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Home / Equine Research Bank / Equine Vet J / Head and pelvic movement asymmetry during lungeing in horses...
Equine veterinary journal2015; 48(3); 315-320; doi: 10.1111/evj.12446

Head and pelvic movement asymmetry during lungeing in horses with symmetrical movement on the straight.

Abstract: Lungeing is commonly used as part of standard lameness examinations in horses. Knowledge of how lungeing influences motion symmetry in sound horses is needed. Objective: The aim of this study was to objectively evaluate the symmetry of vertical head and pelvic motion during lungeing in a large number of horses with symmetric motion during straight line evaluation. Methods: Cross-sectional prospective study. Methods: A pool of 201 riding horses, all functioning well and considered sound by their owners, were evaluated in trot on a straight line and during lungeing to the left and right. From this pool, horses with symmetric vertical head and pelvic movement during the straight line trot (n = 94) were retained for analysis. Vertical head and pelvic movements were measured with body mounted uniaxial accelerometers. Differences between vertical maximum and minimum head (HDmax, HDmin) and pelvic (PDmax, PDmin) heights between left and right forelimb and hindlimb stances were compared between straight line trot and lungeing in either direction. Results: Vertical head and pelvic movements during lungeing were more asymmetric than during trot on a straight line. Common asymmetric patterns seen in the head were more upward movement during push-off of the outside forelimb and less downward movement during impact of the inside limb. Common asymmetric patterns seen in the pelvis were less upward movement during push-off of the outside hindlimb and less downward movement of the pelvis during impact of the inside hindlimb. Asymmetric patterns in one lunge direction were frequently not the same as in the opposite direction. Conclusions: Lungeing induces systematic asymmetries in vertical head and pelvic motion patterns in horses that may not be the same in both directions. These asymmetries may mask or mimic fore- or hindlimb lameness.
© 2015 The Authors. Equine Veterinary Journal published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd on behalf of EVJ Ltd.
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Publication Date: 2015-05-29 PubMed ID: 25808700PubMed Central: PMC5032979DOI: 10.1111/evj.12446Google Scholar: Lookup
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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 study examines how the practice of lungeing, or having a horse trot in a circular path, impacts the symmetry of its head and pelvic movement. Results show that lungeing brings about more asymmetry in these movements compared to when the horse trots in a straight line, and these asymmetries could potentially conceal or imitate signs of lameness in the horse’s limbs.

Objective and Methodology

  • The research aimed to analyze the symmetry of vertical head and pelvic movements in horses while they were lungeing, with a focus on horses that displayed symmetric movement when trotting along a straight line.
  • The study was cross-sectional and prospective, involving 201 riding horses that were considered sound by their owners and trotted well.
  • The horses were evaluated both trotting on a straight line and during lungeing to the left and right. Of these, 94 horses showing symmetric vertical movement of the head and pelvis during the straight line trot were chosen for further analysis.
  • The researchers used body-mounted uniaxial accelerometers to measure variations in the vertical head and pelvic movements of the horses.

Results

  • The study found that vertical head and pelvic movements of horses during lungeing were more asymmetric than during a straight-line trot.
  • The common asymmetric pattern for the head was that there was increased upward motion during the push-off of the outside forelimb and less downward motion during the impact of the inside limb.
  • As for the pelvis, less upward movement was observed during the push-off of the outside hind limb and less downward movement during the impact of the inside hind limb.
  • It was also noted that asymmetrical patterns in one direction of lungeing did not necessarily match those in the opposite direction.

Conclusions

  • The study concludes that the practice of lungeing results in systematic and directional asymmetries in the vertical movement of the head and pelvis in horses.
  • This means that lungeing could potentially mask or mimic symptoms of lameness in the fore- and hindlimbs of the horse.
  • This highlights the need for careful evaluation and understanding of movements during lungeing when examining horses for limb health and posture.

Cite This Article

APA
Rhodin M, Roepstorff L, French A, Keegan KG, Pfau T, Egenvall A. (2015). Head and pelvic movement asymmetry during lungeing in horses with symmetrical movement on the straight. Equine Vet J, 48(3), 315-320. https://doi.org/10.1111/evj.12446

Publication

Equine veterinary journal
ISSN: 2042-3306
NlmUniqueID: 0173320
Country: United States
Language: English
Volume: 48
Issue: 3
Pages: 315-320

Researcher Affiliations

Rhodin, M
  • Department of Clinical Sciences, Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences, Uppsala, Sweden.
Roepstorff, L
  • Department of Anatomy, Physiology and Biochemistry, Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences, Uppsala, Sweden.
French, A
  • College of Veterinary Medicine, University of Missouri, Columbia, USA.
Keegan, K G
  • College of Veterinary Medicine, University of Missouri, Columbia, USA.
Pfau, T
  • Department of Clinical Science and Services, The Royal Veterinary College, North Mymms, Hatfield, UK.
Egenvall, A
  • Department of Clinical Sciences, Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences, Uppsala, Sweden.

MeSH Terms

  • Animals
  • Biomechanical Phenomena
  • Cross-Sectional Studies
  • Forelimb / physiology
  • Gait
  • Head / physiology
  • Hindlimb / physiology
  • Horses / physiology
  • Movement / physiology
  • Pelvis / physiology
  • Prospective Studies

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Citations

This article has been cited 27 times.
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