Assessing quality and passive range of motion in equine distal limb joints

Assessing quality and passive range of motion in equine distal limb joints

J Am Vet Med Assoc. 2026 Mar 25:1. doi: 10.2460/javma.25.12.0878. Online ahead of print.
Authors
Tena Ursini 1 , Alejandro Villagomez 1 , Michaela Dooley 1 , Lindsay St George 2 , David Levine 3
Affiliations

1 1Equine Performance and Rehabilitation Center, Department of Large Animal Clinical Sciences, College of Veterinary Medicine, University of Tennessee, Knoxville, TN.
2 2School of Health, Social Work and Sport, University of Lancashire, Preston, UK.
3 3Department of Physical Therapy, University of Tennessee, Chattanooga, TN.

PMID: 41880753
DOI: 10.2460/javma.25.12.0878

Abstract

Objective: To describe and demonstrate subjective and objective techniques for assessing the quality and passive range of motion (ROM) of the distal forelimb and hind limb joints of the horse. Special attention will be given to the tarsus, carpus, and fetlock joints, as these sites are most prone to injury and/or pathology and thus most clinically relevant.

Animals: Adult horses undergoing distal limb joint ROM assessment for clinical diagnostic or treatment monitoring purposes.

Methods: First, subjective techniques for assessing distal limb joint motion and end-feel as well as general guidelines for normal joint ROM are described and demonstrated in the sagittal plane (flexion/extension). Then, a step-by-step guide to objective joint ROM assessment using goniometry is presented for the metacarpophalangeal, metatarsophalangeal, radiocarpal, and tibiotarsal joints. Finally, clinical considerations, indications, and contraindications for distal limb joint ROM assessment are discussed, alongside common pathologies associated with increased or decreased joint ROM.

Results: Instructions for obtaining goniometric measures of joint flexion/extension angle in selected distal forelimb and hind limb joints are provided and, when executed correctly, correlate to radiographic measurements, offering a straightforward, objective technique for establishing a baseline and monitoring treatment progress.

Clinical relevance: A systematic assessment of distal limb joint ROM, combining subjective and objective techniques, is an integral part of the clinical orthopedic examination of equine patients. When executed correctly, quantifying distal limb joint ROM with the use of goniometry, which has been shown to correlate with joint angles measured radiographically, can aid the clinical decision-making process and enables objective monitoring and response to treatment.

Keywords: assessment; horse; joint movement; quality of movement; range of motion.