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PloS one2023; 18(4); e0284105; doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0284105

Prevalence of vertical movement asymmetries at trot in Standardbred and Swedish Warmblood foals.

Abstract: Many horses, just before and during their athletic career, show vertical movement asymmetries, to the same degree as clinically lame horses. It is unknown whether these asymmetries are caused by pain or have alternative explanations, such as inherent biological variation. In the latter case, movement asymmetries would be expected to be present at a very young age. This study aimed to investigate the prevalence of movement asymmetries in foals. Motion analysis, using an inertial measurement unit-based system (Equinosis), was performed on 54 foals (31 Swedish Warmbloods, 23 Standardbreds) during straight-line trot. The foals were between 4-13 weeks old and considered sound by their owners. Differences between the vertical minimum and maximum values recorded for the head (HDmin, HDmax) and pelvis (PDmin, PDmax) between left and right stance were calculated for each stride and an average was computed for each trial. Thresholds for asymmetry were defined as absolute trial mean >6 mm for HDmin and HDmax, and >3 mm for PDmin and PDmax. These thresholds were exceeded for one or several parameters by 83% of Standardbred foals and 45% of Swedish Warmblood foals, demonstrating surprisingly high prevalence of asymmetries in young foals, although the risk of repetitive strain injuries and cumulative risk of trauma injuries was expected to be low in this age group. Standardbred foals showed similar prevalence of asymmetries to that reported previously for yearling Standardbred trotters, so relatively higher prevalence of movement asymmetries may be expected among trotters as a breed. In general, vertical head and pelvic movement asymmetries can be anticipated among foals considered sound by their owners. A better understanding of the aetiology of asymmetries is needed for correct interpretation of objective symmetry measurements in different populations of horses.
Copyright: © 2023 Zetterberg et al. This is an open access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License, which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original author and source are credited.
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Publication Date: 2023-04-06 PubMed ID: 37023102PubMed Central: PMC10079035DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0284105Google 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 is a study about movement asymmetries in foals, specifically focusing on Standardbred and Swedish Warmblood breeds. The research finds a surprising prevalence of these asymmetries in young horses, thought to be sound, with Standardbred foals exhibiting a higher rate of such irregularities.

Objective of the Study

  • The study aims to determine the prevalence of movement asymmetries in foals, specifically in Standardbred and Swedish Warmblood breeds. By discovering when these asymmetries manifest, the study aimed to ascertain whether these were indicative of lameness or issues arising from inherent biological variations.

Methodology

  • Motion analysis was used to study 54 foals between the ages of 4-13 weeks. This group comprised 31 Swedish Warmbloods and 23 Standardbreds. All foals were considered sound by their owners.
  • The measurement system used was called Equinosis. It calculated differences between the vertical minimum and maximum values recorded for the head and pelvis during both left and right strides. These calculations were averaged for each trial.
  • Thresholds for asymmetry were defined as any absolute trial mean greater than 6mm for head measurements and above 3mm for pelvic measurements.

Key Findings

  • The study found high rates of movement asymmetries in young foals. This was surprising, given their young age, as it was expected that these foals would have a low risk of repetitive strain injuries and cumulative risk of trauma injuries.
  • The results showed that 83% of Standardbred foals and 45% of Swedish Warmblood foals exceeded the asymmetry thresholds for one or several of the parameters measured.
  • This suggests that movement asymmetries can be expected in foals considered sound by their owners, particularly among Standardbred foals which showed similar prevalence of asymmetries to yearling Standardbred trotters previously studied. This suggests that as a breed, trotters may inherently have a higher prevalence of movement asymmetries.

Implications

  • The findings of the study underline the need for a better understanding of the cause of these asymmetries for their correct interpretation in different horse populations.
  • More comprehensive knowledge about these asymmetries would aid in defining what constitutes a healthy, sound young horse, and potentially highlight early signs of problems that could affect a horse’s athletic abilities later in life.

Cite This Article

APA
Zetterberg E, Leclercq A, Persson-Sjodin E, Lundblad J, Haubro Andersen P, Hernlund E, Rhodin M. (2023). Prevalence of vertical movement asymmetries at trot in Standardbred and Swedish Warmblood foals. PLoS One, 18(4), e0284105. https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0284105

Publication

PloS one
ISSN: 1932-6203
NlmUniqueID: 101285081
Country: United States
Language: English
Volume: 18
Issue: 4
Pages: e0284105

Researcher Affiliations

Zetterberg, Ebba
  • Department of Anatomy, Physiology and Biochemistry, Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences, Uppsala, Sweden.
Leclercq, Anna
  • Department of Anatomy, Physiology and Biochemistry, Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences, Uppsala, Sweden.
Persson-Sjodin, Emma
  • Department of Anatomy, Physiology and Biochemistry, Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences, Uppsala, Sweden.
Lundblad, Johan
  • Department of Anatomy, Physiology and Biochemistry, Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences, Uppsala, Sweden.
Haubro Andersen, Pia
  • Department of Anatomy, Physiology and Biochemistry, Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences, Uppsala, Sweden.
Hernlund, Elin
  • Department of Anatomy, Physiology and Biochemistry, Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences, Uppsala, Sweden.
Rhodin, Marie
  • Department of Anatomy, Physiology and Biochemistry, Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences, Uppsala, Sweden.

MeSH Terms

  • Horses
  • Animals
  • Prevalence
  • Sweden / epidemiology
  • Biomechanical Phenomena
  • Head
  • Lameness, Animal
  • Forelimb
  • Gait

Conflict of Interest Statement

The authors have declared that no competing interests exist.

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Citations

This article has been cited 5 times.
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  4. Crecan CM, Peștean CP. Inertial Sensor Technologies-Their Role in Equine Gait Analysis, a Review. Sensors (Basel) 2023 Jul 11;23(14).
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