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Equine veterinary journal2024; 57(5); 1219-1230; doi: 10.1111/evj.14430

Quantifying head and withers movement asymmetry in sound and naturally forelimb lame horses trotting on a circle on hard and soft surfaces.

Abstract: Reliable lameness thresholds for vertical head displacement for trotting on a circular path and on different surfaces have yet to be defined. Withers movement in lame horses could help improve the diagnostic accuracy of sensor technology. Objective: To define head movement lameness threshold ranges and describe the relationship between head and withers movement during trotting under different circumstances in sound and forelimb lame horses. Methods: Retrospective analysis of clinical data and comparison with control group. Methods: Fifty-five sound and thirty-four naturally lame horses were trotted under field conditions on a hard surface on a straight line and on both directions on soft and hard surfaces. Movement asymmetry was analysed by measuring differences in displacement minima for head and withers using an inertial measurement unit sensor-based gait analysis system. Receiver operating characteristic (ROC) analysis was performed to define threshold ranges. Relationships between head and withers data were identified by calculating the correlation with linear regression analysis. Results: Estimated lameness threshold values for vertical head movement asymmetry ranged from 11.5 to 12.5 mm. On both surfaces, a head movement asymmetry threshold range from 24.5 to 26.5 mm could be found for the circle. Lame horses showed significant correlations between head and withers movement on hard ground straight line (R2 0.714, p < 0.001) and inner leg lame horses on the lunge (R2 0.915, p < 0.001). Conclusions: Different sources of lameness were not distinguished. Radius and speed during lungeing could not be perfectly controlled. Inclusion in the sound group was based on a subjective examination by one clinician and in the lame group two clinicians subjectively determined inner and outer leg lameness creating an extra amount of uncertainty. Conclusions: Lameness thresholds for quantifying head movement asymmetry on the lunge were proposed. A significant correlation was observed between head and withers movement asymmetry under several conditions.
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Publication Date: 2024-11-12 PubMed ID: 39533675DOI: 10.1111/evj.14430Google Scholar: Lookup
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  • 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.

This research investigates how the movement of a horse’s head and withers (the area where the neck meets the back) can indicate lameness when the horse is trotting in a circular path on different types of surfaces. By understanding these movement patterns, it could help detect lameness more accurately using sensor technology.

Studying Horse Movement for Indicators of Lameness

  • This study looks at the specific movements of the head and withers in both sound (healthy) and lame horses to understand how lameness can be distinguished through these movements.
  • Vertical displacement or variation of the head is identified as a reliable indicator of lameness, and researchers were able to determine threshold limits for this displacement to assess lameness.
  • Withers movement is also studied in similar regard, with the aim of improving the diagnostic capability of sensor technology.

Methods of Research

  • The researchers used a retrospective analysis methodology, where they analyzed previously collected data of head and withers movement.
  • They used an inertial measurement unit sensor-based gait analysis system to precisely measure the differences in head and withers displacement among the studied horses.
  • A total of 55 sound and 34 naturally lame horses were trotted under different conditions and on different surfaces for the study.

Results

  • The analysis gave lameness threshold values for asymmetrical vertical head movement ranging from 11.5 to 12.5mm on hard surfaces and from 24.5 to 26.5mm on soft surfaces.
  • A significant correlation was observed between head and withers movement, particularly for lame horses trotting on a straight line on hard ground, and for lame horses with the inner leg on the lunge.

Limitations

  • The study did not distinguish between different sources of lameness.
  • The radius and speed of the horses during lungeing were not perfectly controlled.
  • The inclusion in the sound and lame groups was based on subjective examination by clinicians, introducing an element of uncertainty.

Conclusions

  • Despite certain limitations, this research suggests lameness thresholds for head movement asymmetry and a correlation between head and withers movement which both may serve as reliable indicators for detecting lameness in horses.

Cite This Article

APA
Taddey CM, Roecken M, Kreling KM, Cruz AM. (2024). Quantifying head and withers movement asymmetry in sound and naturally forelimb lame horses trotting on a circle on hard and soft surfaces. Equine Vet J, 57(5), 1219-1230. https://doi.org/10.1111/evj.14430

Publication

Equine veterinary journal
ISSN: 2042-3306
NlmUniqueID: 0173320
Country: United States
Language: English
Volume: 57
Issue: 5
Pages: 1219-1230

Researcher Affiliations

Taddey, Caroline M
  • Pferdeklinik Equitales, Waldalgesheim, Germany.
Roecken, Michael
  • Clinic for Horses, Department of Surgery and Orthopaedics, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Justus-Liebig-University Giessen, Giessen, Germany.
Kreling, Kai M
  • Pferdeklinik Equitales, Waldalgesheim, Germany.
Cruz, Antonio M
  • Clinic for Horses, Department of Surgery and Orthopaedics, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Justus-Liebig-University Giessen, Giessen, Germany.

MeSH Terms

  • Animals
  • Horses
  • Lameness, Animal / physiopathology
  • Lameness, Animal / diagnosis
  • Retrospective Studies
  • Forelimb
  • Horse Diseases / physiopathology
  • Horse Diseases / diagnosis
  • Biomechanical Phenomena
  • Gait
  • Male
  • Female
  • Head
  • Movement

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Citations

This article has been cited 1 times.
  1. Meistro F, Ralletti MV, Rinnovati R, Spadari A. Objective Evaluation of Gait Asymmetries in Traditional Racehorses During Pre-Race Inspection: Application of a Markerless AI System in Straight-Line and Lungeing Conditions. Animals (Basel) 2025 Jun 18;15(12).
    doi: 10.3390/ani15121797pubmed: 40564348google scholar: lookup
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