Evidence map›Paper›PMID 41857740›Full record

ArticleBMC veterinary research2026

The influence of dirt track hardness on equine limb acceleration and impact attenuation.

Olivia L Bruce, Thilo Pfau, Laura E Crack, Andrew Sawatsky, Renaud Leguillette, W Brent Edwards

Abstract read
PubMed Full text at PMC Publisher
In one paragraph

Article in BMC veterinary research, 2026. 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

6 authors.

Olivia L BruceDepartment of Biomedical Engineering, Schulich School of Engineering, University of Calgary, Calgary, AB, Canada. obruce@stanford.edu.
Thilo PfauMcCaig Institute for Bone and Joint Health, Cumming School of Medicine, University of Calgary, Calgary, AB, Canada.
Laura E CrackMcCaig Institute for Bone and Joint Health, Cumming School of Medicine, University of Calgary, Calgary, AB, Canada.
Andrew SawatskyMcCaig Institute for Bone and Joint Health, Cumming School of Medicine, University of Calgary, Calgary, AB, Canada.
Renaud LeguilletteFaculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Calgary, Calgary, AB, Canada.
W Brent EdwardsDepartment of Biomedical Engineering, Schulich School of Engineering, University of Calgary, Calgary, AB, Canada.

Funding

Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Calgary UCVM Clinical Research FundNSERC CREATE Wearable Technology Research and Collaboration training program Graduate studentship
6 · The paper itself

Abstract

backgroundTrack hardness is a modifiable factor that may influence musculoskeletal loading and injury risk in equine athletes. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the effects of track hardness on segmental accelerations and impact attenuation in the equine forelimb at racing speeds. We hypothesized that harder surfaces would result in greater peak segmental accelerations and reduced attenuation.

methodsTwelve Thoroughbred chuckwagon outriding horses, instrumented with tri-axial accelerometers and a global positioning system (GPS) unit, galloped on the Calgary Stampede dirt racetrack with different track preparations. Track hardness was varied through harrowing depth and moisture content and measured using a surface impact tester. Track conditions were grouped into soft (22.3–26.3 g), medium (38.1–44.3 g), and hard (61.2 g).

resultsPeak resultant hoof impact accelerations were 19% greater on the medium tracks when compared to the softer tracks. Peak axial and resultant cannon impact accelerations were 16–54% greater on the medium and hard tracks when compared to the soft tracks. Attenuation from hoof to cannon was not affected within the range of dirt track hardness tested.

conclusionsThese results demonstrate that forelimb segmental accelerations are affected by track preparation manipulations within a single dirt track at galloping speeds. This may have implications for track preparation and injury risk management.

Indexed as

ForelimbAccelerationAnimalsBiomechanical PhenomenaHorsesSportsGallopHorseTrack hardnessTrack propertiesWearable sensors

Identifiers

PMID41857740
PMCPMC13123126

What OpenQuestion holds

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LicenceCC BY
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Registered trials

None linked

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.