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Home / Equine Research Bank / Equine Vet J / Comparison of a standalone consumer grade smartphone with a ...
Equine veterinary journal2015; 49(1); 124-129; doi: 10.1111/evj.12529

Comparison of a standalone consumer grade smartphone with a specialist inertial measurement unit for quantification of movement symmetry in the trotting horse.

Abstract: Equine inertial measurement unit (IMU) gait analysis has gained in popularity for use in horses. Similar transducers are now found in consumer grade smartphones. However, to date there are no scientific data evaluating their use for assessment of movement (a)symmetry in the horse. Objective: To establish limits of agreement (LoA, mean difference ±2 s.d.) between a validated specialist IMU system and IMU data collected with a consumer grade smartphone for quantification of movement symmetry and range of motion (ROM) of pelvic movement in the trotting horse. Methods: Method comparison study based on quantitative gait data. Methods: Twenty horses were equipped with a specialist IMU (MTw, Xsens) and a consumer grade smartphone (Apple iPhone6), both securely attached immediately in front of one another in the midline over the sacrum. Horses were trotted in-hand and lunged on both reins on a soft arena surface. Median values for movement symmetry and ROM were determined over a series of strides for each exercise condition. Data collection was repeated in 6 horses to determine the effect of mediolateral sensor positioning on outcome parameters. Results: Valid data from 17 horses resulted in LoA values of -3.7 ± 9.2 mm for MinDiff (difference between left and right hind mid stance), -0.6 ± 6.0 mm for MaxDiff (difference between left and right hind propulsion) and -0.8 ± 7.4 mm for ROM across horses and exercises. LoAs were narrower for straight line exercise and the negative bias was considerably reduced when moving the smartphone to the right of the midline. Conclusions: The consumer grade smartphone provided meaningful gait data in horses: LoAs in particular for in-hand exercise and when adjusting the mediolateral positioning are similar to published asymmetry thresholds. Owing to the sensitivity to mediolateral positioning, particular care should be taken when placing an IMU over the midline of the horse.
© 2015 EVJ Ltd.
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Publication Date: 2015-12-25 PubMed ID: 26518143DOI: 10.1111/evj.12529Google Scholar: Lookup
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  • Comparative Study
  • Journal Article

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 compares the use of consumer-grade smartphones to a custom-built inertial measurement unit (IMU) in measuring movement symmetry and range of motion in trotting horses. The study concluded that smartphones provided valuable data and exhibited similar results to the custom-built IMU, although they were more sensitive to the alignment of the sensors.

Objectives and Methodology

  • The main objective of this study was to compare a specialist IMU system with a consumer-grade smartphone for quantification of movement symmetry and range of motion of pelvic movement in trotting horses. This was achieved by establishing the limits of agreement between the two systems.
  • The study involved 20 horses equipped with both the specialist IMU and a consumer-grade smartphone (Apple iPhone6) attached in the midline over the sacrum. The horses were made to trot in-hand and on ropes in a soft-arena exercise condition.
  • The study aimed to determine the effect of the medial-lateral positioning of the sensors on the athletic performance of horses, and for this purpose, data collection was repeated in 6 horses.

Results

  • The data from 17 horses produced limits of agreement values for three critical metrics – MinDiff (difference between left and right hind mid-stance), MaxDiff (difference between left and right hind propulsion), and ROM across horses and exercises.
  • The study found that the limits of agreement were narrower for straight-line exercise and that the negative bias reduced significantly when the smartphone was moved to the right of the midline.

Conclusions

  • The study concluded that the consumer-grade smartphone provided useful gait data in quantifying movement symmetry and range of motion in trotting horses. The limits of agreement, particularly for in-hand exercise and mediolateral positioning, were similar to published asymmetry thresholds.
  • The study pointed out that due to the sensitivity to medial-lateral positioning, precision needs to be exercised while placing the IMU over the midline of the horse.

