Usefulness
Though flexion tests are a rather common veterinary procedure, the exact duration has not been widely agreed upon by veterinarians. Multiple studies have been done on the length and force applied during the test and devices have even been created to measure the force applied. Such tools are not commonly used in practice though which affects consistency. Unfortunately, a positive response to forelimb flexion tests, meaning lameness was evident after the limb was released and the horse trotted away, is one reason horses may be deemed unsuitable for purchase during the prepurchase exam. The wide range of significance attributed to these tests varies according to opinion and the experience of the examiner. While there have been many purchase exams discontinued solely because a positive response to a flexion test in one or both forelimbs, there’s really nothing in the veterinary literature to support such an action. Due to the variable response to the test depending on such things as the force applied, duration of the test, age of the horse and the day of examination, discontinuation of a prepurchase examination based solely on a failed forelimb flexion test is probably unwarranted.
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