Effect of forelimb lameness on hoof kinematics of horses at a walk.
Abstract: To determine kinematic changes to the hoof of horses at a walk after induction of unilateral, weight-bearing forelimb lameness and to determine whether hoof kinematics return to prelameness (baseline) values after perineural anesthesia. Methods: 6 clinically normal Quarter Horses. Methods: For each horse, a sole-pressure model was used to induce 3 grades of lameness in the right forelimb, after which perineural anesthesia was administered to eliminate lameness. Optical kinematics were obtained for both forelimbs with the horse walking before (baseline) and after induction of each grade of lameness and after perineural anesthesia. Linear acceleration profiles were used to identify hoof events, and each stride was divided into hoof-contact, break-over, initial-swing, terminal-swing, and total-swing segments. Kinematic variables were compared within and between limbs for each segment by use of mixed repeated-measures ANOVA. Results: During the hoof-contact and terminal-swing segments, the hoof of the left (nonlame) forelimb had greater sagittal-plane orientation than did the hoof of the right (lame) forelimb. For the lame limb following lameness induction, the break-over duration and maximum cranial acceleration were increased from baseline. After perineural anesthesia, break-over duration for the lame limb returned to a value similar to that at baseline, and orientation of the hoof during the terminal-swing segment did not differ between the lame and nonlame limbs. Conclusions: Subclinical unilateral forelimb lameness resulted in significant alterations to hoof kinematics in horses that are walking, and the use of hoof kinematics may be beneficial for the detection of subclinical lameness in horses.
Publication Date: 2013-08-28 PubMed ID: 23977891DOI: 10.2460/ajvr.74.9.1192Google Scholar: Lookup
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- Journal Article
- Research Support
- Non-U.S. Gov't
Summary
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This research investigates the impact of unilateral, weight-bearing lameness in horses on hoof movement during a walk. After inducing lameness in the right forelimb of clinically normal horses, the study tracked changes in hoof kinematics. It further assessed whether the incurred changes return to baseline values after the administration of perineural anesthesia.
Methods
- The study involved 6 clinically normal Quarter Horses. A sole-pressure model was used to induce three grades of lameness in the right forelimb of each horse.
- After the induction of lameness, perineural anesthesia was given to eliminate lameness.
- Optical kinematics were obtained for both forelimbs when the horse was walking, before (baseline values) and after the induction of lameness, and after the administration of perineural anesthesia.
- Linear acceleration profiles were used to identify hoof events. Each stride was divided into five segments: hoof-contact, break-over, initial-swing, terminal-swing, and total-swing.
- Kinematic variables were then compared within and between limbs for each segment using a repeated-measures ANOVA statistical model.
Results
- For the hoof-contact and terminal-swing segments, the hoof of the left (nonlame) forelimb had greater sagittal-plane orientation than did the hoof of the right (lame) forelimb.
- The break-over duration and maximum cranial acceleration were increased from baseline for the lame limb after the induction of lameness.
- After perineural anesthesia, break-over duration for the lame limb returned to a baseline-like value, and the orientation of the hoof during the terminal-swing segment did not differ between the lame and nonlame limbs.
Conclusions
- Subclinical (not visibly perceptible) unilateral lameness in the forelimb of a horse significantly alters hoof kinematics when the horse is walking.
- The application of hoof kinematics can aid in detecting such subclinical lameness in horses.
Cite This Article
APA
Moorman VJ, Reiser RF, Peterson ML, McIlwraith CW, Kawcak CE.
(2013).
Effect of forelimb lameness on hoof kinematics of horses at a walk.
Am J Vet Res, 74(9), 1192-1197.
https://doi.org/10.2460/ajvr.74.9.1192 Publication
Researcher Affiliations
- Gail Holmes Equine Orthopaedic Research Center, Departments of Clinical Sciences, College of Veterinary Medicine and Biomedical Sciences, Colorado State University, Fort Collins, CO 80523, USA.
MeSH Terms
- Animals
- Biomechanical Phenomena
- Forelimb / physiopathology
- Gait / physiology
- Hoof and Claw / physiopathology
- Horses / physiology
- Lameness, Animal / physiopathology
Citations
This article has been cited 4 times.- Atkins CA, Pond KR, Madsen CK, Moorman VJ, Roman-Muniz IN, Archibeque SL, Grandin T. Sensor analysis and initial assessment of detectable first hoof contacts and last break-overs as unique signal fluctuations for equine gait analysis. Transl Anim Sci 2019 Jul;3(4):1389-1398.
- Tijssen M, Hernlund E, Rhodin M, Bosch S, Voskamp JP, Nielen M, Serra Braganςa FM. Automatic detection of break-over phase onset in horses using hoof-mounted inertial measurement unit sensors. PLoS One 2020;15(5):e0233649.
- Zupan Šemrov M, Přibylová L, Gobbo E. Task-specific morphological and kinematic differences in Lipizzan horses. Front Vet Sci 2025;12:1569067.
- Larsen EA, Williams MR, Schoonover MJ, Jurek KA, Young JM, Duddy HR. Navicular bone fracture and severe deep digital flexor tendinopathy after palmar digital neurectomy in two horses. Open Vet J 2023 Dec;13(12):1752-1759.
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