Iconoclast Orthopedic sport Boots antérieur

Les guêtres orthopédiques Iconoclast se caractérisent par un système de double attache croisée breveté offrant un soutien latéral inégalé. Conçues pour réduire les interférences et les restrictions au niveau articulaire, elles maintiennent réellement les membres du cheval.

Faites à partir de néoprène de grade orthopédique et doublées d'un matériau doux et confortable, elles sont à la fois performantes et résistantes.

Guide des tailles:(circonférence des boulets)

Small: 21.59 - 24.13 cm

Medium: 24.13 - 26.67 cm

Large: 26.67 - 29.21 cm

X Large: 29.21 - 31.75 cm

XXL: 31.75 - 34.29 cm

XXXL: 34.29- 36,83 cm

The equine lower limb, especially the fetlock joint and suspensory apparatus, is both a biomechanical marvel and a point of vulnerability.

Performance horses face intense demands:

• Fetlock Joint: As a primary shock absorber, the fetlock flexes and extends with each stride. In show jumping or barrel racing, it endures extreme flexion during landings or tight turns, while in dressage, it bears sustained loading during collected movements. Hyperextension—overstretching beyond the normal range—can strain ligaments and tendons, leading to microtears or severe injuries.

• Suspensory Apparatus: Comprising the suspensory ligament, sesamoid bones, and distal sesamoidean ligaments, this system stabilizes the fetlock and absorbs vertical loads. The suspensory ligament, extending from the cannon bone to the fetlock, is particularly vulnerable during high-impact activities like galloping in eventing or hard stops in reining.

• Soft Tissue Risks: Repetitive stress from jumps, turns, or rapid acceleration increases the risk of soft tissue injuries, such as suspensory desmitis or tendon strains. These result from cumulative microdamage, inflammation, and reduced blood flow, which hinder tissue repair.

Physiologically, the equine leg requires balanced support to distribute forces, maintain joint alignment, and minimize excessive motion that could damage ligaments, tendons, or cartilage. Iconoclast Boots are engineered to meet these needs with innovative features.

How Iconoclast Boots Support the Equine Athlete:

Iconoclast Orthopedic Support Boots, including the Extra Tall models, use patented technology to enhance physiological function and protect against injury. Here’s how they work:

A. Patented Double Sling Straps: 360-Degree Support

• Mechanism: The Double Sling Straps wrap around the fetlock from both sides, creating a cradle-like effect that lifts and stabilizes the joint. Unlike traditional boots or polo wraps, which may pull unevenly, these straps provide balanced, 360-degree support to the suspensory branches and sesamoidial region.

• Physiological Benefits:

• Prevents Hyperextension: During high-impact maneuvers, such as landing from a jump or executing a sliding stop, the fetlock can hyperextend, overstretching the suspensory and sesamoidean ligaments. The straps limit excessive downward motion, maintaining joint alignment and reducing soft tissue strain.

• Even Pressure Distribution: By supporting both inner and outer suspensory branches equally, the boots minimize localized stress. This is vital in dressage, where sustained collection loads the suspensory apparatus, or eventing, where repetitive galloping amplifies impact.

• Enhanced Circulation: The non-restrictive design avoids compressing blood vessels, unlike poorly applied wraps that can overheat legs. This promotes blood flow, reducing inflammation and aiding muscle and tendon recovery post-exercise.

B. Patented Orthopedic Wedge: Vertical Support

• Mechanism: In Rehabilitation and select Orthopedic models, a soft Orthopedic Wedge sits against the back of the fetlock and upper pastern, dispersing impact shock and providing vertical support to ligaments and tendons.

• Physiological Benefits:

• Shock Absorption: The wedge reduces force transmitted to the suspensory ligament and fetlock cartilage during ground impact, critical for high-impact disciplines like show jumping or barrel racing. This lowers the risk of microtears and cartilage wear.

• Tendon and Ligament Support: By stabilizing the fetlock vertically, the wedge minimizes oscillations that strain the superficial and deep digital flexor tendons, especially on varied terrain in eventing.

• Rehabilitation Aid: For horses recovering from soft tissue injuries, the wedge limits excessive motion, reducing scar tissue formation and promoting stronger, more elastic tissue repair.

