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  Discussion on Exercise Induced Colic
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Member:
martyr

Posted on Wednesday, Nov 26, 2008 - 9:38 am:

Dr. O, you mention in the above article that there is a scientific report on Exercise Induced Colic. I can't find it.
Moderator:
DrO

Posted on Friday, Nov 28, 2008 - 8:03 am:

Hello Marion,
We use to place reports in the article itself but we replaced that with the National Library Search Button with the search paramaters already entered in. I have edited the article to correct the notion the paper is still in the article.

This report was on exercise induced colic in humans. When looking for the cause of cramping in the face of no explanatory physical causes they could not find a cause. A quick search of PubMed did not reveal the paper however this one is very similar but takes a wider look at number of digestive phenomenea including unexplained cramping: "However, it is likely that many of the lower digestive complaints of runners such as diarrhoea and lower abdominal cramps are due to direct effects of exercise upon the colon." It does not explain what these effects may be though I would hypothesize lower blood supply.
DrO

Sports Med. 1990 Mar;9(3):159-72.

The effect of exercise on the gastrointestinal tract.
Moses FM.
Gastroenterology Service, Walter Reed Army Medical Center, Washington, D.C.

Surveys of athletes, primarily runners, have shown that digestive disorders are common, associated both with training and racing. Women, in particular, seem to suffer most commonly. Nearly half have loose stools and nausea and vomiting occur frequently after hard runs. Diarrhoea, incontinence and rectal bleeding occur with surprising frequency. Runners may use medications prophylactically to minimise some of these symptoms. Upper digestive symptoms seem to occur more commonly in multisport events such as triathlons or enduro. The published literature is difficult to analyse and the basic intestinal physiology not well studied. Most gastroenterologists are accustomed to evaluating the fasting patient at rest and exercise physiologists are seldom experienced with digestive techniques. Digestive symptoms occurring with exercise referable to the oesophagus include chest pain, gastro-oesophageal reflux symptoms, or symptoms related to alterations in motility. While little is known of the oesophageal physiology during exercise, it is believed that only minimal changes occur in most subjects. Gastro-oesophageal reflux occurs more frequently with exercise than at rest and may produce symptoms of chest pain suggestive of ischaemic disease. Acid exposure may be reduced by pretreatment with histamine H2-receptor antagonists. Oesophageal symptoms, though common, are rarely disabling to the athlete, and the clinical importance lies in confusion with ischaemic disease. Cases of acute gastric stasis following running have been reported and gastric physiology during exercise, particularly bicycling, has been more actively investigated. Gastric emptying during exercise is subject to a number of factors including calorie count, meal osmolality, meal temperature and exercise conditions. However, it is generally accepted that light exercise accelerates liquid emptying, vigorous exercise delays solid emptying and has little effect upon liquid emptying until near exhaustion. Gastric acid secretion probably changes little with exercise although some have postulated that ulcer patients may increase secretion with exercise. Some exercise-associated digestive symptoms, such as diarrhoea and abdominal pain, have been attributed to changes in intestine function. Small bowel transit is delayed by exercise when measured by breath hyDrOgen oral caecal transit times and motility may be reduced as well. Intestinal absorption during exercise has not been well evaluated but probably changes little in ordinary circumstances. Passive absorption of water, electrolytes and xylose are not affected by submaximal effort. Colonic transit and function is even more difficult to evaluate and published results have been conflicting. However, it is likely that many of the lower digestive complaints of runners such as diarrhoea and lower abdominal cramps are due to direct effects of exercise upon the colon.
Member:
rtrotter

Posted on Friday, Nov 28, 2008 - 9:06 am:

Dr. O and Marion.

In other threads I have posted about my 3 year old race filly that 1. fell during a race and had severe road rash, 2. Then came down with cheek and jowl swellings when turned out. Luckily both of these have resolved. However, now I have part three, and it directly relates to this topic. It also relates to a posting by Diane E and Patty B on "knowing " your horses.

This past Monday my 3 year old trained normally 2 slow training miles ( a double header). She came in acted normally and cooled out fine. About an hour later, I went to check on her and she was acting very colicky, so I called the vet, he responded very quickly and she came out of the colic fine and has been acting fine ever since.

Now, my question to myself was why did she do this, she has never colicked before. As I was searching for the answer. I came up with a theory of why this happened.

At first my thoughts were that my husband left a full bucket of cold water ( I always put a bucket that has the chill taken off of it, ie warm) in her stall directly after she trained, when I went back to check her after she trained, she had drained that ice cold bucket. To some that would have been the end of it, but since I "know" this filly so well, I realized that this was not the entire solution. WHy was she so thirsty after she trained, she usually drinks a little but doesn't drain the bucket. So, I thought about what else could be the contributing factors. Here's what I came up with.

All summer and fall long she and the old gelding she goes out with have been drinking from a large black ( clean) muck bucket. No problems. Then she had her accident and did not go out for almost 3 weeks during which she got filtered water in the barn, when the whether started to get cold I hooked up my heated water buckets in the outside paddocks which are hung on the gate.

The night before she trained she was out all night came in was put directly on the crossties ( no drink) and then trained and while my husband did say he gave her a drink, it probably wasn't enough to satisfy her thirst, therefore the high volume of water after she trained. I went out to the field to check on how much water both horses drank from the buckets and noticed it was a lot less than normal for two horses and barely enough for one horse. Leading me to the conclusion that she was dehydrated before she trained and this lead to the exercise induced colic. and yes she did have diarrhea and spasmodic cramping ( per the vet). I have since changed her morning routine on the days she trains by bring her in to eat and relax and drink before she goes and trains.

Just my thoughts
Rachelle
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