No abstract

Horseback-riders have a high prevalence of low back injuries, which may be related to the repetitive low back impacts experienced in riding. The purposes of this study were to quantify the effect of 3 stirrup lengths and 2 riding styles on the peak acceleration experienced by the rider and the association between the peak acceleration and the rider's different elements of muscle strength. Thirteen female riders performed a sitting or rising trot at each of the 3 stirrup lengths (2-point length, mid-seat length, or dressage length), while the acceleration of the tibia, sacrum, seventh cervical vertebra (C7), and head were collected. Subjects completed a push-up, a vertical jump, and 4 core exercises to assess upper-body strength, lower-body strength, and core endurance, respectively. Peak acceleration of the sacrum, C7, and head were generally lower in the standing phase of the rising trot compared with the sitting phase of either the sitting or rising trot, particularly at the shortest stirrup length. Peak acceleration of the sacrum, C7, and head decreased as the stirrup length was shortened in the standing phase of the rising trot. Canonical correlations showed nonsignificant correlations between strength measurements and peak acceleration. Riding with more weight supported through the legs with a short stirrup length may decrease low back impacts and their associated injury risk. Technique training is likely needed to encourage riders to use lower-body and core strength for impact attenuation.

Background: Over 75% of American adults are not meeting aerobic and muscular physical activity recommendations, with the majority being females. Equestrian activities are a potential avenue to increase physical activity, especially in females who account for approximately 90% of sport participants. This study describes perceptions of equestrian activities and establishes the patterns of self-reported equestrian, barn work, and nonequestrian physical activity engagement to understand participation in activities that may sustain physical activity across the lifespan. Methods: American equestrians (n = 2551) completed an anonymous online survey with questions about perceptions and benefits of equestrian activities, demographics, and engagement in equestrian activities, barn work, and nonequestrian activities. Results: There were 2039 completed responses, (95.6% female), with representation from all regions of the United States. Professionals (20.6%), amateurs (39.1%), and recreational (40.3%) comprised participation status. Significantly fewer recreational participants perceived equestrian as physical activity and as a sport than amateurs (P < .05) and professionals (P < .05). Engagement in equestrian and barn work physical activity was significantly higher in professionals (P < .0001), followed by amateurs (P < .0001), with the lowest in recreational equestrians (P = .001). Professional and amateur equestrians engaged in significantly more nonequestrian physical activity than recreational participants (P < .05). Conclusions: Equestrian physical activity engagement is dependent on the status of participation. Equestrian, barn work, and nonequestrian physical activity do meet physical activity aerobic and muscular recommendations and should be encouraged as a physical activity for females across the lifespan.

The purpose of this study was to determine what differences exist when performing grand plié with and without the barre. Differences in center of pressure (COP) sway, trunk kinematics, and lower extremity kinematics were used in this analysis for both first (P1) and fifth positions (P5). It was hypothesized that use of the barre would result in decreased COP sway, but increased asymmetries in trunk and lower extremity kinematics would be seen compared with the same movements performed without the barre in both positions. Sixteen collegiate dancers (1 male, 15 female) performed three trials of grand plié in P1 and P5 (right leg crossed in front) with or without the barre, for a total of 12 trials. For the barre condition (BC), participants demonstrated less time to complete grand plié, slightly less depth in grand plié, and decreased anterior-posterior (AP) sway compared to the without barre condition (WBC). The BC condition showed increased peak left trunk rotation, right knee flexion, decreased right and left peak hip flexion, and increased right hip abduction in both P1 and P5. Comparing P1 to P5, there was decreased AP sway, decreased peak left trunk rotation, decreased peak right and left hip flexion, increased left hip abduction, and decreased right knee flexion in both BC and WBC conditions. For the BC, there was increased right hip abduction in P1 compared to P5. Our results indicate that while use of the barre provides proprioceptive information, which helps dancers to control balance and learn a motor control strategy, grand plié should also be taught without the barre to challenge the dancer's balance control with different movement patterns in space.

Equestrian sport has various welfare issues and educational needs. To address these complex interactions, we propose an integrated approach called the Triple-E Model, which focuses on the equine, equestrian, and environmental triad. A literature review of existing models suggests that complexities of these interactions are overlooked, despite the significant impact of equine industries on economics, healthcare, and animal welfare. This paper discusses current models and theories used to evaluate equine–equestrian–environmental interactions and introduces the Triple-E Model to foster multidisciplinary collaboration. Unlike the One Health triad, which focuses on disease emergence, transmission, and zoonosis, the Triple-E Model extends to non-infectious research, such as musculoskeletal injury. It promotes collaborative care and rehabilitation within the equestrian community by engaging multidisciplinary, multi-setting, and multi-sectoral teams. Given the nature of human–animal interaction and welfare considerations, this model fills the gap in understanding human–horse interactions. The paper highlights the limitations of existing models and explains how the Triple-E Model guides and encourages holistic team collaboration in the equestrian community.