C. Non-Restrictive Design: Preserving Natural Motion

• Mechanism: Lightweight and flexible, Iconoclast Boots reduce joint interference while allowing a full range of motion, unlike rigid splint boots or overly tight wraps. Veterinarians praise their sesamoidial stability without compromising mobility.

• Physiological Benefits:

• Joint Health: By avoiding restriction, the boots prevent compensatory strain on adjacent joints (e.g., pastern or coffin joint), critical for dressage horses performing precise movements or jumpers needing unrestricted fetlock flexion.

• Reduced Muscle Fatigue: The boots’ support lessens the muscular effort needed to stabilize the fetlock, reducing fatigue in muscles like the flexor digitorum profundus. This boosts endurance for long cross-country courses or multi-round jumping.

• Improved Proprioception: Horses move with greater confidence, likely due to enhanced proprioceptive feedback. The boots stabilize the joint without dulling sensory input, aiding adaptation to varied surfaces in trail riding or eventing.

D. Extra Tall Hind Boots: Upper Suspensory Protection

• Mechanism: Extra Tall Orthopedic Hind Boots extend higher on the cannon bone, with four upper straps reinforcing the Double Sling Straps to protect the upper suspensory ligament near the hock, designed for “vertical loading” during stops or jumps.

• Physiological Benefits:

• Upper Suspensory Support: In reining (sliding stops) or show jumping (landings), full hock flexion applies vertical force to the suspensory ligament’s origin. The extra height stabilizes this area, reducing strain and preventing proximal suspensory desmitis.

• Balanced Force Distribution: Additional straps spread forces across a larger area, minimizing stress concentrations that could cause inflammation or fiber tears, benefiting all disciplines with dynamic movements.

Injury Prevention Across Disciplines

Iconoclast Boots address common injuries in performance horses across disciplines:

• Suspensory Ligament Injuries: By preventing hyperextension and distributing loads, the boots reduce desmitis or tears, common in eventing (galloping), barrel racing (turns), and dressage (collection).

• Sesamoidial Region Injuries: The sesamoid bones and ligaments, stressed during landings (show jumping) or pivots (reining), are protected by 360-degree support, reducing sesamoiditis or ligament strain.

• Tendon Strains: Flexor tendons, taxed during acceleration (barrel racing) or jumps, benefit from shock absorption and stabilization, lowering the risk of bowed tendons.

• Soft Tissue Damage: Daily training and competition cause cumulative microdamage. The boots minimize this, promoting long-term tissue health in all disciplines.

Comparison to Alternatives

Traditional polo wraps offer minimal impact absorption (6-10%), can overheat legs, and risk slipping, potentially causing tendon or sesamoid injuries. Physiologically, these issues disrupt circulation and increase tissue temperature, impairing tendon elasticity. Iconoclast Boots excel by:

• Providing consistent, balanced support via Double Sling Straps.

• Preventing overheating with a non-restrictive design.

• Ensuring a perfect fit every time, unlike wraps that require precise application to avoid injury.

Versatility Across Disciplines

Iconoclast Boots are tailored for:

• Dressage: Support sustained collection and lateral movements, reducing suspensory strain in piaffe or passage.

• Show Jumping: Absorb landing impact, protecting fetlock and sesamoid regions.

• Eventing: Stabilize legs across varied terrain, preventing hyperextension during gallops or drops.

• Barrel Racing/Reining: Prevent injury during rapid turns and stops.

• Endurance/Trail: Enhance endurance by reducing fatigue and stabilizing joints on long rides.

Conclusion

From a physiological perspective, Iconoclast Orthopedic Support Boots empower equine athletes by preventing hyperextension and injury through patented Double Sling Straps, Orthopedic Wedge, and a non-restrictive design. They stabilize the fetlock and suspensory apparatus, distribute forces evenly, and promote circulation, reducing strain and fatigue across all disciplines. Veterinarian-endorsed and superior to traditional wraps, Iconoclast Boots ensure long-term health and confidence for performance horses, making them a vital tool for equine athletes worldwide.

For more information or to explore how Iconoclast Boots can benefit your horse, visit Iconoclast’s official site.