08/03/2025
Joint health
Joints often lose favour to muscles when we are talking about either anatomy or biomechanics, but if we want to know the directions in which something can move and more importantaly know its limitations dictated by the form and function of the joint then we need to delve deeper into understanding them
It's why when working I take note if the horse takes a quick pull back with the limbs or is reluctant to move its body past a certain point as we often think it may just be the horse saying no when often the horse has reached its point of restriction and it's body is sending a warning signal that further movement may be taking the horses body to a movement it may not be ready for at that moment in time
What are joints
A joint Is simply a place in the horse's body where two or more bones meet, they are what give your horse its shape and movement, often we only hear of the main joints in the body but there are many more and all provide either structural support or movement or both. If you hear the word articulation in anatomy this is another word for a joint, articulation simply means the same as where two or more bones meet and the name is usually made up of the bones that are meeting, for example GLENOHUMUERAL joint so we have the scapula (the glenoid cavity) which articulates with the head of the humerus and viola we have the glenohumeral joint (easy tip if you break down the words you can usually find which bones are involved), you can have more than one articulation depending on which part of the body we are looking at, so if we were to look at say the horses carpus we will see more articulations
They are divided into functional and structural groups
STRUCTURAL GROUPS;
SYNOVIAL JOINTS; these joints allow for free movement and probably the most common joints you will hear about when thinking of movement, there is a fluid filled cavity between each bone which allows for smooth, gliding movement the fluid is called synovial but as always anatomy is never simple and we have groups inside this group depending on what function the joint is doing, they have added structural support from ligaments
They are BALL AND SOCKET, PLANE, HINGE, PIVOT, CONDYLOID AND SADDLE JOINTS each one has a different mobility pattern for example if we go back to the GLENOHUMERAL JOINT that is a ball and socket joint that allows a large range of motion
The FUNCTIONAL GROUP that synovial joints fit into are the DIARTHORSIS (freely movable joints)
CARTILAGINOUS JOINTS; the bones are joined by cartilage, they are in the middle when it comes to movement they have less movement than synovial but more movement than fibrous, some of them will be found in the ribs, sternum, spine and pelvis, they come in two types SYMPHISIS; when the bones are joined by fibrocartilage for example the p***c symphysis, and SYNCHONDROSIS when the bones are joined by hyaline cartilage for example the ribs
The FUNCTIONAL GROUP that cartilaginous joints fit into are the AMPHARTHROSIS (slight mobility)
FIBROUS JOINTS; the bones are usually connected by a dense fibrous tissue; collagen fibres are rich in the fibrous joints we have SUTURES; for example, in the skull these will allow for extension of the bone during growth. GOMPHOSIS; which hold teeth into the bony socket SYNDEMOSES; where facing areas of bone are connected by connective tissue you will find these in the horse's metacarpus.
The FUNCTIONAL GROUP that fibrous joints fit into are the SYNARTHROSIS (rigid no mobility)
Ligaments will help support the joint, offering stability and limiting the range of motion while skeketal muscles will surround the joint in opposing groups to help with posture and movement and why good muscletone is important as the better the tone the more support it can offer and less strain on other structures for achieving the movement, the tendon is at the end of a muscle connecting it to the bone
Remember whole horse health, for example we have the ball and socket joint which has an extensive range of movement yet that can come at a price of stability so there will be muscles and tendons crossing the joint to offer more support so if the horse exceeds the range of motion he may be affecting the joint, muscle and tendon functionality, so if we see a horse slip and hit its hip is there only a bruising of muscle or has the joint been affected as well as it has exceeded its range of motion, excessive repetitive movement and sudden exceeding the range of motion are the enemy of a healthy function
If we only think of joint health when our horses reach a certain age then we are basically shutting the barn door after the horse has bolted (well hobbled away) we must help joints from an early age by supporting them and the structures around them, and that isn,t just chucking a load of supplements down them for if you feed a joint supplement without allowing the horse freedom to movement then it’s a waste of money
It is simple things which can help joints, and these usually include, like us maintain a healthy weight, being active and a good healthy Nutrional diet, a varied terrain for movement will help strength and suppleness
Supporting joints at the early age will help horses in older age, not doing too much too soon and staying away from repetitive strains and staying within the limit of that joints range of motion is so important
Wear and tear are normal for any species none of our body parts last for ever but if we can help with damage control later in the horse's life
And if you suspect a joint issue in your horse, go to the vet, the earlier the better for we need to be proactive not reactive
Hope this helps
