TENDON INJURY

Question 1

Why do tendons eat injured in racehorses

Answer 1

Cyclic loading
Exercise
Aging
Direct trauma
Severe direct compression
Prolonged strenuous exercise at fast gaits
Thermal stress from exercise cause by fibroblast damage

Question 2

Which tendon is most commonly injured in racehorses

Answer 2

Superficial digital flexor tendon

Question 3

Can racehorses recover from tendon injuries

Answer 3

Yes heal better in hindlimb, return to some level of activity depend on severity of lesion and level of activity
20-60% go back to racing and 80% reinjury

Question 4

He likely is it for tendon injuries to reoccur in racehorses

Answer 4

80% reinjury

Scar tissue is less functional than normal tendon tissue resulting in reduced performance and high risk of reinjury

Question 5

How can tendon injuries be prevented in racehorses

Answer 5

Adequate rest time
Range of exercise and intensity 
Warming up and cooling down 
Understanding horses limits 
Don’t start training too young, but start to build up some muscle when young