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Home / Equine Research Bank / Am J Vet Res / Association between subjective lameness grade and kinetic ga...
American journal of veterinary research2005; 66(10); 1805-1815; doi: 10.2460/ajvr.2005.66.1805

Association between subjective lameness grade and kinetic gait parameters in horses with experimentally induced forelimb lameness.

Abstract: To evaluate the association between subjective lameness grades and kinetic gait parameters and assess the variability in kinetic parameters in horses with experimentally induced forelimb lameness. Methods: 32 horses. Methods: Forelimb lameness was induced in each horse via injection of lipopolysaccharide into 1 metacarpophalangeal joint (40 experimental trials). Subjective lameness grading and 13 kinetic gait parameters (force plate analysis) were assessed before (baseline) and at 12, 18, and 24 hours after lipopolysaccharide injection. While horses were trotting, kinetic gait analysis was performed for 8 valid repetitions at each time point. Repeated-measures analyses were performed with 8 repetitions for each kinetic parameter as the outcome, and lameness grades, time points after lipopolysaccharide injection, and repetition order as explanatory variables. Sensitivity and specificity of kinetic parameters for classification of horses as sound or lame (in relation to subjective lameness scores) were calculated. Between- and within-horse variabilities of the 13 kinetic parameters were assessed by calculation of coefficients of variation. Results: Subjective lameness grades were significantly associated with most of the kinetic parameters. Vertical force peak and impulse had the lowest between- and within-horse coefficients of variation and the highest correlations with subjective lameness grade. Vertical force peak had the highest sensitivity and specificity for lameness classification. Vertical force peak and impulse were significantly decreased even in horses with mild or unobservable lameness. Conclusions: Among the kinetic gait parameters, vertical force peak and impulse had the best potential to reflect lameness severity and identify subclinical forelimb gait abnormalities.
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Publication Date: 2005-11-09 PubMed ID: 16273915DOI: 10.2460/ajvr.2005.66.1805Google Scholar: Lookup
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  • Comparative Study
  • Journal Article
  • Research Support
  • Non-U.S. Gov't

Summary

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The research investigates the relationship between subjective lameness grades and kinetic gait parameters in horses with artificially induced forelimb lameness. It suggests that vertical force peak and impulse are the most reliable kinetic gait parameters for identifying lameness severity as well as subtle forelimb movement abnormalities.

Research Methodology

  • Forelimb lameness was induced in 32 horses via injecting lipopolysaccharide into one of their metacarpophalangeal joint. This resulted in a total of 40 experimental trials.
  • The subjective lameness grades and 13 kinetic gait parameters of the horses were assessed at baseline, and then at three intervals – 12, 18, and 24 hours – after the lameness was induced.
  • The kinetic gait parameters were measured while the horses were trotting using a force plate analysis. It was ensured that eight valid repetitions were recorded at each time point.
  • A repeated measures analysis was conducted using the eight repetitions at each time point for each kinetic parameter as the outcome. The lameness grades, time points after the injection, and the repetition order were treated as explanatory variables.
  • The sensitivity and specificity of kinetic parameters for correctly identifying horses as either sound or lame (in comparison with the subjective lameness scores) were also calculated.
  • Lastly, they evaluated the variability of the 13 kinetic parameters among different horses and the variations within each horse. The researchers calculated these variations using the coefficient of variation.

Findings

  • A significant association was found between subjective lameness grades and most of the kinetic parameters, indicating that changes in gait parameters align well with the perceived severity of lameness.
  • Among the 13 parameters, vertical force peak and impulse had the lowest coefficient of variation within and between horses, indicating these measures are more stable and less prone to random variability.
  • Vertical force peak and impulse had the highest correlations with the subjective lameness grade, thus providing direct insight into the severity of lameness.
  • The vertical force peak scored highest in both sensitivity and specificity, suggesting it is an ideal parameter for correct classification of lameness.
  • The vertical force peak and impulse significantly decreased even in horses with mild lameness or in those where visual detection of lameness wasn’t possible.

Conclusion

  • Among all tested kinetic gait parameters, vertical force peak and impulse demonstrated the highest potential to accurately reflect lameness severity and detect subclinical or mild forelimb gait abnormalities.
  • The results suggest that these parameters could be particularly useful in diagnosing and assessing the severity of lameness in horses, supporting the need for more reliable, objective methods in equine lameness evaluation.

Cite This Article

APA
Ishihara A, Bertone AL, Rajala-Schultz PJ. (2005). Association between subjective lameness grade and kinetic gait parameters in horses with experimentally induced forelimb lameness. Am J Vet Res, 66(10), 1805-1815. https://doi.org/10.2460/ajvr.2005.66.1805

Publication

American journal of veterinary research
ISSN: 0002-9645
NlmUniqueID: 0375011
Country: United States
Language: English
Volume: 66
Issue: 10
Pages: 1805-1815

Researcher Affiliations

Ishihara, Akikazu
  • Departmentof Veterinary Clinical Sciences, College of Veterinary Medicine, The Ohio State University, Columbus 43210-1089, USA.
Bertone, Alicia L
    Rajala-Schultz, Päivi J

      MeSH Terms

      • Animals
      • Biomechanical Phenomena
      • Forelimb / physiopathology
      • Gait / physiology
      • Horse Diseases / chemically induced
      • Horse Diseases / diagnosis
      • Horses
      • Lameness, Animal / chemically induced
      • Lameness, Animal / diagnosis
      • Lipopolysaccharides / toxicity
      • Locomotion / physiology
      • Research Design
      • Sensitivity and Specificity
      • Time Factors

      Citations

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