Equine Underwater treadmills: Low Impact Exercise for Performance & Rehab

Equine Underwater treadmills: Low Impact Exercise for Performance & Rehab

A common piece of equipment for equine rehabilitation and training is the underwater treadmill. This type of treadmill submerges the horse to chest-deep in water while walking.

It is becoming more popular to work horses in the water as it offers low-impact exercises, encourages them to use their joints fully, and builds muscle.

The use of water treadmills in the training of performance horses is common as they allow for whole-body exercise without placing excessive strain on the heart and lungs. Water treadmills are used by many riders to cross-train their horses and improve performance.

Underwater treadmills are a great way to help horses recover from injuries, particularly those that involve joints, ligaments or tendons. They provide a controlled and safe environment for them to get back to work.

Equine Water Treadmills: Benefits and Uses

The use of underwater treadmills for training horses has many benefits over high-speed treadmills (land treadmills). They provide increased muscle resistance and allow the trainer to have greater control.

Submerging an exercising horse in water allows for a unique combination between movement complexity and joint support.

Buoyancy

The buoyancy is the force that water exerts on objects when they are submerged in water. Objects with high buoyancy are those that float well, while objects that sink tend to have low buoyancy.

During water treadmill sessions, buoyancy decreases the weight on the horse’s feet, reducing the concussive forces on the joints. Equine functional body weight is the measurement of the weight on the horse’s hooves in relation to buoyancy.

Swimming and other underwater activities are low-impact because they reduce the overall concussive forces. Running on land is a high-impact activity that puts concussive forces on the joints.

The water treadmill is popular with horses who are recovering from injury or joint strain. It allows them to recondition their muscles without damaging the joints.

The amount of buoyancy on the horse can be adjusted by the practitioner. Water at the elbow or stifle level reduces the functional bodyweight by 10%. Water at the hip level reduces the functional bodyweight by 75%.

The water level is often increased to maximize buoyancy during rehabilitation, and then reduced as the horse gains strength and becomes better able of bearing weight when moving.

Resistance

Water is denser than air. This means that a horse will experience more drag (resistance) in water as compared to walking on land.

As the horse moves faster, more drag is created, increasing the amount of effort needed to move the horse. This increased resistance causes most horses to walk at a 50% slower pace on a treadmill.

This principle is used by rehabilitation practitioners to increase the workload on muscles, while reducing the demand on respiratory and cardiovascular systems (lungs and hearts). This method helps to build muscle strength without requiring intense cardiovascular activity.

Water Pressure

Water pressure is created by the weight of the water. Water pressure is the force that causes this. It can be beneficial for certain types of injuries. Water pressure is created when a horse walks in a water treadmill. The water will compress the legs and other body parts submerged.

The increased pressure encourages fluid drainage in the limb, which reduces swelling. Reduced swelling increases joint range of movement and reduces temporary pain.

A pressure increase can also activate nerves that are associated with normal movement of joints. As a response to an injury, joints can cause the muscles associated with them to be inhibited (reduced in function). The nerves inhibiting joint function can prevent further injury but must be reversed in rehabilitation to gain full range of movement.

Improved postural stability can be achieved by using water pressure to reactivate muscle groups that have been inhibited by pain. In a study on horses with knee osteoarthritis, water treadmill exercises improved their balance and muscle control while on land.

The water treadmill training improved conformation, which is likely to have led to a decrease in lameness scores.

In human medicine, research has shown that water pressure can stimulate nerve endings to activate muscles and reduce inhibition. This process can restore normal muscle function around the injured joint. It also helps to reverse and prevent muscle loss associated with an injury.

Uses

Water treadmills are used by veterinarians, rehabilitation practitioners and trainers to condition high-performance horses and for injury recovery protocols.

Most trainers recommend water treadmill exercises for conditioning no more than 1-2 times per week. The speed, depth of water, and duration can be adjusted by practitioners to challenge horses without straining or fatigue.

