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Sensors (Basel, Switzerland)2024; 24(22); 7203; doi: 10.3390/s24227203

Monitoring of Non-Lame Horses and Horses with Unilateral Hindlimb Lameness at Rest with the Aid of Accelerometers.

Abstract: The aim of this study was to determine whether horses exhibiting unilateral hindlimb lameness unload (rest) the lame limb more than the contralateral limb. The resting/unloading of the hindlimbs and the time spent lying down were measured using accelerometers. Ten non-lame horses and 20 lame horses were recruited for participation and monitored for 11 h overnight with accelerometers (MSR145, sampling rate: 1 Hz, and measuring range: ±15 g) attached to the lateral metatarsal and metacarpal regions of each limb. Metatarsal and metacarpal orientation were used to determine whether the limb was unloaded (rested) or loaded, respectively, or whether the horses were lying down. The relation of resting time between non-lame and lame limbs (non-lame/lame: 0.85 ± 1.2) of the lame horses differed significantly ( = 0.035) from that of the non-lame horses (right/left: 1.08 ± 0.47). Non-lame horses rested their hindlimbs evenly (left: 15 ± 10%; right: 17 ± 16%). Horses with unilateral hindlimb lameness unloaded the lame limb longer (lame limb: 61.8 ± 25.3%, non-lame limb: 38.2 ± 25.3%) than their contralateral limb. The lame horses (13 ± 11%) lay down longer ( = 0.012) than the non-lame horses (3 ± 6%). The degree of lameness determined by the participating veterinarians (Vet Score) (r = -0.691, < 0.01) and the asymmetry evaluated by the lameness locator (ALL) (r = -0.426, = 0.019) correlated with the resting ratio (rest time ratio). Both factors were also correlated with the time spent lying down (Vet Score (r = 0.364, = 0.048) and the ALL (r = 0.398, = 0.03)). The ALL and VET Score were significantly correlated (r = 0.557, = 0.01). The results of this study provide a good baseline for future research into how individual resting patterns may help to detect pain.
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Publication Date: 2024-11-11 PubMed ID: 39598979PubMed Central: PMC11598077DOI: 10.3390/s24227203Google 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.

The study reveals that horses with a hindlimb lameness tend to rest the affected limb more frequently than the healthy one, and the degree of this preference directly correlates to the severity of the lameness as assessed by veterinarians. This information might be useful for identifying and dealing with pain in horses.

Methods and Participants

  • The study involved 30 horses overall, 10 of which were non-lame and 20 were observed with unilateral hindlimb lameness.
  • Each horse was fitted with accelerometers on their metatarsal and metacarpal regions to record their resting and activity patterns.
  • The data was recorded for 11 hours overnight, sampling at a rate of 1 Hz.

Data Analysis

  • The accelerometer readings were used to determine whether a horse’s limb was being loaded or unloaded (rested), and if the horse was lying down.
  • The recorded data was further broken down to calculate the relation of resting time between non-lame and lame limbs among the lame horses, and a comparison was made with non-lame horses.

Results

  • Lame horses were found to unload (rest) their lame limb more (61.8% of the time) compared to their non-lame limb (38.2% of the time).
  • In contrast, non-lame horses were observed to distribute their resting time more evenly between their hindlimbs.
  • Lame horses were also found to spend more time lying down than their non-lame counterparts.

Further Analysis

  • How much the lame limb was unloaded (rested) by lame horses was found to correlate with the severity of the lameness as determined by veterinarians (Vet Score) and by the lameness locator (ALL).
  • Additionally, Vet Score and ALL also showed correlation with amount of time spent lying down.

Conclusion

  • Analysis of resting patterns using accelerometers could serve as a valuable tool in detecting and assessing the severity of unilateral hindlimb lameness in horses.
  • The study provides a sound foundation for further research into how individual resting patterns might help in detecting pain in animals.

Cite This Article

APA
Uellendahl A, Schramel JP, Tichy A, Peham C. (2024). Monitoring of Non-Lame Horses and Horses with Unilateral Hindlimb Lameness at Rest with the Aid of Accelerometers. Sensors (Basel), 24(22), 7203. https://doi.org/10.3390/s24227203

Publication

Sensors (Basel, Switzerland)
ISSN: 1424-8220
NlmUniqueID: 101204366
Country: Switzerland
Language: English
Volume: 24
Issue: 22
PII: 7203

Researcher Affiliations

Uellendahl, Anja
  • Movement Science Group, University Equine Hospital, University of Veterinary Medicine, 1210 Vienna, Austria.
Schramel, Johannes P
  • Movement Science Group, University Equine Hospital, University of Veterinary Medicine, 1210 Vienna, Austria.
Tichy, Alexander
  • Platform for Bioinformatics and Biostatistics, Centre of Biological Sciences, University of Veterinary Medicine, 1210 Vienna, Austria.
Peham, Christian
  • Movement Science Group, University Equine Hospital, University of Veterinary Medicine, 1210 Vienna, Austria.

MeSH Terms

  • Animals
  • Horses
  • Lameness, Animal / physiopathology
  • Lameness, Animal / diagnosis
  • Accelerometry / methods
  • Accelerometry / instrumentation
  • Hindlimb / physiopathology
  • Horse Diseases / physiopathology
  • Horse Diseases / diagnosis
  • Monitoring, Physiologic / methods
  • Monitoring, Physiologic / instrumentation
  • Monitoring, Physiologic / veterinary
  • Female
  • Gait / physiology
  • Rest / physiology
  • Male

Conflict of Interest Statement

The authors declare no conflicts of interest.

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