Quantitative Gait Analysis Before and After a Cross-country Test in a Population of Elite Eventing Horses.
Abstract: Early recognition of lameness is crucial for injury prevention. Quantitative gait analysis systems can detect low-grade asymmetries better than the human eye and may be useful in early lameness recognition. The aims of this study were (1) to investigate the frequency of gait asymmetries based on head and pelvic movement in elite eventing horses using inertial mounted measurement units and (2) to assess the association between asymmetries and muscle enzymes and blood lactate (LA) levelspost-exercise. Movement asymmetry of the head, wither, and pelvis were quantified in 33 elite eventing horses prior to and one day after the cross-country test of three Concours Complet International (CCI3* and CCI4*) events held three weeks apart. The effects of LA concentration immediately after completion of the cross-country course and of serum levels of creatine kinase (CK) and aspartate amino-transferase (AST) four hours post-exercise on gait asymmetry parameters were tested with linear models. A total of 58% and 77% of the 33 horses exhibited gait asymmetries that exceeded published threshold values before and after the cross-country course, respectively. The magnitude of pre-existing gait asymmetries was not significantly increased after the cross-country test and no associations with post-exercise levels of CK, AST, or LA were detected. The stride duration was significantly shorter the day following the cross-country test and was associated with LA, the age and the weight of the horses. In conclusion, a majority of the horses studied presented gait asymmetries and strenuous exercise resulted in decreased stride duration but did not worsen gait asymmetries.
Copyright © 2022 The Authors. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.
Publication Date: 2022-07-09 PubMed ID: 35820497DOI: 10.1016/j.jevs.2022.104077Google Scholar: Lookup
The Equine Research Bank provides access to a large database of publicly available scientific literature. Inclusion in the Research Bank does not imply endorsement of study methods or findings by Mad Barn.
- Journal Article
- Research Support
- Non-U.S. Gov't
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 study investigates the incidence of gait irregularities in elite eventing horses, utilising quantitative gait analysis before and after cross-country exercises to detect subtle asymmetries. The results show a prevalent presence of gait asymmetries, although strenuous exercise didn’t lead to any exacerbation of these irregularities.
Objective and Methodology
- The study aims to utilise a quantitative gait analysis system, a more sensitive tool than the human eye, to detect minor gait irregularities in an elite population of eventing horses.
- In this endeavour, the research seeks to evaluate any existing correlation between these detected symmetries and post-exercise levels of certain muscle enzymes and blood lactate (LA).
- Gait asymmetries were assessed, focusing on movement of critical anatomical points like the head, wither, and pelvis.
- The test subjects included 33 elite eventing horses, with gait analysis conducted before and after their participation in a cross-country test of three Concours Complet International (CCI3* and CCI4*) events.
Findings
- The study observed that gait asymmetries exceeding recognised thresholds were found in 58% of horses before the cross-country course, with the numbers rising to 77% after its completion.
- Importantly, the study did not find any significant increase in the magnitude of pre-existing gait asymmetries after the cross-country test, suggesting that rigorous exercise did not further exacerbate any underlying gait irregularities.
- The research also could not establish any significant correlations between post-exercise muscle enzymes and LA levels with any gait irregularities, discounting any speculation of a causal relationship.
Notable Observations
- One significant observation made during the study was that the stride duration was noticeably shorter the day following the cross-country test.
- This shorter stride duration presented a correlation with LA levels and physical characteristics of the horses like their age and weight.
- The study concluded that a majority of the studied horses exhibited gait asymmetries, and while strenuous exercise resulted in decreased stride duration, it did not worsen the existing gait irregularities.
Cite This Article
APA
Scheidegger MD, Gerber V, Dolf G, Burger D, Flammer SA, Ramseyer A.
(2022).
Quantitative Gait Analysis Before and After a Cross-country Test in a Population of Elite Eventing Horses.
J Equine Vet Sci, 117, 104077.
https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jevs.2022.104077 Publication
Researcher Affiliations
- Swiss Institute of Equine Medicine ISME, Vetsuisse Faculty, University of Bern, Avenches, Switzerland. Electronic address: milena.scheidegger@vetsuisse.unibe.ch.
- Swiss Institute of Equine Medicine ISME, Vetsuisse Faculty, University of Bern, Avenches, Switzerland.
- Institute of Genetics, Vetsuisse Faculty, University of Bern, Bern, Switzerland.
- Swiss Institute of Equine Medicine ISME, Vetsuisse Faculty, University of Bern, Avenches, Switzerland.
- Swiss Institute of Equine Medicine ISME, Vetsuisse Faculty, University of Bern, Avenches, Switzerland.
- Swiss Institute of Equine Medicine ISME, Vetsuisse Faculty, University of Bern, Avenches, Switzerland.
MeSH Terms
- Animals
- Aspartic Acid
- Biomechanical Phenomena / physiology
- Creatine Kinase
- Forelimb / physiology
- Gait Analysis
- Head / physiology
- Horse Diseases / diagnosis
- Horses
- Humans
- Lactates
- Lameness, Animal / diagnosis
- Movement Disorders / veterinary
- Physical Conditioning, Animal
Citations
This article has been cited 2 times.- Lawin FJ, Byström A, Roepstorff C, Rhodin M, Almlöf M, Silva M, Andersen PH, Kjellström H, Hernlund E. Is Markerless More or Less? Comparing a Smartphone Computer Vision Method for Equine Lameness Assessment to Multi-Camera Motion Capture.. Animals (Basel) 2023 Jan 24;13(3).
- Macaire C, Hanne-Poujade S, De Azevedo E, Denoix JM, Coudry V, Jacquet S, Bertoni L, Tallaj A, Audigié F, Hatrisse C, Hébert C, Martin P, Marin F, Chateau H. Investigation of Thresholds for Asymmetry Indices to Represent the Visual Assessment of Single Limb Lameness by Expert Veterinarians on Horses Trotting in a Straight Line.. Animals (Basel) 2022 Dec 11;12(24).
Use Nutrition Calculator
Check if your horse's diet meets their nutrition requirements with our easy-to-use tool Check your horse's diet with our easy-to-use tool
Talk to a Nutritionist
Discuss your horse's feeding plan with our experts over a free phone consultation Discuss your horse's diet over a phone consultation
Submit Diet Evaluation
Get a customized feeding plan for your horse formulated by our equine nutritionists Get a custom feeding plan formulated by our nutritionists
