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Repeatability of gait pattern variables measured by use of extremity-mounted inertial measurement units in nonlame horses during trotting.
Abstract: OBJECTIVE To determine repeatability of gait variables measured by use of extremity-mounted inertial measurement units (IMUs) in nonlame horses during trotting under controlled conditions of treadmill exercise. ANIMALS 10 horses. PROCEDURES Six IMUs were strapped to the metacarpal, metatarsal, and distal tibial regions of each horse. Data were collected in a standardized manner (3 measurements/d on 3 d/wk over a 3-week period) while each horse was trotted on a treadmill. Every measurement consisted of a minimum of 20 strides from which a minimum of 10 strides was selected for analysis. Spatial and temporal variables were derived from the IMUs. Repeatability coefficients based on the within-subject SD were computed for each gait analysis variable at each week. RESULTS Most of the temporal and spatial variables had high repeatability (repeatability coefficients < 10), and the repeatability coefficients were consistent among the 3 weeks of data collection. Some spatial variables, specifically the symmetry variables (which were calculated from other variables), had somewhat higher repeatability coefficients (ie, lower repeatability) only in the last week. CONCLUSIONS AND CLINICAL RELEVANCE With the exceptions of some symmetry variables, which may reflect individual variations during movement, the extremity-mounted IMUs provided data with high repeatability for nonlame horses trotting under controlled conditions of treadmill exercise. Repeatability was achieved for each instrumented limb segment with regard to the spatial relationship between 2 adjacent segments (joint angles) and the temporal relationship among all segments (limb phasing). Extremity-mounted IMUs could have the potential to become a method for gait analysis in horses.
Publication Date: 2017-08-25 PubMed ID: 28836845DOI: 10.2460/ajvr.78.9.1011Google 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
Summary
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This study validates the use of extremity-mounted inertial measurement units (IMUs) in measuring the repeatability of gait variables in non-lame horses trotting on a treadmill. The results demonstrate a high degree of consistency over time, suggesting that this method could be a reliable tool for gait analysis in horses.
Research Design and Procedure
- The study was conducted on 10 non-lame horses, using six extremity-mounted IMUs attached to specific parts (metacarpal, metatarsal, and distal tibial regions) of each horse.
- Data were gathered in a standard fashion over a three-week period, making three measurements per day, three days per week, while the horses were trotted on a treadmill.
- Each measurement session comprised a minimum of 20 strides, from which at least 10 were chosen for the analysis. The assessment pooled spatial and temporal variables acquired from the IMUs.
Analytical Approach
- Repeatability coefficients, calculated based on the within-subject standard deviation, were computed for each gait analysis variable each week.
- The paper reports that the majority of temporal and spatial variables showed high repeatability (repeatability coefficients less than 10) across the three weeks of data collection.
- A small number of spatial variables, specifically symmetry variables (which were calculated from other variables), demonstrated marginally higher repeatability coefficients (i.e., lower repeatability) only in the concluding week.
Results and Conclusion
- Apart from some symmetry variables, the gait data collected using the extremity-mounted IMUs showed high repeatability for the horses trotting under controlled treadmill exercise conditions.
- The paper concludes that such IMUs provide a consistent measure of both the spatial relationship between two adjoining segments (joint angles) and the temporal relationship among all segments (limb phasing).
- This level of repeatability suggests that extremity-mounted IMUs may offer a viable method for detailed gait analysis in horses.
Clinical Relevance
- The study has important clinical implications, as gait analysis is a critical component in diagnosing and treating lameness issues in horses.
- The consistent and reliable data obtained via extremity-mounted IMUs could enhance the precision and efficiency of these diagnoses.
- Moreover, this technique may lead to better treatment outcomes, by yielding a more accurate understanding of a non-lame horse’s gait under controlled conditions.
Cite This Article
APA
Cruz AM, Maninchedda UE, Burger D, Wanda S, Vidondo B.
(2017).
Repeatability of gait pattern variables measured by use of extremity-mounted inertial measurement units in nonlame horses during trotting.
Am J Vet Res, 78(9), 1011-1018.
https://doi.org/10.2460/ajvr.78.9.1011 Publication
Researcher Affiliations
MeSH Terms
- Animals
- Biomechanical Phenomena
- Exercise Test
- Extremities
- Gait
- Horses / physiology
- Movement
Citations
This article has been cited 7 times.- Timmerman I, Macaire C, Hanne-Poujade S, Bertoni L, Martin P, Marin F, Chateau H. A Pilot Study on the Inter-Operator Reproducibility of a Wireless Sensors-Based System for Quantifying Gait Asymmetries in Horses. Sensors (Basel) 2022 Dec 6;22(23).
- Pagliara E, Marenchino M, Antenucci L, Costantini M, Zoppi G, Giacobini MDL, Bullone M, Riccio B, Bertuglia A. Fetlock Joint Angle Pattern and Range of Motion Quantification Using Two Synchronized Wearable Inertial Sensors per Limb in Sound Horses and Horses with Single Limb Naturally Occurring Lameness. Vet Sci 2022 Aug 25;9(9).
- Schwarz J, Vidondo B, Maninchedda UE, Sprick M, Schöpfer MC, Cruz AM. Inter-evaluator and Intra-evaluator Reliability of a Software Program Used to Extract Kinematic Variables Obtained by an Extremity-Mounted Inertial Measurement Unit System in Sound Horses at the Trot Under Soft and Hard Ground Conditions and Treadmill Exercise. Front Vet Sci 2021;8:595455.
- Sapone M, Martin P, Ben Mansour K, Château H, Marin F. Comparison of Trotting Stance Detection Methods from an Inertial Measurement Unit Mounted on the Horse's Limb. Sensors (Basel) 2020 May 25;20(10).
- Shawaf T, Hussen J, Al-Zoubi M, Hamaash H, Al-Busadah K. Impact of season, age and gender on some clinical, haematological and serum parameters in Shetland ponies in east province, Saudi Arabia. Int J Vet Sci Med 2018 Jun;6(1):61-64.
- Poizat E, Gérard M, Macaire C, De Azevedo E, Denoix JM, Coudry V, Jacquet S, Bertoni L, Tallaj A, Audigié F, Hatrisse C, Hébert C, Martin P, Marin F, Hanne-Poujade S, Chateau H. Discrimination of the Lame Limb in Horses Using a Machine Learning Method (Support Vector Machine) Based on Asymmetry Indices Measured by the EQUISYM System. Sensors (Basel) 2025 Feb 12;25(4).
- Stutz JC, Vidondo B, Ramseyer A, Maninchedda UE, Cruz AM. Effect of three types of horseshoes and unshod feet on selected non-podal forelimb kinematic variables measured by an extremity mounted inertial measurement unit sensor system in sound horses at the trot under conditions of treadmill and soft geotextile surface exercise. Vet Rec Open 2018;5(1):e000237.
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