Fetlock Joint Angle Pattern and Range of Motion Quantification Using Two Synchronized Wearable Inertial Sensors per Limb in Sound Horses and Horses with Single Limb Naturally Occurring Lameness.
Abstract: Fetlock joint angle (FJA) pattern is a sensitive indicator of lameness. The first aim of this study is to describe a network of inertial measurement units system (IMUs) for quantifying FJA simultaneously in all limbs. The second aim is to evaluate the accuracy of IMUs for quantifying the sagittal plane FJA overground in comparison to bi-dimensional (2-D) optical motion capture (OMC). 14 horses (7 free from lameness and 7 lame) were enrolled and analyzed with both systems at walk and trot on a firm surface. All enrolled horses were instrumented with 8 IMUs (a pair for each limb) positioned at the dorsal aspect of the metacarpal/metatarsal bone and pastern and acquiring data at 200 Hz. Passive markers were glued on the center of rotation of carpus/tarsus, fetlock, and distal interphalangeal joint, and video footages were captured at 60 Hz and digitalized for OMC acquisition. The IMU system accuracy was reported as Root Mean Square Error (RMSE) and Pearson Correlation Coefficient (PCC). The Granger Causality Test (GCT) and the Bland−Altman analysis were computed between the IMUs and OMC patterns to determine the agreement between the two systems. The proposed IMU system was able to provide FJAs in all limbs using a patented method for sensor calibration and related algorithms. Fetlock joint range of motion (FJROM) variability of three consecutive strides was analyzed in the population through 3-way ANOVA. FJA patterns quantified by IMUs demonstrated high accuracy at the walk (RMSE 8.23° ± 3.74°; PCC 0.95 ± 0.03) and trot (RMSE 9.44° ± 3.96°; PCC 0.96 ± 0.02) on both sound (RMSE 7.91° ± 3.19°; PCC 0.97 ± 0.03) and lame horses (RMSE 9.78° ± 4.33°; PCC 0.95 ± 0.03). The two systems’ measurements agreed (mean bias around 0) and produced patterns that were in temporal agreement in 97.33% of the cases (p < 0.01). The main source of variability between left and right FJROM in the population was the presence of lameness (p < 0.0001) and accounted for 28.46% of this total variation. IMUs system accurately quantified sagittal plane FJA at walk and trot in both sound and lame horses.
Publication Date: 2022-08-25 PubMed ID: 36136672PubMed Central: PMC9502055DOI: 10.3390/vetsci9090456Google Scholar: Lookup
The Equine Research Bank provides access to a large database of publicly available scientific literature. Inclusion in the Research Bank does not imply endorsement of study methods or findings by Mad Barn.
- 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.
The research article focuses on the use of wearable inertial sensors, also called inertial measurement units (IMUs), as a method to measure the angle patterns of a horse’s fetlock joint (FJA), potentially identifying lameness. The outcomes of the study demonstrated the successful accuracy of using this system in assessing the FJA on both sound and lame horses.
Objective of the Research
- The primary aim of the study was to explore the functionality of a network of inertial measurement units system (IMUs) to quantify the FJA in all horse limbs. An additional objective was to assess the accuracy of IMUs in measuring sagittal plane FJA in comparison to optical motion capture (OMC).
Procedure
- Fourteen horses were involved in the research, divided into two groups (one with lameness and the other without).
- An IMU was positioned on the dorsal aspect of the metacarpal/metatarsal bone and pastern of each horse’s limb, retrieving data at high rates (200Hz).
- Markers were placed on the identified points of rotation—carpus/tarsus, fetlock, and distal interphalangeal joint—for OMC acquisition.
- Data regarding FJA patterns and range of motions from the IMU system and OMC were evaluated, analyzed, and compared.
Findings
- The IMU system accurately rendered Fetlock Joint Angles (FJAs) by employing a patented method for sensor calibration and related algorithms.
- The FJA patterns quantified by the IMUs showed high accuracy at both walking and trotting conditions for sound and lame horses alike.
