Alignment

Walking up a flight of stairs we feel our knee caps tighten. Paying attention to this sensation, we notice that tightening occurs in a certain up and down direction. As we walk on up the stairs at a certain point we might even feel the area of the knee cap fatigue. Walking up an infinitely long flight of stairs if our limiting factor in continuing on up would be strength of knee cap, at some point we would feel fatigue in the area to the point of danger of injury. Part of this is ligaments and tendons, of course, although this alignment-fatigue sensation also permeates to the bone of the knee cap itself.

The above illustrates what possibly might be one of the two major effects on bone under stress--

1. Alignment or realignment of bone at the cellular level, and

2. Adherence under pressure between the bone cells.

As to alignment we might consider what happens to our aging knee caps in absence of periodic strengthening exercise. They go to hell, and finally must be replaced.

This possible is illustrated in the Max Planck Institute image at left/middle showing possible bone fibril array patterns(left click to enlarge). Notice some appear perfectly aligned, others are random. May we think unexercised knee caps would eventually have completely random, rough and much weakened array patterns?

Similarly we might consider the difference in array patterns in the cannon bones of horses--the woefully trained 3 year old War Pass e.g. his sesamoids shattering as he crosses the finish line in the Wood Memorial compared to extraordinarily well-trained 1946 TC winner Assault.

Of course the above is only my own personal surmise. I think the process of "alignment" of fibrils, fibril arrays, and osteons under exercise stress is completely logical given what we know about the physical characteristics of bone. Certainly the concept is supported in the Planck Institute research presented earlier in the blog around Dec. 2009.

Hence, my present question is in what manner might "alignment"--and thereafter "adherence" be affected by the frequency of speed work. Continue next post.

Training:

Fri. 7/2: One of those nights. Neither horse cooperated and yours truly, a little short at the moment on ability to navigate, had trouble keeping them rounded up and thereafter getting their attention. Neither the projected riderless speed work or tack work happened, although we did get about 3.5 miles of intermittent slow stuff with a few spurts out of the recalcitrant animal. He wanted to avoid running this night. I understand. Been there.

Sat. 7/3 This night went as well as last night went badly. Riderless: 5 x 4f with full rests between. The first four went at about 80% speed. The last heat our good horse really got into it and motored 4f as fast as possible around the near circle of our running paddock. 10 min. walk under tack afterwards as our somewhat pea hearted rider ventured into the pasture with the horses. Understandable since Mr. Nob, as the moment, lacks full strength in his left hip. But, improving fast and we hope for full galloping shortly.