This is an archived Horseadvice.com Discussion. The parent article and menus are available on the navigation menu below:
HorseAdvice.com » Diseases of Horses » Lameness » Diseases of the Hoof » Navicular Disease / Chronic Heel Pain SynDrOme »
  Discussion on Reseach Summary: To eggbar and wedge or not to eggbar and wedge, that is the question
Author Message
Moderator:
DrO

Posted on Tuesday, Jun 5, 2007 - 12:44 pm:

Well it seems for every article you can find to support egg bars and wedges for chronic heel pain, there is one against. Here is a pro-reference.

The conflicting recommendations are almost certainly grounded in the many and often multiple causes of chronic heel pain (CHP). This reference suggests that if pressure on the sole or wall is causing pain eggbars are beneficial. If the pressures generated during breakover, like the pressure of the ddf tendon against the navicular bone, is part of the problem wedges will help. This is not counter intuitive information and for those of you with horses with CHP it emphasises the importance of trying to determine where the pain comes from.
DrO

N Z Vet J. 2007 Jun;55(3):120-4.
The effect of plain, eggbar and 6-degree wedge shoes on the distribution of pressure under the hoof of horses at the walk.

Rogers CW, Back W.
Massey Equine, Institute of Veterinary, Animal and Biomedical Sciences, Massey University, Private Bag 11222, Palmerston North, New Zealand. Email: c.w.rogers@massey.ac.nz.

AIM: To quantify the effect of plain, wedged and eggbar shoes on the distribution of pressure under the hoof of horses at the walk, at selected areas of interest (AOI), to find scientific evidence for the perceived efficacy of these shoes in the treatment of palmar heel pain. METHODS: Six clinically sound adult Warmblood mares weighing 551 (SD 25) kg were shod (forelegs) with either plain, eggbar or 6 degrees -wedge shoes using a latin-square experimental design. All horses were shod by the same farrier, and each balanced and aligned for its individual conformation. Data were collected on three walking strides for each foreleg using a 550 x 405- mm pressure plate to quantify the distribution of pressure under each type of shoe at five AOI. RESULTS: Landing of the hoof with all three shoes was predominantly from lateral to medial (range 7-15 msec). Irrespective of the type of shoe, the greatest pressure was found in the lateral and medial toe (lateral 39.7 (SE 0.6) N/cm2 and medial 35.0 (SE 0.5) N/cm2) and the point of the toe (33.3 (SE 0.5) N/cm2). The lowest peak pressure was in the heel (lateral 25.9 (SE 0.5) N/cm2 and medial 21.1 (SE 0.4) N/cm2; p<0.05). Eggbar and wedge shoes increased total stance time (938 (SE 8) msec and 952 (SE 6) msec, respectively) compared with plain shoes (898 (SE 14) msec) (p<0.05). The wedge shoe reduced breakover compared with the plain and eggbar shoes (13.8% vs 15.8% and 14.5%, respectively; p<0.05). The eggbar shoe had lower total shoe peak pressure (29.5 (SE 0.7) N/cm2) than plain (31.8 (SE 0.5) N/cm2) and wedge (30.9 (SE 0.6) N/cm2) shoes. CONCLUSIONS AND CLINICAL RELEVANCE: Both the eggbar and 6 degrees -wedge shoe offer advantages for palmar heel pain. In comparison to the plain shoe, the eggbar shoe had less peak pressure at the heel AOI, and across the entire shoe, due to the greater bearing surface and the effect of the longer heel. The 6 degrees - wedge shoe had greater loading on the lateral heel AOI, but promoted earlier breakover at the toe. Both shoes offer advantages for the horse with palmar heel pain, though choice of shoe will depend on clear identification of the causative factors, to provide therapeutic shoeing that maximises the individual horse's response.
Member:
sswiley

Posted on Saturday, Jun 9, 2007 - 10:43 am:

DrO, Very intersting,
Do you agree that heel blocking will identify the condition of ddf tendon against the navicular bone causing pain.
Moderator:
DrO

Posted on Monday, Jun 11, 2007 - 8:32 pm:

Shelly, not identify that specific diagnosis but when you get soundness following a heel (PDN) block this has to be on your rule out list. For other possibilities see, Diseases of Horses » Lameness » Diseases of the Hoof » Overview of Diagnosis and Diseases of the Foot.
DrO
Home Page | Top of Page | Join Us!
Horseadvice.com is a BBB Accredited Business. Click for the BBB Business Review of this Horse Training in Stokesdale NC