Cite This Article

APA
Pfau T, Weller R. (2015). Comparison of a standalone consumer grade smartphone with a specialist inertial measurement unit for quantification of movement symmetry in the trotting horse. Equine Vet J, 49(1), 124-129. https://doi.org/10.1111/evj.12529

Publication

Equine veterinary journal
ISSN: 2042-3306
NlmUniqueID: 0173320
Country: United States
Language: English
Volume: 49
Issue: 1
Pages: 124-129

Researcher Affiliations

Pfau, T
  • Department of Clinical Science and Services, Royal Veterinary College, Hatfield, UK.
Weller, R
  • Department of Clinical Science and Services, Royal Veterinary College, Hatfield, UK.

MeSH Terms

  • Accelerometry / instrumentation
  • Accelerometry / methods
  • Accelerometry / veterinary
  • Animals
  • Gait / physiology
  • Horses / physiology
  • Movement / physiology
  • Physical Conditioning, Animal
  • Smartphone

Citations

This article has been cited 11 times.
  1. Crecan CM, Peștean CP. Inertial Sensor Technologies-Their Role in Equine Gait Analysis, a Review. Sensors (Basel) 2023 Jul 11;23(14).
    doi: 10.3390/s23146301pubmed: 37514599google scholar: lookup
  2. Zetterberg E, Leclercq A, Persson-Sjodin E, Lundblad J, Haubro Andersen P, Hernlund E, Rhodin M. Prevalence of vertical movement asymmetries at trot in Standardbred and Swedish Warmblood foals. PLoS One 2023;18(4):e0284105.
    doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0284105pubmed: 37023102google scholar: lookup
  3. Davíðsson HB, Rees T, Ólafsdóttir MR, Einarsson H. Efficient Development of Gait Classification Models for Five-Gaited Horses Based on Mobile Phone Sensors. Animals (Basel) 2023 Jan 3;13(1).
    doi: 10.3390/ani13010183pubmed: 36611791google scholar: lookup
  4. Wang SL, Civillico G, Niswander W, Kontson KL. Comparison of Motion Analysis Systems in Tracking Upper Body Movement of Myoelectric Bypass Prosthesis Users. Sensors (Basel) 2022 Apr 12;22(8).
    doi: 10.3390/s22082953pubmed: 35458943google scholar: lookup
  5. Pfau T, Scott WM, Sternberg Allen T. Upper Body Movement Symmetry in Reining Quarter Horses during Trot In-Hand, on the Lunge and during Ridden Exercise. Animals (Basel) 2022 Feb 27;12(5).
    doi: 10.3390/ani12050596pubmed: 35268165google scholar: lookup
  6. 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.
    doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0257820pubmed: 34813584google scholar: lookup
  7. Marunova E, Dod L, Witte S, Pfau T. Smartphone-Based Pelvic Movement Asymmetry Measures for Clinical Decision Making in Equine Lameness Assessment. Animals (Basel) 2021 Jun 3;11(6).
    doi: 10.3390/ani11061665pubmed: 34204921google scholar: lookup
  8. MacKechnie-Guire R, Pfau T. Differential Rotational Movement of the Thoracolumbosacral Spine in High-Level Dressage Horses Ridden in a Straight Line, in Sitting Trot and Seated Canter Compared to In-Hand Trot. Animals (Basel) 2021 Mar 20;11(3).
    doi: 10.3390/ani11030888pubmed: 33804702google scholar: lookup
  9. Bosch S, Serra Bragança F, Marin-Perianu M, Marin-Perianu R, van der Zwaag BJ, Voskamp J, Back W, van Weeren R, Havinga P. EquiMoves: A Wireless Networked Inertial Measurement System for Objective Examination of Horse Gait. Sensors (Basel) 2018 Mar 13;18(3).
    doi: 10.3390/s18030850pubmed: 29534022google scholar: lookup
  10. Rhodin M, Egenvall A, Haubro Andersen P, Pfau T. Head and pelvic movement asymmetries at trot in riding horses in training and perceived as free from lameness by the owner. PLoS One 2017;12(4):e0176253.
    doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0176253pubmed: 28441406google scholar: lookup
  11. Calle-González N, Lo Feudo CM, Ferrucci F, Requena F, Stucchi L, Muñoz A. Objective Assessment of Equine Locomotor Symmetry Using an Inertial Sensor System and Artificial Intelligence: A Comparative Study. Animals (Basel) 2024 Mar 16;14(6).
    doi: 10.3390/ani14060921pubmed: 38540019google scholar: lookup
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