Exploring the relationship between athletic performance and the thoracolumbar kissing spine syndrome

Abstract

This study investigated the relationship between radiographic abnormalities in the thoracolumbar and lumbar spine and sport performance levels in Warmblood dressage horses. The findings revealed no statistically significant associations between Zimmerman grading, the number of affected vertebrae, or the location of abnormalities and the performance class of the horses. A weak trend was noted for the number of affected vertebrae (p = 0.0851), but no definitive conclusions could be drawn. These results align with previous research, which suggests that thoracolumbar abnormalities are not consistently predictive of poor performance, particularly in asymptomatic horses.