Evaluation of Within- and Between- Session Reliability of the TekscanTM Hoof System With a Glue-on Shoe.

The research deals with technology advancement in equine research, specifically analyzing the accuracy and reliability of the Tekscan Hoof gait analysis system. The objective was to examine if the system provides consistent results within one session and between different test sessions.

Research Methodology

• The study involved four mature Standardbred geldings that were fitted with Tekscan Hoof sensors on both of their front hooves. These sensors were attached using glue-on shoes from SoundHorse Technologies.
• The horses were exercised twice in a day, once in the morning (AM) and once in the evening (PM).
• In each session, horses performed a walking and a trotting exercise. For both exercises, the system recorded force and area data for at least 10 steps. Three such recordings were taken in each session.

Data Analysis and Findings

• Statistical analysis of the recorded data was performed, taking into account fixed effects of gait, horse, leg, and individual recording within session.
• Intraclass Correlation Coefficients (ICC; 3,k) and confidence intervals were calculated for the data recorded in the AM and PM sessions.
• The researchers found that the average force and area were higher in AM sessions compared to PM sessions.
• The ICC for the walking exercise showed good reliability (96%) between the AM and PM sessions and excellent reliability (98%) for the trotting exercise.
• The within-session reliability was excellent for both walking and trotting exercises, with ICCs greater than 96%.

Conclusions and Implications

• The research concluded that the Tekscan Hoof System offers excellent reliability within a single testing session.
• Although the system also showed high reliability between sessions, it yielded lower force and area outputs in the later sessions. This difference may be attributable to potential sensor damage.
• The findings indicate the need for caution when comparing data between sessions and emphasize the importance of protecting the sensors from damage.