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Equine veterinary journal2017; 50(1); 117-124; doi: 10.1111/evj.12705

Head, withers and pelvic movement asymmetry and their relative timing in trot in racing Thoroughbreds in training.

Abstract: Horses show compensatory head movement in hindlimb lameness and compensatory pelvis movement in forelimb lameness but little is known about the relationship of withers movement symmetry with head and pelvic asymmetry in horses with naturally occurring gait asymmetries. Objective: To document head, withers and pelvic movement asymmetry and timing differences in horses with naturally occurring gait asymmetries. Methods: Retrospective analysis of gait data. Methods: Head, withers and pelvic movement asymmetry and timing of displacement minima and maxima were quantified from inertial sensors in 163 Thoroughbreds during trot-ups on hard ground. Horses were divided into 4 subgroups using the direction of head and withers movement asymmetry. Scatter plots of head vs. pelvic movement asymmetry illustrated how the head-withers relationship distinguishes between contralateral and ipsilateral head-pelvic movement asymmetry. Independent t test or Mann-Whitney U test (P<0.05) compared pelvic movement asymmetry and timing differences between groups. Results: The relationship between head and withers asymmetry (i.e. same sided or opposite sided asymmetry) predicts the relationship between head and pelvic asymmetry in 69-77% of horses. Pelvic movement symmetry was significantly different between horses with same sign vs. opposite sign of head-withers asymmetry (P<0.0001). Timing of the maximum head height reached after contralateral ('sound') stance was delayed compared to withers (P = 0.02) and pelvis (P = 0.04) in horses with contralateral head-withers asymmetry. Conclusions: The clinical lameness status of the horses was not investigated. Conclusions: In the Thoroughbreds with natural gait asymmetries investigated here, the direction of head vs. withers movement asymmetry identifies the majority of horses with ipsilateral and contralateral head and pelvic movement asymmetries. Withers movement should be further investigated for differentiating between forelimb and hindlimb lame horses. Horses with opposite sided head and withers asymmetry significantly delay the upward movement of the head after 'sound' forelimb stance.
© 2017 The Authors. Equine Veterinary Journal published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd on behalf of EVJ Ltd.
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Publication Date: 2017-07-03 PubMed ID: 28548349PubMed Central: PMC5724686DOI: 10.1111/evj.12705Google 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 research investigates movement patterns in Thoroughbred racing horses, specifically the relationship between head, withers, and pelvic movement asymmetry in trot, in order to identify lameness and its potential location in the horse’s body.

Study Objectives and Methodology

  • The goal of this research was to document patterns in the movement asymmetry of the head, withers (the highest part of the back at the base of the neck), and pelvis in Thoroughbreds with naturally occurring gait asymmetries.
  • A total of 163 Thoroughbreds were analyzed while trotting on hard ground, using inertial sensors to track their movement. The researchers then divided the horses into four subgroups based on the direction of head and withers movement asymmetry.
  • Scatterplots were used to compare head vs. pelvic movement asymmetry, allowing the researchers to see how the relationship between head and withers movements may distinguish between contralateral (opposite side) and ipsilateral (same side) head-pelvic movement asymmetry.
  • An independent T test or Mann-Whitney U test was utilized to statistically compare pelvic movement asymmetry and timing differences between groups.

Key Findings

  • The results indicate that the heads’ and withers asymmetry (whether they move in the same or opposite directions) can predict the relationship between head and pelvic asymmetry in 69-77% of horses.
  • The pelvic movement symmetry was significantly different in horses where the head and withers had the same directional asymmetry compared to those with divergent movement (P<0.0001).
  • Additionally, the timing of maximum head height after contralateral (‘sound’) stance was slowed in comparison to withers and pelvis in horses demonstrating contralateral head-withers asymmetry. This suggests a delay in the upward movement of the head after a ‘sound’ forelimb stance.

Conclusions

  • The researchers suggest that the direction of head vs. withers movement asymmetry could possibly identify majority of horses with ipsilateral and contralateral head and pelvic movement asymmetries.
  • Based on their findings, the researchers recommend further investigation of withers movement as a potential indicator for distinguishing between forelimb and hindlimb lameness in horses.
  • Thoroughbreds with opposite sided head and withers movements showed a significant delay in raising the head following a ‘sound’ forelimb stance.
  • It is important to note that the clinical lameness status of the horses was not investigated in this study. While this research demonstrates patterns of movement that could be beneficial in identifying lameness, it does not provide a direct diagnosis.

Cite This Article

APA
Pfau T, Noordwijk K, Sepulveda Caviedes MF, Persson-Sjodin E, Barstow A, Forbes B, Rhodin M. (2017). Head, withers and pelvic movement asymmetry and their relative timing in trot in racing Thoroughbreds in training. Equine Vet J, 50(1), 117-124. https://doi.org/10.1111/evj.12705

Publication

Equine veterinary journal
ISSN: 2042-3306
NlmUniqueID: 0173320
Country: United States
Language: English
Volume: 50
Issue: 1
Pages: 117-124

Researcher Affiliations

Pfau, T
  • Department of Clinical Science and Services, Royal Veterinary College, London, UK.
  • Structure and Motion Laboratory, Royal Veterinary College, London, UK.
Noordwijk, K
  • Structure and Motion Laboratory, Royal Veterinary College, London, UK.
Sepulveda Caviedes, M F
  • Department of Clinical Science and Services, Royal Veterinary College, London, UK.
  • Structure and Motion Laboratory, Royal Veterinary College, London, UK.
Persson-Sjodin, E
  • Department of Clinical Sciences, Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences, Uppsala, Sweden.
Barstow, A
  • Department of Clinical Science and Services, Royal Veterinary College, London, UK.
  • Structure and Motion Laboratory, Royal Veterinary College, London, UK.
Forbes, B
  • Singapore Turf Club, Singapore, Singapore.
Rhodin, M
  • Department of Clinical Sciences, Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences, Uppsala, Sweden.

MeSH Terms

  • Animals
  • Back / physiology
  • Biomechanical Phenomena
  • Gait
  • Head
  • Horses / physiology
  • Movement
  • Pelvis / physiology
  • Physical Conditioning, Animal
  • Retrospective Studies
  • Sports

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Citations

This article has been cited 16 times.
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