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Equine veterinary journal2022; doi: 10.1111/evj.13906

Adaptations in equine axial movement and muscle activity occur during induced fore- and hindlimb lameness: A kinematic and electromyographic evaluation during in-hand trot.

Abstract: The inter-relationship between equine thoracolumbar motion and muscle activation during normal locomotion and lameness is poorly understood. Objective: To compare thoracolumbar and pelvic kinematics and longissimus dorsi (longissimus) activity of trotting horses between baseline and induced forelimb (iFL) and hindlimb (iHL) lameness. Methods: Controlled experimental cross-over study. Methods: Three-dimensional kinematic data from the thoracolumbar vertebrae and pelvis, and bilateral surface electromyography (sEMG) data from longissimus at T14 and L1, were collected synchronously from clinically nonlame horses (n = 8) trotting overground during a baseline evaluation, and during iFL and iHL conditions (2-3/5 AAEP), induced on separate days using a lameness model (modified horseshoe). Motion asymmetry parameters, maximal thoracolumbar flexion/extension and lateral bending angles, and pelvis range of motion (ROM) were calculated from kinematic data. Normalised average rectified value (ARV) and muscle activation onset, offset and activity duration were calculated from sEMG signals. Mixed model analysis and statistical parametric mapping compared discrete and continuous variables between conditions (α = 0.05). Results: Asymmetry parameters reflected the degree of iFL and iHL. Maximal thoracolumbar flexion and pelvis pitch ROM increased significantly following iFL and iHL. During iHL, peak lateral bending increased towards the nonlame side (NLS) and decreased towards the lame side (LS). Longissimus ARV significantly increased bilaterally at T14 and L1 for iHL, but only at LS L1 for iFL. Longissimus activation was significantly delayed on the NLS and precipitated on the LS during iHL, but these clear phasic shifts were not observed in iFL. Conclusions: Findings should be confirmed in clinical cases. Conclusions: Distinctive, significant adaptations in thoracolumbar and pelvic motion and underlying longissimus activity occur during iFL and iHL and are detectable using combined motion capture and sEMG. For iFL, these adaptations occur primarily in a cranio-caudal direction, whereas for iHL, lateral bending and axial rotation are also involved. Unassigned: O relacionamento entre a movimentação toracolombar e a ativação muscular durante a locomoção normal e quando há claudicação é pouco compreendido. Objective: Comparar a cinemática toracolombar e pélvica e a atividade do músculo longissimus dorsi (longissimus) em cavalos ao trote entre o momento inicial (baseline) e claudicação induzida no membro torácico (iFL) e pélvico (iHL). Unassigned: Estudo experimental controlado cruzado. Methods: Dados cinemáticos tridimensionais das vertebras toracolombar e pelve, e eletromiografia de superfície (sEMG) bilateral do longissimus na T14 e L1 foram coletados de forma síncrona de cavalos clinicamente não claudicantes (n = 8) trotando no momento inicial (baseline), e durante iFL e iHL (2-3/5 AAEP), induzidos separadamente em dias distintos utilizando um modelo de claudicação (ferradura modificada). Parâmetros de movimentação assimétrica, flexão/extensão máxima da toracolombar e ângulos de virada lateral, e amplitude de movimento da pelve (ROM) foram calculados a partir dos dados de cinemática. O valor médio normalizado retificado (ARV) e início da ativação muscular, e término e duração da atividade foram calculados utilizando sinais de sEMG. Análise de modelo misto e mapeamento paramétrico estatístico compararam variáveis discretas e contínuas entre condições (α=0.05). Results: Parâmetros de assimetria refletiram o nível de iFL e iHL. A flexão toracolombar máxima e a ROM da pelve aumentaram significativamente com iFL e iHL. Durante iHL, o pico de flexão lateral aumentou em direção ao lado não-claudicante (NSL) e diminuiu em direção ao lado claudicante (LS). Longissimus ARV aumentou significativamente para ambos os lados na T14 e L1 para iHL, mas apenas no LS para iFL. A ativação do longissimus foi significativamente retardado no NLS e precipitado no LS durante iHL, mas essa mudança de fase clara não foi observada no iFL. PRINCIPAIS LIMITAÇÕES: Esses achados precisam ser confirmados em casos clínicos. CONCLUSÕES: Adaptações significantes e distintas na movimentação toracolombar e pélvica e atividade do músculo longissimus ocorre durante iFL e iHL e são detectadas utilizando captura de movimento e sEMG. Para iFL, essas adaptações ocorrem primariamente na direção cranio-caudal, enquanto que em iHL, movimento lateral e rotação axial também estão envolvidos.
© 2022 The Authors. Equine Veterinary Journal published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd on behalf of EVJ Ltd.
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Publication Date: 2022-12-14 PubMed ID: 36516302DOI: 10.1111/evj.13906Google Scholar: Lookup
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Summary

This research summary has been generated with artificial intelligence and may contain errors and omissions. Refer to the original study to confirm details provided. Submit correction.

