A structured exercise regimen enhances autonomic function compared to unstructured physical activities in geriatric horses
Abstract Older horses often show reduced autonomic responses, affecting their well-being. While regular exercise can help maintain autonomic function, the impact of structured exercise on geriatric horses is not well understood. A study involving 27 geriatric horses examined their autonomic modulati...
Saved in:
| Main Authors: | , , , , , , , , |
|---|---|
| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
| Published: |
Nature Portfolio
2025-01-01
|
| Series: | Scientific Reports |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-025-86679-4 |
| Tags: |
Add Tag
No Tags, Be the first to tag this record!
|
| _version_ | 1832585740555386880 |
|---|---|
| author | Kanokpan Sanigavatee Chanoknun Poochipakorn Onjira Huangsaksri Sipaporn Vichitkraivin Sireetorn Pakdeelikhit Wanlapa Chotiyothin Sirapatch Wongkosoljit Thita Wonghanchao Metha Chanda |
| author_facet | Kanokpan Sanigavatee Chanoknun Poochipakorn Onjira Huangsaksri Sipaporn Vichitkraivin Sireetorn Pakdeelikhit Wanlapa Chotiyothin Sirapatch Wongkosoljit Thita Wonghanchao Metha Chanda |
| author_sort | Kanokpan Sanigavatee |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Abstract Older horses often show reduced autonomic responses, affecting their well-being. While regular exercise can help maintain autonomic function, the impact of structured exercise on geriatric horses is not well understood. A study involving 27 geriatric horses examined their autonomic modulation over 12 weeks under different activity levels. Horses were divided into three groups: (1) sedentary (SEL), (2) those participating in unstructured activities (RAT), and (3) those following a structured exercise regimen (SER). Results showed that the minimum and average heart rates decreased in the structured exercise group from weeks 10 to 12. In contrast, no changes were observed in the other groups. Furthermore, beat-to-beat intervals did not change in sedentary horses, fluctuated in horses engaged in unstructured activities from weeks 8 to 10 (p < 0.05), and increased in the structured exercise group during weeks 10 to 12 (p < 0.05). Heart rate variability was significantly higher in the structured exercise group compared to the unstructured group (p < 0.05–0.0001) and, to a lesser extent, compared to the sedentary group (p < 0.05). This suggests that structured exercise can lead to better autonomic regulation and lower stress in geriatric horses, highlighting the need for effective health management strategies post-retirement. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-d080bd3f355e49e5aff694a087350b3a |
| institution | Kabale University |
| issn | 2045-2322 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2025-01-01 |
| publisher | Nature Portfolio |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Scientific Reports |
| spelling | doaj-art-d080bd3f355e49e5aff694a087350b3a2025-01-26T12:32:47ZengNature PortfolioScientific Reports2045-23222025-01-0115111210.1038/s41598-025-86679-4A structured exercise regimen enhances autonomic function compared to unstructured physical activities in geriatric horsesKanokpan Sanigavatee0Chanoknun Poochipakorn1Onjira Huangsaksri2Sipaporn Vichitkraivin3Sireetorn Pakdeelikhit4Wanlapa Chotiyothin5Sirapatch Wongkosoljit6Thita Wonghanchao7Metha Chanda8Veterinary Clinical Studies Program, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Kasetsart UniversityCenter for Veterinary Research and Innovation, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Kasetsart UniversityCenter for Veterinary Research and Innovation, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Kasetsart UniversityVeterinary Science Program, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Kasetsart UniversityVeterinary Science Program, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Kasetsart UniversityVeterinary Science Program, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Kasetsart UniversityVeterinary Science Program, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Kasetsart UniversityVeterinary Clinical Studies Program, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Kasetsart UniversityCenter for Veterinary Research and Innovation, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Kasetsart UniversityAbstract Older horses often show reduced autonomic responses, affecting their well-being. While regular exercise can help maintain autonomic function, the impact of structured exercise on geriatric horses is not well understood. A study involving 27 geriatric horses examined their autonomic modulation over 12 weeks under different activity levels. Horses were divided into three groups: (1) sedentary (SEL), (2) those participating in unstructured activities (RAT), and (3) those following a structured exercise regimen (SER). Results showed that the minimum and average heart rates decreased in the structured exercise group from weeks 10 to 12. In contrast, no changes were observed in the other groups. Furthermore, beat-to-beat intervals did not change in sedentary horses, fluctuated in horses engaged in unstructured activities from weeks 8 to 10 (p < 0.05), and increased in the structured exercise group during weeks 10 to 12 (p < 0.05). Heart rate variability was significantly higher in the structured exercise group compared to the unstructured group (p < 0.05–0.0001) and, to a lesser extent, compared to the sedentary group (p < 0.05). This suggests that structured exercise can lead to better autonomic regulation and lower stress in geriatric horses, highlighting the need for effective health management strategies post-retirement.https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-025-86679-4Stress responsesAged horseSedentary lifestyleStructured exercise regimenUnstructured physical activityAnimal welfare |
| spellingShingle | Kanokpan Sanigavatee Chanoknun Poochipakorn Onjira Huangsaksri Sipaporn Vichitkraivin Sireetorn Pakdeelikhit Wanlapa Chotiyothin Sirapatch Wongkosoljit Thita Wonghanchao Metha Chanda A structured exercise regimen enhances autonomic function compared to unstructured physical activities in geriatric horses Scientific Reports Stress responses Aged horse Sedentary lifestyle Structured exercise regimen Unstructured physical activity Animal welfare |
| title | A structured exercise regimen enhances autonomic function compared to unstructured physical activities in geriatric horses |
| title_full | A structured exercise regimen enhances autonomic function compared to unstructured physical activities in geriatric horses |
| title_fullStr | A structured exercise regimen enhances autonomic function compared to unstructured physical activities in geriatric horses |
| title_full_unstemmed | A structured exercise regimen enhances autonomic function compared to unstructured physical activities in geriatric horses |
| title_short | A structured exercise regimen enhances autonomic function compared to unstructured physical activities in geriatric horses |
| title_sort | structured exercise regimen enhances autonomic function compared to unstructured physical activities in geriatric horses |
| topic | Stress responses Aged horse Sedentary lifestyle Structured exercise regimen Unstructured physical activity Animal welfare |
| url | https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-025-86679-4 |
| work_keys_str_mv | AT kanokpansanigavatee astructuredexerciseregimenenhancesautonomicfunctioncomparedtounstructuredphysicalactivitiesingeriatrichorses AT chanoknunpoochipakorn astructuredexerciseregimenenhancesautonomicfunctioncomparedtounstructuredphysicalactivitiesingeriatrichorses AT onjirahuangsaksri astructuredexerciseregimenenhancesautonomicfunctioncomparedtounstructuredphysicalactivitiesingeriatrichorses AT sipapornvichitkraivin astructuredexerciseregimenenhancesautonomicfunctioncomparedtounstructuredphysicalactivitiesingeriatrichorses AT sireetornpakdeelikhit astructuredexerciseregimenenhancesautonomicfunctioncomparedtounstructuredphysicalactivitiesingeriatrichorses AT wanlapachotiyothin astructuredexerciseregimenenhancesautonomicfunctioncomparedtounstructuredphysicalactivitiesingeriatrichorses AT sirapatchwongkosoljit astructuredexerciseregimenenhancesautonomicfunctioncomparedtounstructuredphysicalactivitiesingeriatrichorses AT thitawonghanchao astructuredexerciseregimenenhancesautonomicfunctioncomparedtounstructuredphysicalactivitiesingeriatrichorses AT methachanda astructuredexerciseregimenenhancesautonomicfunctioncomparedtounstructuredphysicalactivitiesingeriatrichorses AT kanokpansanigavatee structuredexerciseregimenenhancesautonomicfunctioncomparedtounstructuredphysicalactivitiesingeriatrichorses AT chanoknunpoochipakorn structuredexerciseregimenenhancesautonomicfunctioncomparedtounstructuredphysicalactivitiesingeriatrichorses AT onjirahuangsaksri structuredexerciseregimenenhancesautonomicfunctioncomparedtounstructuredphysicalactivitiesingeriatrichorses AT sipapornvichitkraivin structuredexerciseregimenenhancesautonomicfunctioncomparedtounstructuredphysicalactivitiesingeriatrichorses AT sireetornpakdeelikhit structuredexerciseregimenenhancesautonomicfunctioncomparedtounstructuredphysicalactivitiesingeriatrichorses AT wanlapachotiyothin structuredexerciseregimenenhancesautonomicfunctioncomparedtounstructuredphysicalactivitiesingeriatrichorses AT sirapatchwongkosoljit structuredexerciseregimenenhancesautonomicfunctioncomparedtounstructuredphysicalactivitiesingeriatrichorses AT thitawonghanchao structuredexerciseregimenenhancesautonomicfunctioncomparedtounstructuredphysicalactivitiesingeriatrichorses AT methachanda structuredexerciseregimenenhancesautonomicfunctioncomparedtounstructuredphysicalactivitiesingeriatrichorses |