An objective study into the effects of an incline on naturally occurring lameness in horses.
Abstract: The clinical examination of lame horses in real world settings often requires the use of sloped surfaces. This pilot study aimed to evaluate the effects of uphill and downhill locomotion on asymmetry in horses with naturally occurring lameness affecting forelimbs and hindlimbs. Ten horses (8-19 years) with forelimb lameness and eight horses (7-16 years) with hindlimb lameness were fitted with inertial sensors at the poll, withers, sacrum and both tuber coxae. Data were collected whilst the horses were trotted in hand on a level surface (20 mm) among conditions in individual horses. Two horses with hindlimb lameness and two horses with forelimb lameness switched asymmetry between left and right by changing incline. These results confirm that incline can be an influential factor in the assessment of lame horses. Further work is justified to elucidate the types of pathology associated with the most relevant changes in asymmetry which would allow the use of an incline to prioritise a list of differential diagnoses.
© 2022 The Authors. Veterinary Medicine and Science published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd.
Publication Date: 2022-08-18 PubMed ID: 35982535PubMed Central: PMC9677417DOI: 10.1002/vms3.900Google Scholar: Lookup
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- Journal Article
- Research Support
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Summary
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This research investigates how slope or incline affects the level of asymmetry in lame horses, finding that downhill locomotion reduced asymmetry in horses with hindlimb lameness.
Overview of the Study
- The researchers conducted this pilot study to analyze the impact of uphill and downhill movement on lopsidedness in horses with naturally occurring lameness affecting their forelimbs and hindlimbs. This was done because the clinical examination of lame horses often involves sloped surfaces.
- Ten horses with forelimb lameness and eight horses with hindlimb lameness were included in the study. These horses ranged in ages from 7 to 19 years.
- The horses were equipped with inertial sensors at several points on their bodies, and data were collected while they trotted on a level surface and up and down a slight incline.
Data Collection and Analysis
- A minimum of 25 strides at each incline type was recorded to collect the necessary data.
- A repeated measures ANOVA was used to compare the effect of incline on lameness. If significant differences were found, a subsequent Bonferroni’s multiple comparisons test was performed.
Outcome of the Study
- The results showed a decrease in asymmetry during downhill movement for horses experiencing hindlimb lameness in comparison to trotting on flat ground or uphill.
- No significant difference in asymmetry was found for horses with forelimb lameness. Nonetheless, individual horses showcased significant changes in poll asymmetry across different conditions.
- Two animals with hindlimb lameness and two with forelimb lameness switched asymmetry from left to right when the incline was changed. This confirms that a slope can influence the assessment of lame horses.
Implications and Future Research
- The study thus validates that an incline can be a significant variable whilst assessing lame horses.
- The researchers argue that further research is needed to identify the types of pathology associated with the major changes in asymmetry. This would enable veterinarians to use incline as a tool to prioritize a list of differential diagnoses in lame horses.
Cite This Article
APA
Bailey J, Redpath A, Hallowell G, Bowen M.
(2022).
An objective study into the effects of an incline on naturally occurring lameness in horses.
Vet Med Sci, 8(6), 2390-2395.
https://doi.org/10.1002/vms3.900 Publication
Researcher Affiliations
- School of Veterinary Medicine and Science, University of Nottingham, Nottingham, UK.
- School of Veterinary Medicine and Science, University of Nottingham, Nottingham, UK.
- School of Veterinary Medicine and Science, University of Nottingham, Nottingham, UK.
- medicine.vet, Veterinary Referrals, Nottinghamshire, Nottingham, UK.
MeSH Terms
- Horses
- Animals
- Lameness, Animal
- Pilot Projects
- Forelimb
- Hindlimb
- Diagnosis, Differential
- Horse Diseases / drug therapy
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