The effect of flat horseshoes, raised heels and lowered heels on the biomechanics of the equine hoof assessed by finite element analysis (FEA)

Abstract

The biomechanical effects of lowering and raising the heels were studied using a finite element (FE) computer model of the equine hoof capsule consisting of 18,635 finite elements. A static load of 3000 N was distributed to nodes of the inner hoof wall (80%) according to the suspension of the coffin bone, 20% loaded sole and frog. When loaded the FE hoof capsules showed the following deformations: the proximal dorsal wall moves back, the quarters flare to the side and sole and frog perform a downward movement. Stresses are high in the material surrounding the quarter nails, in the heels and in the proximal dorsal wall. Three types of horseshoes were simulated, a regular shoe with flat branches, a shoe with 5 degrees raised heels and a shoe with 5 degrees lowered heels. Raising the heels resulted in significantly (P < 0.05) low stress and displacement values. The lowered heels model calculated highest stress and displacement values and the results of the FE model with the regular horseshoe were found in between.

The effect of frog pressure and downward vertical load on hoof wall weight-bearing and third phalanx displacement in the horse - an in vitro study : research communication

“…In fact, treatment is usually aimed at increasing weightbearing at the heel to take weight off the toe. The proximal dorsal hoof wall moves palmarly as load is applied, supporting the finding of palmar movement of weight-bearing to the heels 20 as increased vertical force is applied.…”

“…When hoof wall strains were measured using rosette gauges, which measure strain in multiple planes, biaxial strains in the quarter of the hoof were reported 50 . Flaring of the quarters to the side as load was increased has been described 20 . The fact that the quarter strain gauge of horse C's left limb was placed 5 mm palmarly to where it should have been, appeared to have no effect on the results.…”

Mechanical behavior and quantitative morphology of the equine laminar junction

“…Most previous FEAs of the equine hoof have focused on the capsule (Newlyn et al, 1998;Hinterhofer et al, 2000, …”

“…Most previous FEAs of the equine hoof have focused on the capsule (Newlyn et al, 1998;Hinterhofer et al, 2000Hinterhofer et al, , 2001; Thomason et al, 2002;McClinchey et al, 2003). In addition to testing the applicability of FEA to hooves, some of these studies have used its power to address questions of functional relevance, such as the effect of shoeing on stresses in the capsule material (Hinterhofer et al, 2000) and the effects of individual capsule shape measurements on principal strain magnitudes (McClinchey et al, 2003). Bowker et al (2001) combined FEA with in vitro joint pressure measurements to study the effects of contact pressures on bone and cartilage structure at the distal interphalangeal joint.…”

Recent developments in Equine palmar foot syndrome: What has changed for the clinician?

“…Elevation of the heels, as used quite frequently in practice, induces flexion of the interphalangeal joints (Denoix 1999), decreases the tension in the DDFT, reduces the pressure exerted by the deep flexor tendon to the navicular bone (Willemen et al 1999, Wilson et al 2001, Scheffer and Back 2001, Schoonover et al 2005, reduces the load on the forelimbs (Rogers and Back 2003) and reduces stress on, and deformation of, the hoof capsule (Hinterhofer et al 2000). The heels are supported for a greater proportion of the stride and the wedge tends to increase the weight transferred through the heels, because the point of force has moved towards the heel and the moment of force at the DIP is reduced (Willemen et al 1999, Scheffer and Back 2001, Schoonover et al 2005.…”