Oral Joint Supplement on Orthopaedic Evaluation Scores and Limb Kinematics
Author(s) -
Murray R,
Walker V,
Tranquille C,
Adams V,
Frost R
Publication year - 2014
Publication title -
equine veterinary journal
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.82
H-Index - 87
eISSN - 2042-3306
pISSN - 0425-1644
DOI - 10.1111/evj.12267_134
Subject(s) - lameness , fetlock , medicine , crossover study , physical therapy , gait , placebo , surgery , alternative medicine , pathology
Numerous oral joint supplements are available, but there is limited research into their efficacy. This study evaluated the effect of an oral joint supplement on orthopaedic evaluation scores and limb kinematics in horses. Methods 24 mature horses (71% 1–4/10 lame) were included. Exclusions were poor body condition, health problems, or lameness >4/10. S upplement S ( F lex A bility TM , S cience S upplements, containing chondroitin sulphate 162 g/kg, glucosamine 190 g/kg, vitamin C 80 g/kg, methyl sulphonyl methane 256 g/kg, DHA 66 g/kg); EPA 34 g/kg; or placebo P (carrier/flavours only) were fed to horses for 21 days each in a random order triple‐blind crossover design. Horses were evaluated at day 0 (baseline), 21 (after first treatment) and 42 (after second treatment). Clinical orthopaedic evaluation for straight line and lungeing circle (walk and trot), and during ridden exercise (walk, trot and canter) was performed. Side‐view high‐speed motion‐capture (240 H z) determined midstance tarsal flexion, carpal extension and fetlock extension for straight line trotting. All evaluators were blinded to treatment. Effect of treatment, sequence, limb and interactions were investigated using linear mixed models. Results S was associated with significantly lower lameness grade in a straight line (P = 0.001) with individual horses improving up to 2/10 grades and circle (P = 0.010) than either P or baseline. For horses with hindlimb lameness, supplement S was associated with significantly greater tarsal flexion than baseline (4.2% greater, P<0.02) or P (2.7% greater, P<0.037). Conclusions Oral administration of supplement S was associated with less lameness than P or baseline. Increased midstance tarsal flexion of lame limbs may indicate improved mobility or comfort during peak loading. Ethical Animal Research Explicit owner informed consent for participation in this study is not stated. Sources of funding: W orld H orse W elfare, S cience S upplements. Competing interests: R ebecca F rost is employed by S cience S upplements. V icki A dams and R achel M urray are involved with S cience S upplements on a consultancy basis.