The lack of research to support the use of equine treadmills in rehabilitation is a major obstacle. Therefore, the speed, depth of water, and duration of exercise will depend on the individual practitioner’s evaluation and the horse.

Water treadmills can be beneficial for a variety of conditions, including:

* Suspensory Ligament or Tendon Injuries

* Overriding dorsal spinous processes (“kissing spine”)

* Pain in the sacroiliac joint (joint between the pelvis and lower back).

* Arthritis

*Reconditioning after Surgery

Preparation

To minimize the risk of injury for horses and their handlers, it’s important to properly prepare before beginning equine treadmill training.

Each water treadmill enclosure should have a set of safety procedures that are reviewed and updated regularly. When working with horses in the treadmill enclosure, handlers should wear protective gear such as gloves, helmets and closed-toed shoes.

Preparing the horse to use a water treadmill includes:

Make sure the horse is free of any wounds or scratches on its skin

The horse’s shoe must be checked to make sure it is secure

* Cleaning the legs of the horse and picking the feet

* Wrapping up the tail

These steps minimize the risk of injury as well as the contamination of water.

Habituation

To become familiar with the water treadmill, all horses need a period of 3-4 sessions. Water treadmills are quickly adapted by most horses with a slow, appropriate introduction.

The current recommendation for habituation is three sessions of fifteen minutes over three days with a gradual increase in the water depth each day. It is important that the sessions are not rushed and the horse has enough time to get used to the sounds, smells and sights associated with the water treadmill.

To help horses adjust to the water treadmill, some horses benefit from a light sedation before their first session.

Idealy, by the time the horse has completed the first session of habituation, he should be able to walk comfortably and consistently in water up to his fetlocks for 10-15 minutes.

Water Treadmill Workout Designs

The speed, the depth of the water, and the duration of the exercise can be adjusted to achieve the desired effect.

Speed up

Water treadmills, unlike land treadmills, are not used primarily for cardio training at high speeds. Due to the greater effort required, most practitioners use water treadmills only for walking horses.

It is also widely believed that water treadmills can be used at the walk without needing to trot. In the United Kingdom, only 1 in 10 water treadmill users regularly exercised their horses on water treadmills in trot.

Water Depth

The workload of the horse increases significantly when the water depth is increased. According to one study, water depth affects oxygen consumption and heart rates more than treadmill speed.

Water depth is often used to increase the difficulty level of water treadmill exercises, rather than speed. Many practitioners use water up to the level of the hocks during training sessions.

Water depth can be used by practitioners to target specific goals for rehabilitation in horses that have been injured. In rehabilitation, the water level is often used to target specific muscles.

Duration of Exercise

Water treadmill training can cause muscle strain and fatigue, even though it is less demanding on the heart and lungs. During their training sessions, practitioners monitor horses to make sure they do not show signs of fatigue which can lead to further injury.

Muscle fatigue can be identified by:

Horse leaning on one side of the treadmill

* Horses moving from the middle to the front or back of the treadmill.

* Head movement that is excessive

The horse’s step rhythm is irregular

If the horse is showing signs of fatigue, it should not be allowed to continue using the water treadmill. The speed and depth of the water should also be evaluated before the next session.

In a survey, practitioners reported that sessions on the equine treadmill ranged from 5 to 54 minutes. In general, practitioners prefer longer sessions to train and shorter sessions for rehabilitation.

Evidence to Support Your Claim

The majority of scientific research on equine aquatic treadmills is focused on their use for performance conditioning rather than rehabilitation.

Effects on posture and gait

Horses move differently on land due to the combined effects of drag and buoyancy.

The therapeutic effects of water depth can be achieved by increasing the flexion in the lower limbs and the lower back. Water at the hock level can increase the range of motion of the knee while water at the stifle height increases the range of movement of the hocks.

The horse will take fewer and slower steps as the water depth increases. Researchers have suggested that water treadmills can improve the performance of dressage horse, since long, slow strides are desired in this discipline.

The increased drag of water can also promote muscle development in the hindlimbs, which is beneficial for sport horses that require collected movements like dressage or reining.

