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

Goniometric measurement of equine distal limb ROM correlates with radiographs and enables objective treatment monitoring.

This article presents comprehensive techniques for assessing passive range of motion (ROM) in equine distal limb joints, focusing on the tarsus, carpus, and fetlock joints due to their clinical relevance and injury susceptibility. The authors describe both subjective and objective assessment methods, beginning with subjective evaluation of joint motion quality and end-feel in the sagittal plane (flexion/extension). The core contribution is a detailed step-by-step guide for objective goniometric measurement of ROM in the metacarpophalangeal, metatarsophalangeal, radiocarpal, and tibiotarsal joints. The article establishes that properly executed goniometric measurements correlate reliably with radiographic joint angle measurements, providing a straightforward, objective clinical tool. The authors discuss clinical indications, contraindications, and interpretation of findings, including common pathologies associated with increased or decreased ROM. This systematic approach combining subjective and objective techniques is presented as essential for equine orthopedic examination, enabling clinicians to establish baseline measurements and objectively monitor treatment response.

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