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Vet Comp Orthop Traumatol 1998; 11(04): 173-177
DOI: 10.1055/s-0038-1632542
Brief Communication
Schattauer GmbH

Energy Absorption Capacity of Commercial Equine Support Boots

O. K. Balch
1   From the Equine Sports Medicine Laboratory, Department of Medicine and Surgery, College of Veterinary Medicine, Oklahoma State University, Stillwater, Oklahoma, USA; the Biosystems and Agricultural Engineering Department, Division of Agricultural Sciences and Natural Sciences, Oklahoma State University, Stillwater, Oklahoma, USA; and Young Crawford Veterinary Clinic, Innisfall, Alberta, Canada
,
M. A. Collier
1   From the Equine Sports Medicine Laboratory, Department of Medicine and Surgery, College of Veterinary Medicine, Oklahoma State University, Stillwater, Oklahoma, USA; the Biosystems and Agricultural Engineering Department, Division of Agricultural Sciences and Natural Sciences, Oklahoma State University, Stillwater, Oklahoma, USA; and Young Crawford Veterinary Clinic, Innisfall, Alberta, Canada
,
G. H. Brusewitz
1   From the Equine Sports Medicine Laboratory, Department of Medicine and Surgery, College of Veterinary Medicine, Oklahoma State University, Stillwater, Oklahoma, USA; the Biosystems and Agricultural Engineering Department, Division of Agricultural Sciences and Natural Sciences, Oklahoma State University, Stillwater, Oklahoma, USA; and Young Crawford Veterinary Clinic, Innisfall, Alberta, Canada
,
M. P. Rigney
1   From the Equine Sports Medicine Laboratory, Department of Medicine and Surgery, College of Veterinary Medicine, Oklahoma State University, Stillwater, Oklahoma, USA; the Biosystems and Agricultural Engineering Department, Division of Agricultural Sciences and Natural Sciences, Oklahoma State University, Stillwater, Oklahoma, USA; and Young Crawford Veterinary Clinic, Innisfall, Alberta, Canada
,
M. J. Shult
1   From the Equine Sports Medicine Laboratory, Department of Medicine and Surgery, College of Veterinary Medicine, Oklahoma State University, Stillwater, Oklahoma, USA; the Biosystems and Agricultural Engineering Department, Division of Agricultural Sciences and Natural Sciences, Oklahoma State University, Stillwater, Oklahoma, USA; and Young Crawford Veterinary Clinic, Innisfall, Alberta, Canada
,
W. H. Crawford
1   From the Equine Sports Medicine Laboratory, Department of Medicine and Surgery, College of Veterinary Medicine, Oklahoma State University, Stillwater, Oklahoma, USA; the Biosystems and Agricultural Engineering Department, Division of Agricultural Sciences and Natural Sciences, Oklahoma State University, Stillwater, Oklahoma, USA; and Young Crawford Veterinary Clinic, Innisfall, Alberta, Canada
,
R. B. McAroy
1   From the Equine Sports Medicine Laboratory, Department of Medicine and Surgery, College of Veterinary Medicine, Oklahoma State University, Stillwater, Oklahoma, USA; the Biosystems and Agricultural Engineering Department, Division of Agricultural Sciences and Natural Sciences, Oklahoma State University, Stillwater, Oklahoma, USA; and Young Crawford Veterinary Clinic, Innisfall, Alberta, Canada
› Author Affiliations
Further Information

Publication History

Received:29 April 1997

Accepted:20 December 1997

Publication Date:
10 February 2018 (online)

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Summary

The efficacy of commercially available equine support boots was tested by using a universal testing machine (Instron) to flex and extend six bandaged isolated distal hindlimbs. The original prototype and two subsequent generations of improvements of an equine support boot were tested. A fourth condition consisted of the most recent version of the equine support boot that had been additionally used by application to the distal limbs of horses engaged in athletic activities. The use of Professional’s Choice prototype, SMB I, SMB II, and used SMB II increased the energy absorption capacity of isolated limbs by 20.7%, 20.2%, 23.4%, and 26.4%, respectively.

The energy absorption of isolated cadaver limbs with their fetlocks bandaged and unbandaged was calculated using a universal testing machine. The bandages, consisting of different versions of a commercial equine sports boots, increased energy absorption by approximately 20-30%. Energy absorption tended to increase with new generations of the product and product use.

Keywords

Locomotion - energy absorption - equine support boots - biomechanics
 

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