Calculation of Joint Reaction Forces in the Equine Distal Forelimb during Walking and Trotting

Forces exerted at the joints of the equine distal forelimb play a major role in common injuries of the region. In this study, a two-dimensional musculoskeletal model was developed to calculate the reaction forces at the joints of the distal forelimb from measured kinematic and kinetic data during walking and trotting. The reaction forces due to muscle- tendon wrapping around the sesamoid bones of the limb were shown to be of similar magnitudes to those exerted between the long bones at the joints, highlighting the importance of the sesamoid bones in the mechanical function of the limb.