[Force plate measurements for a quantitative assessment of the equine gait].

The research focuses on using force plate measurements to obtain a quantitative analysis of an equine’s gait and studying the forces between the hoof and ground during the stance phase. This data can be applied to assess treatment options in equine orthopedics and study movement in various forms of horse sports.

Overview of Research

The research aimed to provide a quantitative assessment of an equine’s gait using force plate measurements. Specifically, the authors focused their study on the forces created between the horse’s hoof and the ground during stance phase (when the hoof is on the ground), also known as ground reaction forces (GRF).

• Force plates are devices that measure the ground reaction forces generated by a body standing on or moving across them.
• The measurements taken in this study were averaged from at least five stance time and body weight normalized GRF recordings to provide a representative pattern.

Application in Equine Orthopaedics

The findings of this research have several potential applications in equine orthopaedics, particularly in assessing the effectiveness of different forms of therapy.

• The ‘representative’ GRF patterns obtained from the force plate measurements can be used for an objective evaluation of various equine orthopaedic treatments.
• For example, they could be used to compare GRF patterns before and after a specific treatment to determine its effectiveness in improving an equine’s gait.

Application in Equestrian Sports Research

Aside from its application in equine orthopaedics, the force plate measurements methodology used in this study can also contribute to locomotion research in different forms of equestrian sports.

• By analysing the GRF patterns across different horse sports, researchers can gain insights into the demands of each sport on equine movement.
• This information could be beneficial in designing training programs to increase performance and prevent injuries in sport horses.