- The study found a significant alignment in the patterns produced by the IMU system and OMC measurements.
- Lameness was identified as a significant source of variability in the range of motion of the fetlock joint which accounted for a substantial portion (28.46%) of this total variation.
Conclusion
- The study concluded that IMUs are an efficient and accurate tool for evaluating sagittal plane FJA at different states (walking, trotting) and both types of horses (sound, lame).
- This tool could provide vital insights to help diagnose and manage cases of lameness in horses for improved welfare and performance.
Cite This Article
APA
Pagliara E, Marenchino M, Antenucci L, Costantini M, Zoppi G, Giacobini MDL, Bullone M, Riccio B, Bertuglia A.
(2022).
Fetlock Joint Angle Pattern and Range of Motion Quantification Using Two Synchronized Wearable Inertial Sensors per Limb in Sound Horses and Horses with Single Limb Naturally Occurring Lameness.
Vet Sci, 9(9), 456.
https://doi.org/10.3390/vetsci9090456 Publication
Researcher Affiliations
- Department of Veterinary Science, University of Turin, 10095 Grugliasco, Italy.
- Department of Veterinary Science, University of Turin, 10095 Grugliasco, Italy.
- Captiks Srl, 00012 Rome, Italy.
- Captiks Srl, 00012 Rome, Italy.
- Department of Veterinary Science, University of Turin, 10095 Grugliasco, Italy.
- Department of Veterinary Science, University of Turin, 10095 Grugliasco, Italy.
- Department of Veterinary Science, University of Turin, 10095 Grugliasco, Italy.
- Department of Veterinary Science, University of Turin, 10095 Grugliasco, Italy.
- Department of Veterinary Science, University of Turin, 10095 Grugliasco, Italy.
Conflict of Interest Statement
L.A. and M.C. are employees of Captiks s.r.l. The other authors declare no conflict of interest.
References
This article includes 41 references
- Hinchcliff KW, Kaneps AJ, Geor RJ. Equine Sports Medicine and Surgery, Basic and Clinical Sciences of the Equine Athlete. 2nd ed. Elsevier Health Sciences; Amsterdam, The Netherlands: 2013.
- Harrison SM, Whitton RC, Kawcak CE, Stover SM, Pandy MG. Relationship between muscle forces, joint loading and utilization of elastic strain energy in equine locomotion.. J Exp Biol 2010 Dec 1;213(Pt 23):3998-4009.
- Merritt JS, Davies HM, Burvill C, Pandy MG. Influence of muscle-tendon wrapping on calculations of joint reaction forces in the equine distal forelimb.. J Biomed Biotechnol 2008;2008:165730.
- Bertone AL. Equine Sport Medicine and Surgery. Saunders Ltd.; Philadelphia, PA, USA: 2014. Distal Limb: Fetlock and Pastern.
- Lawson SE, Chateau H, Pourcelot P, Denoix JM, Crevier-Denoix N. Effect of toe and heel elevation on calculated tendon strains in the horse and the influence of the proximal interphalangeal joint.. J Anat 2007 May;210(5):583-91.
- Weller R, Pfau T, Verheyen K, May SA, Wilson AM. The effect of conformation on orthopaedic health and performance in a cohort of National Hunt racehorses: preliminary results.. Equine Vet J 2006 Nov;38(7):622-7.
- Dabbene I, Bullone M, Pagliara E, Gasparini M, Riccio B, Bertuglia A. Clinical findings and prognosis of interference injuries to the palmar aspect of the forelimbs in Standardbred racehorses: A study on 74 cases.. Equine Vet J 2018 Nov;50(6):759-765.
- Keegan KG, Wilson DA, Smith BK, Wilson DJ. Changes in kinematic variables observed during pressure-induced forelimb lameness in adult horses trotting on a treadmill.. Am J Vet Res 2000 Jun;61(6):612-9.
