Performance Exam Flashcards
What are the indications for an athletic performance exam?
Lameness
Poor performance
Pre/mid/post season evaluation
Pre-purchase exam
What are some common complaints for a horse presenting with poor performance?
Refusing jumps, poor transitions, stiff in one direction, exercise intolerance, airway noise
What are some good primary ruleouts for horses with poor performance?
HYPP, PSSM, EMS
What are the 3 phases of a complete performance exam?
Conformation Exam
Static/Musculoskeletal Exam
Dynamic Exam
What components should always be a part of a good physical exam?
Auscult heart, lungs, trachea
Check vision
Check cranial nerves, mentation, posture
What types of things are we looking for with the conformation exam?
BALANCE!
Leg structure & angles
Back length & withers
What are the components of the static exam?
Assess muscling (cervical, thoracic, lumbar, pelvic regions)
Palpate bone separate from muscle
Assess ROM in neck & back
Hoof testers & hoof evaluation
Palpate joints, tendons, ligaments
What 3 times of ROM are we assessing in the neck and back?
Flexion
Extension
Lateral bending
When we palpate muscle and bone, what are we looking for?
Symmetry
Focal spasms
Pain
When evaluating the hooves on a static exam, what are we looking for (5)?
Reaction to hoof testers
Assess hoof capsule conformation and wear
Wear pattern of shoe
Type of shoe
Digital pulses
When evaluating joints (2), tendons, and ligaments (4) on static exam, what are we looking for?
Effusion
Range of motion
Weight-bearing vs. NWB
Thickening
Heat
Pain
Why is range of motion so important?
Helps us to rule out other causes of lamenesses (I.e.- flexed stifle with extended hock: peroneus tertious rupture)
What is goniometry?
Measures joint range of motion
What is a pressure algometer?
Hand-held, calibrated measurement tool for assessment of mechanical nociceptive threshold
What is the mechanical nociceptive threshold?
The minimum pressure required to induce a pain response
What different ways can we evaluate a horse in motion for a dynamic exam?
Straight line & on circle in both directions
On different surfaces
With flexion tests
What are we looking for when performing the dynamic exam?
Forelimb/hindlimb lameness
Footfall patterns
Stride length
Asymmetries
Describe the AAEP Lameness Grading Scale
0- Sound
1- Lameness difficult to observe and inconsistently apparent regardless of circumstance
2- Lameness is consistent under certain circumstances (I.e. circles, inclines, etc)
3- Lameness consistent under all circumstances
4- Lameness is obvious at a walk
5- Lameness is minimally or non-weight bearing
What are the 2 rules for multi-limb lamenesses?
- Primary forelimb lameness may also make the opposite hindlimb appear lame (RF/LH)
- Primary hindlimb lameness may also make the ipsilateral forelimb appear lame (RF/RH)
What are some things that might contribute to a horse performing a certain way under special circumstances?
Rider
Poor fitting tack
Upper airway noise
How does the weight of a rider affect lamenesses?
- Increases vertical ground reaction forces at the trot
- Exacerbate axial skeleton lameness
How does a gait analysis system work?
Objectively evaluates motion and identifies asymmetry in sound or lame horses
What is the difference between kinetics and kinematics?
Kinetics: the study of forces that act on the body
Kinematics: The study of the description of motion
What are the benefits of using an objective gait analysis system?
- Subtle or multi-limb lameness
- Understanding biomechanics of movement
- Block comparison
- Recheck comparison
- PPEs
- Owner/student education
- Research
What do force plates tell us?
Good representation of peak vertical ground reaction forces; not used in a clinical setting
What are the pros and cons of objective gait analysis systems?
Pros:
Some give both kinetic and kinematic data
Some (Equinosis) are wireless, handheld, field-ready
Can assess compensatory lameness
Cons:
May require a lot of equipment
Subject to variability of handler and horse behavior
Some not practical for field use
When using the Equinosis gait analysis system, how many ways should the horse be evaluated?
- At a trot, straight line
- At a trot, lunge line
- On various surfaces
- Performing flexions
- Comparing movement before and after nerve blocks
What are the thresholds for forelimb and hindlimb Q scores, respectively, when using the Equinosis system?
Fore: <6 mm
Hind: <3mm
