Asymmetry in placement of bilateral skin markers on horses and effects of asymmetric skin marker placement on kinematic variables.
Abstract: To evaluate asymmetry in placement of bilateral skin markers on horses and to determine effect of asymmetric skin marker placement on kinematic variables for trotting horses. Methods: 10 horses for evaluation of asymmetry in marker placement; 1 horse for evaluation of effects on kinematic variables. Methods: Asymmetry in marker placement was assessed by attaching markers to horses and comparing radiographs of left and right limbs. An experimental model was developed to determine effects on kinematic variables; accuracy of the model was validated experimentally. Using kinematic data from a clinically normal trotting horse as reference data, effects of asymmetric marker placement on vertical displacement-time and joint angle-time diagrams were determined by use of the model. Results: Asymmetry of placement was < 1 cm for markers on the distal portions of the limbs and < 2 cm for markers on the proximal portions. Asymmetric marker placement did not alter general shapes of the vertical displacement-time and joint angle-time curves. In most instances, largest differences in vertical displacement attributable to asymmetric marker placement were equal to or less than magnitude of the asymmetry of placement. Alterations in joint angle-time curves were mainly a result of shifting of the curves on the Y axis. Joint range of motion was only slightly changed by asymmetric marker placement, but maximum flexion and extension angles were greatly altered. Conclusions: Some kinematic variables can be greatly altered by small differences in skin marker placement. Such effects should be taken into account when evaluating kinematic data for sound and lame horses.
Publication Date: 1998-08-26 PubMed ID: 9706195
The Equine Research Bank provides access to a large database of publicly available scientific literature. Inclusion in the Research Bank does not imply endorsement of study methods or findings by Mad Barn.
- Journal Article
- Research Support
- Non-U.S. Gov't
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 research paper investigates how the asymmetrical placement of skin markers on horses affects the measurement of their motion (kinematics) during a trot. The study concludes that even minor differences in skin marker placement can significantly alter certain kinematic measurements, a finding which carries implications for the evaluation of both healthy and ailing horses.
Introduction and Methods
- The study focuses on assessing how the asymmetry – uneven placement – of bilateral skin markers affects the kinematic variables of trotting horses.
- The researchers used 10 horses to evaluate marker placement asymmetry, and another horse to examine the effects of asymmetric marker placement on kinematic variables.
- To evaluate the asymmetry in marker placement, markers were attached to the horses, which were then X-rayed. The radiographs of the left and right limbs were compared for any differences in marker placement.
- The team also developed an experimental model to understand the effects of these differences on kinematic variables. The accuracy of this model was experimentally verified.
- They compared the effects of asymmetric marker placements on the model using kinematic data from a clinically normal trotting horse.
Results
- The result revealed that the asymmetry in marker placement was under 1 cm for markers on the distal (farther from the center of the body) portions of the limbs, and under 2 cm for markers on the proximal (closer to the center of the body) parts.
- Interestingly, this asymmetric marker placement does not appear to affect the overall shapes of both vertical displacement-time and joint angle-time curves.
- In most instances, the highest differences in vertical displacement caused by asymmetric marker placement were equal to or less than the actual asymmetry of placement.
- In terms of joint angle-time curves, the most significant changes occurred as shifting of the curves on the Y-axis, that is, the vertical axis.
- The range of motion in the joints was only minimally changed by asymmetric marker placement. However, maximum flexion and extension angles were found to be greatly changed.
Conclusion
- The study concludes that the placement of markers, even small differences, can have a substantial impact on specific kinematic variables. This aspect merits consideration in the evaluation of kinematic data for sound (healthy) and lame (diseased or injured) horses.
- This finding highlights the need for precision in the placement of markers in kinematic studies involving horses.
Cite This Article
APA
Audigié F, Pourcelot P, Degueurce C, Denoix JM, Geiger D, Bortolussi C.
(1998).
Asymmetry in placement of bilateral skin markers on horses and effects of asymmetric skin marker placement on kinematic variables.
Am J Vet Res, 59(8), 938-944.
Publication
Researcher Affiliations
- Equipe Associée INRA, Biomécanique du Cheval, Ecole Nationale Vétérinaire d'Alfort, Maisons-Alfort, France.
MeSH Terms
- Animals
- Forelimb
- Hindlimb
- Horses / anatomy & histology
- Horses / physiology
- Joints / physiology
- Locomotion / physiology
- Models, Biological
- Skin / anatomy & histology
Citations
This article has been cited 4 times.- Serra Bragança FM, Rhodin M, Wiestner T, Hernlund E, Pfau T, van Weeren PR, Weishaupt MA. Quantification of the effect of instrumentation error in objective gait assessment in the horse on hindlimb symmetry parameters. Equine Vet J 2018 May;50(3):370-376.
- Marsh AP, Eggebeen JD, Kornegay JN, Markert CD, Childers MK. Kinematics of gait in golden retriever muscular dystrophy. Neuromuscul Disord 2010 Jan;20(1):16-20.
- Egenvall A, Clayton HM, Byström A. Pilot study of locomotor asymmetry in horses walking in circles with and without a rider. PeerJ 2023;11:e16373.
- Egenvall A, Engström H, Byström A. Back motion in unridden horses in walk, trot and canter on a circle. Vet Res Commun 2023 Dec;47(4):1831-1843.
Use Nutrition Calculator
Check if your horse's diet meets their nutrition requirements with our easy-to-use tool Check your horse's diet with our easy-to-use tool
Talk to a Nutritionist
Discuss your horse's feeding plan with our experts over a free phone consultation Discuss your horse's diet over a phone consultation
Submit Diet Evaluation
Get a customized feeding plan for your horse formulated by our equine nutritionists Get a custom feeding plan formulated by our nutritionists
