Evidence map›Paper›PMID 40731015›Full record

ArticleBMC veterinary research2025

Evaluation of water treadmill training, lunging and treadmill training in the rehabilitation of horses with back pain.

Tobias Geiger, Liesa Lindenhahn, Julien Delarocque, Florian Geburek

Abstract read
In one paragraph

Article in BMC veterinary research, 2025. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 1 paper.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
1citing papers in PubMed
–field-weighted citation impact
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

1 citing paper in PubMed.

  1. Article
4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

4 authors.

Tobias GeigerClinic for Horses, University of Veterinary Medicine Hanover, Bünteweg 9, Hannover, 30559, Germany. tobias.geiger@tiho-hannover.de.
Liesa LindenhahnClinic for Horses, University of Veterinary Medicine Hanover, Bünteweg 9, Hannover, 30559, Germany.
Julien DelarocqueClinic for Horses, University of Veterinary Medicine Hanover, Bünteweg 9, Hannover, 30559, Germany.
Florian GeburekClinic for Horses, University of Veterinary Medicine Hanover, Bünteweg 9, Hannover, 30559, Germany.

Funding

No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.

6 · The paper itself

Abstract

backgroundData about efficacy of different training modalities during rehabilitation of horses with back pain is scarce. The aim of this study was to analyze the effect of water treadmill training, lunging and dry treadmill training in horses with back pain. MATERIALS AND

methodsEighteen warmblood riding horses referred with confirmed clinical signs of back pain including abnormal responses to passive mobilisation were randomized into three groups to participate in a 6-week water treadmill training, lunging or dry treadmill program under otherwise identical conditions. Two clinicians, one blinded to the program, performed a structured clinical examination of the back at three time-points (baseline, week 3, week 6). Mechanical nociceptive thresholds were determined with pressure algometry.

resultsVisual muscle development scores for the lumbar region (p = 0.001) and palpation sensitivity scores along the thoracic and lumbar region significantly improved at week 6, compared to baseline (p < 0.001). No differences in mechanical nociceptive thresholds were detected between water treadmill training, lunging and dry treadmill training at any time-point (p > 0.05). At week 3 and 6 of all programs mechanical nociceptive thresholds significantly increased at the level of the 10th to 18th thoracic (T18) and 3rd lumbar vertebra (L3) compared to baseline. DISCUSSION/MAIN LIMITATIONS: Small group size, lack of control group with ridden rehabilitation exercise.

conclusionsDifferent training programs without a rider could be beneficial for horses with back pain. Water treadmill training seems equivalent to dry treadmill training and lunging to increase mechanical nociceptive thresholds in the region with main saddle contact.

Indexed as

Back PainExercise TherapyHorse DiseasesPhysical Conditioning, AnimalAnimalsExercise TestFemaleHorsesMaleWaterWaterBack painEquineLungingPressure algometryRehabilitationTreadmill training

Identifiers

PMID40731015
PMCPMC12305931

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Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.