This study investigates the adaptations in movement and muscle activity patterns in horses due to induced lameness in front (iFL) and hindlimbs (iHL). The researchers use a combination of three-dimensional motion capture and surface electromyography to document changes in the spinal motion and back muscle (longissimus dorsi) activity during trot, uncovering differences in motion adaptation between fore and hindlimb lameness.

Research Methodology

  • The study is a controlled experimental cross-over study involving eight non-lame horses. The horses were made to trot under baseline conditions, and also under conditions of induced fore and hindlimb lameness. Lameness was induced using a specially modified horseshoe.
  • Three-dimensional kinematic data was collected from the thoracolumbar vertebrae and pelvis of the horses. Furthermore, bilateral surface electromyography (sEMG) data were collected from the longissimus muscle at T14 and L1 spinal levels.
  • Movement asymmetry parameters, various motion angles and range, and muscle activation data were derived from the collected kinematic and sEMG data and compared between the different conditions using statistical models.

Key Findings

  • The degree of induced lameness was reflected in the obtained asymmetry parameters, indicating a systematic shift in the movement pattern due to the discomfort caused by lameness.
  • Notably, changes in thoracolumbar flexion and pelvis motion range were observed with both fore and hind limb lameness. However, such changes were more pronounced with hindlimb lameness.
  • Results also show that the longissimus muscle activation increased on both sides for hindlimb lameness (both at T14 and L1) but only on the lame side for forelimb lameness (at L1 level).
  • The onset of muscle activation was observed to be delayed on the non-lame side and early on the lame side during hindlimb lameness. Such clear phase shifts in muscle activation were not observed in forelimb lameness.

Conclusions and Considerations

  • The study concludes that significant adaptations in spinal, pelvic motion and associated muscle activity occur during fore and hindlimb lameness. These changes are more complex for hindlimb lameness with alterations in lateral bending and axial rotation as well.
  • While the study sheds light on the patterns of motion adaptation during lameness, the authors suggest that the findings need to be confirmed with clinical cases as well.
  • This research potentially opens up new possibilities for treating and managing lameness in horses, by providing detailed insights into the associated changes in locomotion and muscle activity.

Cite This Article

APA
Spoormakers TJP, St George L, Smit IH, Hobbs SJ, Brommer H, Clayton HM, Roy SH, Richards J, Serra Bragança FM. (2022). Adaptations in equine axial movement and muscle activity occur during induced fore- and hindlimb lameness: A kinematic and electromyographic evaluation during in-hand trot. Equine Vet J. https://doi.org/10.1111/evj.13906

Publication

Equine veterinary journal
ISSN: 2042-3306
NlmUniqueID: 0173320
Country: United States
Language: English

Researcher Affiliations

Spoormakers, Tijn J P
  • Department of Clinical Sciences, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Utrecht University, Utrecht, The Netherlands.
St George, Lindsay
  • Research Centre for Applied Sport, Physical Activity and Performance, University of Central Lancashire, Preston, UK.
Smit, Ineke H
  • Department of Clinical Sciences, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Utrecht University, Utrecht, The Netherlands.
Hobbs, Sarah Jane
  • Research Centre for Applied Sport, Physical Activity and Performance, University of Central Lancashire, Preston, UK.
Brommer, Harold
  • Department of Clinical Sciences, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Utrecht University, Utrecht, The Netherlands.
Clayton, Hilary M
  • Department of Large Animal Clinical Sciences, College of Veterinary Medicine, Michigan State University, East Lansing, Michigan, USA.
Roy, Serge H
  • Delsys/Altec Inc., Natick, Massachusetts, USA.
Richards, James
  • Allied Health Research Unit, University of Central Lancashire, Preston, UK.
Serra Bragança, Filipe Manuel
  • Department of Clinical Sciences, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Utrecht University, Utrecht, The Netherlands.

Grant Funding

  • BSAS 2018 / British Society of Animal Science (BSAS) 2018 Steve Bishop Early Career Award
  • D21EQ-406 / Morris Animal Foundation

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Citations

This article has been cited 9 times.
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