Water treadmill exercises may help to promote a flexed back posture, which can be beneficial for conditions like overriding of dorsal spine processes (kissing spinal).

It is important that the water level at the treatment area of the water treadmill is the same as the height of the horse’s neck. The horse’s neck is submerged.

According to studies, increasing the water depth causes the spine to round towards the pelvis and cause extension (hollowing).

These opposing forces can cause further injury or strain if they are not managed properly by the practitioner.

Exercise Intensity

Exercise on a water treadmill is low-intensity and has a similar impact to exercising over raised poles. Water treadmills can be used to replace other low-intensity exercise such as ground schooling.

Numerous studies have shown that walking on the ground or using a water treadmill does not increase the heart rate of horses significantly. Studies show that horses’ maximum heart rates on water treadmills are around 140 beats per minutes, as opposed to 160 or more beats per minute when galloping or in swimming.

Water treadmill training did not improve cardiovascular performance in long-term studies conducted over periods of 4 to 8 weeks.

In one study, racehorses who exercised on a water treadmill for 18 days showed a 16% greater oxygen intake capacity than horses who did not. This suggests that water treadmill exercises may increase endurance and oxygen capacities in horses while maintaining low cardiac effort.

Rehabilitation

Few studies have been conducted on the effectiveness of water treadmills for treating lameness in horses. Water treadmills can help horses with arthritis in the knees to improve their postural stability, which could promote joint stability and balance.

Studies show that water treadmill exercises can improve recovery rates, increase muscle mass and increase joint range-of-motion in dogs. Many of these studies used a combination therapy, so it is not clear what the water treadmill exercise does.

Humans have shown that aquatic exercise improves muscular timing and control. This may be useful for rehabilitating horses suffering from neurologic diseases (diseases affecting the nervous systems).

There are no studies currently on the efficacy of water treadmills in treating equine neurological disease. However, there have been anecdotal accounts that suggest this method may be useful.

Water treadmill exercises can be used to help improve muscle control in neurologic conditions. The sessions should be increased gradually and the water depth changed frequently.

Side Effects

Healthy horses can use water treadmills as part of their conditioning program or to maintain performance. Water treadmills have few side effects. Consult a professional before adding new programs or training to your horse’s routine.

Water treadmill therapy may not be recommended for certain horses, including those with:

* Unhealed surgical wounds

* Open wounds

*Recent muscle or joint injury

*Recent Joint Injections

*Fever

* Respiratory or Cardiovascular Disease

* Skin Infections that can be transmitted to other horses

FAQs

These are some of the most frequently asked questions regarding water treadmills for horses.

Why use a water treadmill instead of land treadmill or hand-walking?

A water treadmill can be used to reduce joint concussions and increase muscle strength while also challenging range of motion and flexibility. Trainers can adjust the speed and depth to achieve specific therapy goals or cross-training. This improves posture and hindquarter engagement, without putting heavy strain on the cardiopulmonary system.

How does the water depth I choose affect my horse’s workload?

The choice of water depth can change the workload for your horse. It reduces drag and buoyancy. Water at hip level can reduce weight by up to 75 percent. The deeper the water, the more resistance it creates, so that horses walk slower and longer, even when walking at a normal pace.

What signs of muscle fatigue in my horse should I be looking out for during a riding session?

Watch for signs of muscle fatigue in your horse, such as leaning against a wall on the treadmill, drifting back and forth instead of remaining centered, an exaggerated movement of the head, an irregular rhythm, shortened strides and toe drag. When you see the signs of muscle fatigue, stop the session, assess speed and depth and give your horse time to recover before the next session.

What horse injuries or conditions can benefit most from water treadmill treatment?

The most common horse injuries and conditions that can be treated with this technique are sacroiliac or suspensory tendon lesions. Other conditions include kissing spines, sacroiliac or suspensory tendon pain, post-surgical rehabilitation, and deconditioning. The programs usually focus on walking in water with a carefully selected depth, increasing frequency and duration.