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Veterinary journal (London, England : 1997)2009; 186(3); 347-351; doi: 10.1016/j.tvjl.2009.08.024

Comparison of pressure plate and force plate gait kinetics in sound Warmbloods at walk and trot.

Abstract: Modern pressure plates (PP) could be an alternative to traditional force plates (FP) for quantitative equine gait analysis, thereby providing the clinician with objective data on the horse's gait while unravelling the loading of different regions of the hoof during the stance phase. The aim of this study was to determine whether a stand-alone PP allows reliable measurement of gait kinetics, compared to simultaneously recorded FP variables. Six sound Warmblood horses were walked and trotted over a combined PP and FP system for collection of a set of five valid kinetic measurements for each forelimb. A measurement was considered valid if the horse was moving in a straight line at a constant pace while gait velocity was within a preset range and the hoof fully contacted the plate surface. Significant differences between FP and PP data were seen for peak vertical force (PVF), vertical impulse (VI), time at which the PVF occurs (tPVF) and forelimb symmetry ratios (SymPVF and SymVI) (P < 0.05), but not for stance phase duration (ST). Nevertheless, mean agreement indices (AIs) of ST, tPVF and SymPVF and SymVI were excellent (≥ 0.92), whereas AIs of PVF and VI were moderate (≥ 0.70). The excellent agreement between PP and FP symmetry ratios confirms that observed differences between PP and FP in symmetry ratios are small (2-7%), especially when compared to the expected decrease in symmetry associated with mild lameness (> 20%). The results indicate that a stand-alone pressure plate can be used to measure absolute (ST) and relative (tPVF) temporal variables and loading symmetry ratios and offers equine veterinarians a mobile, cost-efficient and quick gait evaluation method for routine clinical use. However, the system cannot be used interchangeably with a force plate to measure absolute values of limb loading.
Copyright © 2009 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.
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Publication Date: 2009-09-13 PubMed ID: 19751984DOI: 10.1016/j.tvjl.2009.08.024Google 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 research investigates the efficiency of using modern pressure plates as an alternative to traditional force plates in analyzing horse gait. The study found that while pressure plates give excellent relative measurements and are cost-efficient, they cannot accurately measure absolute values of limb loading like force plates can.

Study Objectives and Methods

  • This research aimed at determining whether modern pressure plates could serve as a good alternative to traditional force plates. The performance of the pressure plates was examined through a quantitative analysis of the gait of six Warmblood horses.
  • Data for peak vertical force (PVF), vertical impulse (VI), time at which the PVF occurs (tPVF), and forelimb symmetry ratios (SymPVF and SymVI) were simultaneously recorded using pressure plates and force plates.
  • The comparison would validate if the pressure plate could deliver reliable gait kinetics measurements. Conditions for acquiring valid data on horses’ movement were outlined which included horses moving in a straight line at a constant pace whose speed was within a given range and the hoof fully in contact with the plate surface.

Study Findings

  • Significant differences were observed between data captured by the pressure plates and force plates for the various parameters except for the stance phase duration (ST).
  • Despite the differences, the agreement between the pressure plates and force plates for ST, tPVF, and symmetry ratios was rated as excellent with agreement indices (Ais) scoring ≥ 0.92. On the other hand, agreement for PVF and VI measurements was described as moderate with Ais scoring ≥ 0.70.
  • Differences between pressure plates and force plates for symmetry ratios ranged from 2-7%, which is much lower compared to the expected symmetry decrease relatable to mild lameness (> 20%).

Implications and Conclusions

  • Results from this study suggest that standalone pressure plates can provide excellent relative temporal data and are good for evaluating loading symmetry ratios. These features plus the mobility, affordability, and speed in gait evaluation make pressure plates a viable tool for veterinarians to use for clinical purposes.
  • However, the study recommends that pressure plates should not be used interchangeably with force plates to measure absolute values of limb loading due to the observed moderate agreement and significant differences in performance.

Cite This Article

APA
Oosterlinck M, Pille F, Huppes T, Gasthuys F, Back W. (2009). Comparison of pressure plate and force plate gait kinetics in sound Warmbloods at walk and trot. Vet J, 186(3), 347-351. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.tvjl.2009.08.024

Publication

Veterinary journal (London, England : 1997)
ISSN: 1532-2971
NlmUniqueID: 9706281
Country: England
Language: English
Volume: 186
Issue: 3
Pages: 347-351

Researcher Affiliations

Oosterlinck, Maarten
  • Department of Surgery and Anaesthesiology, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Ghent University, B-9820 Merelbeke, Belgium. Maarten.Oosterlinck@ugent.be
Pille, Frederik
    Huppes, Tsjester
      Gasthuys, Frank
        Back, Willem

          MeSH Terms

          • Animals
          • Biomechanical Phenomena
          • Female
          • Forelimb
          • Gait / physiology
          • Hoof and Claw / physiology
          • Horses / physiology
          • Kinetics
          • Pressure
          • Walking / physiology
          • Weight-Bearing

          Citations

          This article has been cited 18 times.
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