- Clayton HM, Schamhardt HC, Willemen MA, Lanovaz JL, Colborne GR. Kinematics and ground reaction forces in horses with superficial digital flexor tendinitis.. Am J Vet Res 2000 Feb;61(2):191-6.
- Serra Bragança FM, Rhodin M, van Weeren PR. On the brink of daily clinical application of objective gait analysis: What evidence do we have so far from studies using an induced lameness model?. Vet J 2018 Apr;234:11-23.
- 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).
- Keegan KG, Pai PF, Wilson DA, Smith BK. Signal decomposition method of evaluating head movement to measure induced forelimb lameness in horses trotting on a treadmill.. Equine Vet J 2001 Sep;33(5):446-51.
- Olsen E, Pfau T, Ritz C. Functional limits of agreement applied as a novel method comparison tool for accuracy and precision of inertial measurement unit derived displacement of the distal limb in horses.. J Biomech 2013 Sep 3;46(13):2320-5.
- Roepstorff L, Wiestner T, Weishaupt MA, Egenvall E. Comparison of microgyro-based measurements of equine metatarsal/metacarpal bone to a high speed video locomotion analysis system during treadmill locomotion.. Vet J 2013 Dec;198 Suppl 1:e157-60.
- Sapone M, Martin P, Ben Mansour K, Chateau H, Marin F. The Protraction and Retraction Angles of Horse Limbs: An Estimation during Trotting Using Inertial Sensors.. Sensors (Basel) 2021 May 30;21(11).
- Bragança FM, Bosch S, Voskamp JP, Marin-Perianu M, Van der Zwaag BJ, Vernooij JCM, van Weeren PR, Back W. Validation of distal limb mounted inertial measurement unit sensors for stride detection in Warmblood horses at walk and trot.. Equine Vet J 2017 Jul;49(4):545-551.
- Cruz AM, Maninchedda UE, Burger D, Wanda S, Vidondo B. Repeatability of gait pattern variables measured by use of extremity-mounted inertial measurement units in nonlame horses during trotting.. Am J Vet Res 2017 Sep;78(9):1011-1018.
- Hatrisse C, Macaire C, Sapone M, Hebert C, Hanne-Poujade S, De Azevedo E, Marin F, Martin P, Chateau H. Stance Phase Detection by Inertial Measurement Unit Placed on the Metacarpus of Horses Trotting on Hard and Soft Straight Lines and Circles.. Sensors (Basel) 2022 Jan 18;22(3).
- Degueurce C, Pourcelot P, Audigié F, Denoix JM, Geiger D. Variability of the limb joint patterns of sound horses at trot.. Equine Vet J Suppl 1997 May;(23):89-92.
- . AAEP Horse Show Committee Guide to Veterinary Services for Horse Shows. 7th ed. American Association of Equine Practitioners; Lexington, KY, USA: 1999.
- Saggio G, Tombolini F, Ruggiero A. Technology-Based Complex Motor Tasks Assessment: A 6-DOF Inertial-Based System Versus a Gold-Standard Optoelectronic-Based One. IEEE Sens. J. 2021;21:1616–1624.
- Drevemo S, Dalin G, Fredricson I, Hjertén G. Equine locomotion; 1. The analysis of linear and temporal stride characteristics of trotting standardbreds.. Equine Vet J 1980 Apr;12(2):60-5.
- Clayton HM. Comparison of the stride kinematics of the collected, working, medium and extended trot in horses.. Equine Vet J 1994 May;26(3):230-4.
- Briggs EV, Mazzà C. Automatic methods of hoof-on and -off detection in horses using wearable inertial sensors during walk and trot on asphalt, sand and grass.. PLoS One 2021;16(7):e0254813.
- Bland JM, Altman DG. Agreement between methods of measurement with multiple observations per individual.. J Biopharm Stat 2007;17(4):571-82.
- Buchner HH, Savelberg HH, Schamhardt HC, Barneveld A. Limb movement adaptations in horses with experimentally induced fore- or hindlimb lameness.. Equine Vet J 1996 Jan;28(1):63-70.
