Repeatability of gait analysis measurements in Thoroughbreds in training.

The study investigates the consistency of gait symmetry measurements in race-training Thoroughbreds using inertial measurement unit (IMU) technology. The analysis explores daily and weekly differences in movement, aiming to improve early injury detection and prevention strategies in horse racing.

Research Methodology

• The research centered around repeated gait assessments of 14 Thoroughbreds in race training. This process was carried out daily and weekly.
• The horses were equipped with inertial measurement units (IMUs) placed at three significant points: poll (head), sacrum (tailbone area), and right and left tuber coxae (hip joints).
• The horse’s gait was examined while trotting in-hand on a flat concrete surface. The difference between the minimum and maximum vertical displacement and the range of motion (ROM) were calculated.
• The researchers determined the values that contained 50% (median), 75%, 90%, and 95% of absolute daily and weekly differences, and calculated the intraclass correlation coefficients (ICC) for both daily and weekly repeated assessments.

Results and Findings

• The results exhibited that the median absolute daily differences spanned from 4 to 7 mm, while the median weekly differences ranged from 4 to 8 mm.
• They further showed that 90% of daily differences fell between 9 and 16 mm, while 90% of weekly differences were between 11 and 19 mm.
• The average ICC values across sensors and gait parameters were 0.73 for daily repeats (ranging from 0.4 to 0.92 across parameters), and 0.65 for weekly repeats (ranging from 0.27 to 0.91).

Conclusions

• The researchers acknowledged that the horses under study displayed varying levels of training and movement asymmetry. They also noted a lack of veterinary lameness examinations during this investigation.
• The paper concludes that the daily and weekly repeat gait assessment results showed lower ICC values than previously reported data from within-day repeats in horses undergoing lameness examinations.
• They suggested conducting repeatability studies for specific groups of horses when planning long-term studies aimed at identifying horses at risk of injury, emphasizing early injury detection and prevention strategies among race-training Thoroughbreds.