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The veterinary quarterly1994; 16 Suppl 2; S87-S90; doi: 10.1080/01652176.1994.9694509

Kinematics of treadmill versus overground locomotion in horses.

Abstract: A kinematic analysis was carried out to compare treadmill and overground locomotion in horses at the trot. Stride variables and limb and trunk movements of 10 Dutch Warmblood horses were measured using the CODA-3 gait analysis system. Overground recordings were made on a rubber ground surface and on an asphalt track. Treadmill recordings were taken after a controlled habituation programme and at the same velocities as measured overground. On asphalt, a shorthened stride duration and a decreased vertical displacement of the withers were found compared with those on rubber ground. On the treadmill, stance duration of the forelimbs was longer than for either overground condition. Correspondingly, the hind limbs were placed earlier than the forelimbs in making diagonal ground contact in overground locomotion, but this changed to preceding forelimbs on the treadmill. Both forelimbs and hind limbs were moved more caudally during the retraction phase on the treadmill, while no differences were found in the protraction angle. The vertical movement of the hooves as well as the withers was smaller on the treadmill than on rubber ground. Treadmill belt velocity decreased by 9% during the stance phase. This is supposed to be an important reason for the differences in biomechanics and kinematics between treadmill and overground locomotion, which must be kept in mind when data obtained during treadmill locomotion have to be extrapolated to overground conditions.
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Publication Date: 1994-05-01 PubMed ID: 7801509DOI: 10.1080/01652176.1994.9694509Google Scholar: Lookup
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  • Comparative Study
  • 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 demonstrates a comparative study between the movements of horses on a treadmill and overground. The study uses kinematic analysis to observe differences in stride and limb movement, finding varying results between treadmill, rubber ground, and asphalt surfaces.

Methodology

  • The study examined stride variables and movements of limbs and trunk in 10 Dutch Warmblood horses. These were observed through a gait analysis system known as CODA-3.
  • The overground observations were carried out on two types of surfaces: rubber ground and an asphalt track.
  • The treadmill recordings, on the other hand, were done following a controlled habituation program. The horses ran at the same velocities as they did during the overground locomotion.

Findings

  • On the asphalt track, the horses presented a shorter stride duration and decreased vertical displacement of the withers compared with locomotion on the rubber ground.
  • When on the treadmill, the stance duration of the forelimbs was noted to be longer than in either overground condition. In line with this, the hind limbs made ground contact earlier than the forelimbs during overground locomotion, but this pattern was inverted on the treadmill.
  • Horses moved both forelimbs and hind limbs more to the rear (caudally) during the retraction phase on the treadmill. However, no differences were detected in the protraction angle.
  • The vertical movement of the hooves and withers was smaller on the treadmill than on rubber ground.
  • It was also found that the treadmill belt velocity decreased by 9% during the horses’ stance phase.

Conclusion

  • The differences found by the research team suggest that the biomechanics and kinematics of horses’ locomotion vary significantly between treadmill and overground conditions.
  • These discrepancies indicate that caution should be taken when extrapolating data obtained during treadmill locomotion for application to overground locomotion in real-life conditions.

Cite This Article

APA
Buchner HH, Savelberg HH, Schamhardt HC, Merkens HW, Barneveld A. (1994). Kinematics of treadmill versus overground locomotion in horses. Vet Q, 16 Suppl 2, S87-S90. https://doi.org/10.1080/01652176.1994.9694509

Publication

The veterinary quarterly
ISSN: 0165-2176
NlmUniqueID: 7909485
Country: England
Language: English
Volume: 16 Suppl 2
Pages: S87-S90

Researcher Affiliations

Buchner, H H
  • Department of General and Large Animal Surgery, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Utrecht University, The Netherlands.
Savelberg, H H
    Schamhardt, H C
      Merkens, H W
        Barneveld, A

          MeSH Terms

          • Animals
          • Exercise Test / veterinary
          • Horses / physiology
          • Locomotion / physiology

          Citations

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