- Lynch JA, Clayton HM, Mullineaux DR. The Reliability of Force Platform Data from Trotting Horses. Equine Comp. Exerc. Physiol. 2005;2:129–132.
- Lewczuk D, Maśko M. Symmetry and Regularity of Recreation Horse during Treadmill Training. Livest. Sci. 2021;254:104773.
- Galisteo AM, Cano MR, Morales JL, Vivo J, Miró F. The influence of speed and height at the withers on the kinematics of sound horses at the hand-led trot.. Vet Res Commun 1998 Sep;22(6):415-23.
- Ishihara A, Bertone AL, Rajala-Schultz PJ. Association between subjective lameness grade and kinetic gait parameters in horses with experimentally induced forelimb lameness.. Am J Vet Res 2005 Oct;66(10):1805-15.
- Cuesta-Vargas AI, Galán-Mercant A, Williams JM. The use of inertial sensors system for human motion analysis.. Phys Ther Rev 2010 Dec;15(6):462-473.
- Poitras I, Dupuis F, Bielmann M, Campeau-Lecours A, Mercier C, Bouyer LJ, Roy JS. Validity and Reliability of Wearable Sensors for Joint Angle Estimation: A Systematic Review.. Sensors (Basel) 2019 Mar 31;19(7).
- Farber M, Schamhardt H, van Weeren R, Barneveld A. Methodology and validity of assessing kinematics of the thoracolumbar vertebral column in horses on the basis of skin-fixated markers.. Am J Vet Res 2001 Mar;62(3):301-6.
- Back W, Clayton HM. Equine Locomotion. 2nd ed. Elsevier Health Sciences; Amsterdam, The Netherlands: 2012.
- Chateau H, Degueurce C, Denoix JM. Evaluation of three-dimensional kinematics of the distal portion of the forelimb in horses walking in a straight line.. Am J Vet Res 2004 Apr;65(4):447-55.
- Hobbs SJ, Richards J, Matuszewski B, Brigden C. Development and evaluation of a noninvasive marker cluster technique to assess three-dimensional kinematics of the distal portion of the forelimb in horses.. Am J Vet Res 2006 Sep;67(9):1511-8.
- Clayton HM, Sha D, Stick J, Elvin N. 3D kinematics of the equine metacarpophalangeal joint at walk and trot.. Vet Comp Orthop Traumatol 2007;20(2):86-91.
- Chateau H, Degueurce C, Denoix JM. Three-dimensional kinematics of the distal forelimb in horses trotting on a treadmill and effects of elevation of heel and toe.. Equine Vet J 2006 Mar;38(2):164-9.
- Hodson E, Clayton HM, Lanovaz JL. The forelimb in walking horses: 1. Kinematics and ground reaction forces.. Equine Vet J 2000 Jul;32(4):287-94.
- Back W, Schamhardt HC, Savelberg HH, van den Bogert AJ, Bruin G, Hartman W, Barneveld A. How the horse moves: 1. Significance of graphical representations of equine forelimb kinematics.. Equine Vet J 1995 Jan;27(1):31-8.
- Back W, Schamhardt HC, Barneveld A. Are kinematics of the walk related to the locomotion of a warmblood horse at the trot?. Vet Q 1996;18 Suppl 2:S79-84.
Citations
This article has been cited 1 times.- Crecan CM, Peștean CP. Inertial Sensor Technologies-Their Role in Equine Gait Analysis, a Review.. Sensors (Basel) 2023 Jul 11;23(14).
Use Nutrition Calculator
Check if your horse's diet meets their nutrition requirements with our easy-to-use tool Check your horse's diet with our easy-to-use tool
Talk to a Nutritionist
Discuss your horse's feeding plan with our experts over a free phone consultation Discuss your horse's diet over a phone consultation
Submit Diet Evaluation
Get a customized feeding plan for your horse formulated by our equine nutritionists Get a custom feeding plan formulated by our nutritionists
