Whole Body Vibration Platforms and Their Effect on the Equine Body
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Date
2022-04-22
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Abstract
Whole body vibration platforms are commonly utilized across the equine industry. However, little research has been done to quantify vibration transmission across the equine body outside of evaluating clinical merit. This work establishes normative values for transmission to various tissues, creating the opportunity to compare previous studies more accurately, and may standardize how future studies are reported. Baseline measurements of frequency and amplitude were taken using a three dimensional accelerometer on a vibration platform (TheraPlate, Weatherford, Texas) without a horse at the 20%, 50%, and 80% output levels. A horse was subsequently placed on the vibration platform with one accelerometer placed on the front hoof for all measurements, and the second accelerometer being placed on the cannon bone, withers, sacrum, and back hoof at each output level measured. Frequency was found to be stable within output levels at each anatomical part of the horse in comparison to the hoof. Frequencies increased as the output levels increased between 20%, 50%, and 80%. Amplitude at all output levels was determined to be more variable but exhibited consistent attenuation as the accelerometer was placed on higher anatomical locations on the horse, by increasing the distance from the vibration platform. Amplitude decreased after the point of its resonant frequency. The resonant frequency was located between the 50% and 80% output levels, as a decrease in amplitude was observed from the 50% to the 80% output level. Therefore, increasing the output level does not guarantee that the amplitude of vibration will increase. Frequency and amplitude were determined to be ideal demographics to report due to their consistency and ability to provide a snapshot of what various tissues of the equine body experience. A reduction in amplitude experienced in the equine body dorsal to the extremities indicates that vibration transmission is greatly attenuated and may not be effective in eliciting a physiological response higher up on the body.
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Equine, Whole Body Vibration, Quantifying Vibration, Amplitude, Frequency, Accelerometer