Body centre of mass movement in the sound horse.
Abstract: The body centre of mass (BCM) is a key factor in the analysis of equine locomotion, as its position and movement determines the distribution and magnitude of loads on the limbs. In this study, the three-dimensional (3D) movement of the BCM in walking and trotting horses was assessed using a kinematic, segmental method. Thirty markers representing 20 body segments were recorded in 12 sound horses while standing, walking and trotting on a treadmill using a high-speed video system. Based on segmental inertial data, 3D positions of the segmental centres of mass as well as the total BCM were calculated. The position within the trunk during square standing and the movements of the BCM were determined for the three planes. The position of the BCM in the standing horse is presented relative to external reference points. At the trot, vertical displacement amplitude of the BCM amounted to 53 (6) mm as mean (sd), which was 27% smaller than external trunk movement. Medio-lateral displacement amplitude of the BCM was 19 (4) mm, 34% less than trunk amplitude. Sagittal forward-backward oscillations of the BCM independent from general forward movement were 13 (3) mm, being 24% less than trunk movements. At the walk, vertical, medio-lateral and sagittal BCM movements were smaller than trunk movements by 43, 65 and 65% respectively. The results show reduced and efficient BCM movements compared to the trunk and form a basis for the assessment of various clinical conditions such as lameness, the influence of a rider and various dressage performances.
Copyright 2000 Harcourt Publishers Ltd.
Publication Date: 2000-11-04 PubMed ID: 11061959DOI: 10.1053/tvjl.2000.0507Google Scholar: Lookup
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- Journal Article
- Research Support
- Non-U.S. Gov't
Summary
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The research article revolves around the study of the Body Centre of Mass (BCM) movement in horses when they are standing, walking, and trotting. It essentially helps evaluate load distribution on the limbs and can be used to assess different clinical conditions in horses.
Method and Procedure
- The study incorporated a three-dimensional (3D) analysis of the BCM, using a kinematic, segmental method.
- Physical tracking of the horse’s motion was done with the use of thirty markers that represented twenty different body segments. These were recorded in 12 sound horses undergoing the activities of standing, walking, and trotting on a treadmill.
- This tracking was performed with a high-speed video system for accurate analyses.
- Following this, based on the given segmental inertial data, the 3D positions of the segmental centre of mass and the total BCM were calculated and analysed.
Findings
- The position of the BCM was calculated within the trunk of the horse in a standing position, and the BCM movements in the three planes were identified while doing different movements (standing, walking, trotting).
- In a trotting horse, the vertical displacement amplitude of the BCM amounted to 53mm on average, which was found to be 27% lower than the external trunk movement.
- The medio-lateral displacement amplitude of the BCM was 19 mm, 34% less than the trunk amplitude.
- Sagittal forward-backward oscillations of the BCM, independent of the horse’s general forward movement, were smaller than trunk movements by 24%.
- While walking, the vertical, medio-lateral, and sagittal BCM movements were smaller than the trunk movements by 43%, 65%, and 65% respectively.
Conclusions and Implications
- This research has unveiled that the BCM movements in horses are smaller and more efficient than the trunk movements while walking and trotting.
- The findings deliver a foundational understanding for the assessment of various clinical conditions such as lameness, the influence of a rider, and various dressage performances.
- Understanding BCM could potentially aid in the diagnosis and treatment of various equine disorders.
Cite This Article
APA
Buchner HH, Obermüller S, Scheidl M.
(2000).
Body centre of mass movement in the sound horse.
Vet J, 160(3), 225-234.
https://doi.org/10.1053/tvjl.2000.0507 Publication
Researcher Affiliations
- Clinic of Orthopaedics in Ungulates, University of Veterinary Medicine Vienna, Veterinärplatz 1, A-1210 Wien, Austria. Florian.Buchner@vu-wien.ac.at
MeSH Terms
- Animals
- Biomechanical Phenomena
- Female
- Gait / physiology
- Horses / physiology
- Locomotion / physiology
- Male
- Regression Analysis
- Statistics, Nonparametric
- Videotape Recording
Citations
This article has been cited 9 times.- Hobbs SJ, Clayton HM. The Olympic motto through the lens of equestrian sports.. Anim Front 2022 Jun;12(3):45-53.
- Horan K, Kourdache K, Coburn J, Day P, Carnall H, Harborne D, Brinkley L, Hammond L, Millard S, Lancaster B, Pfau T. The effect of horseshoes and surfaces on horse and jockey centre of mass displacements at gallop.. PLoS One 2021;16(11):e0257820.
- Egan S, Brama PAJ, Goulding C, McKeown D, Kearney CM, McGrath D. The Feasibility of Equine Field-Based Postural Sway Analysis Using a Single Inertial Sensor.. Sensors (Basel) 2021 Feb 11;21(4).
- Serra Bragança FM, Hernlund E, Thomsen MH, Waldern NM, Rhodin M, Byström A, van Weeren PR, Weishaupt MA. Adaptation strategies of horses with induced forelimb lameness walking on a treadmill.. Equine Vet J 2021 May;53(3):600-611.
- Clayton HM, Hobbs SJ. A Review of Biomechanical Gait Classification with Reference to Collected Trot, Passage and Piaffe in Dressage Horses.. Animals (Basel) 2019 Oct 3;9(10).
- Gorissen BMC, Wolschrijn CF, Serra Bragança FM, Geerts AAJ, Leenders WOJL, Back W, van Weeren PR. The development of locomotor kinetics in the foal and the effect of osteochondrosis.. Equine Vet J 2017 Jul;49(4):467-474.
- Hobbs SJ, Bertram JE, Clayton HM. An exploration of the influence of diagonal dissociation and moderate changes in speed on locomotor parameters in trotting horses.. PeerJ 2016;4:e2190.
- Starke SD, Robilliard JJ, Weller R, Wilson AM, Pfau T. Walk-run classification of symmetrical gaits in the horse: a multidimensional approach.. J R Soc Interface 2009 Apr 6;6(33):335-42.
- Vilar JM, Spadari A, Billi V, Desini V, Santana A. Biomechanics in young and adult italian standardbred trotter horses in real racing conditions.. Vet Res Commun 2008 Jun;32(5):367-76.
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