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Human movement science2018; 63; 82-95; doi: 10.1016/j.humov.2018.11.007

Specificity and variability of trunk kinematics on a mechanical horse.

Abstract: As perturbation training is gaining popularity, it is important to better understand postural control during complex three-dimensional stimuli. One clinically relevant and commonly used three-dimensional stimulus is found in hippotherapy and simulated hippotherapy on a mechanical horse. We tested nine healthy participants on a horse simulator, measured head and trunk kinematics, and characterized data in time (root-mean-square and variability) and frequency (amplitude spectra, gains, and phases) domains. We addressed three fundamental questions: 1) What is the specificity of postural responses to the simulator? 2) Which plane of motion is associated with the most and least variability (repeatable movements across repeated stimuli and across participants)? 3) To what extent are postural responses influenced by different degrees of stability (addition of pelvis straps and trunk support)? We found head and trunk responses were highly specific to the three-dimensional simulator perturbation direction and frequency. Frontal plane responses had the least variability across repetitions and participants whereas transverse motion was most variable. Head motion was more variable than the trunk at low frequencies and exhibited a marked decrease in tilt in the sagittal plane. Finally, the inclusion of pelvis straps had minimal effect on kinematics at low frequencies but altered higher frequencies; whereas added trunk support reduced head and trunk responses to perturbations and altered timing characteristics in all three planes. In conclusion, the present study suggests that frontal plane motion was under a high level of control, and results support the idea that specific head and trunk postural responses can be elicited from a complex three-dimensional stimuli, such as those found in hippotherapy. Researchers and clinicians can use results from this study to help interpret variability, implement mechanical adjustments to stability, and assess responses in pathological populations.
Copyright © 2018 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.
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Publication Date: 2018-11-30 PubMed ID: 30503985PubMed Central: PMC6342638DOI: 10.1016/j.humov.2018.11.007Google 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.

The research article investigates how the body specifically the head and trunk, reacts to the simulated movements of a mechanical horse. The study aims to provide a greater understanding of postural control during intricate, three-dimensional stimuli, which is particularly relevant to popular treatment methods like hippotherapy.

Approach to Research

The researchers conducted their study using nine healthy participants as subjects. These individuals were required to ride a horse simulator while their head and trunk movements were measured and examined.

  • The data was categorised into two domains: time (root-mean-square and variability) and frequency (amplitude spectra, gains, and phases).
  • The study aspired to answer three critical questions relating to the specificity of postural responses to the simulator, the plane of motion associated with most and least variability, and the extent to which postural responses are influenced by different degrees of stability.

Study Findings

The results of the study were remarkably significant and diverse, relaying many aspects of human postural response to the stimuli created by the mechanical horse.

  • Head and trunk responses were found to be highly specific to the three-dimensional simulator perturbation direction and frequency.
  • Frontal plane responses displayed the least variability across repetitions and participants, while transverse motion proved to be the most variable.
  • Head motion was more variable than the trunk at low frequencies and showed a significant decrease in tilt in the sagittal plane.
  • The addition of pelvis straps had a minimal effect on kinematics at low frequencies but modified higher frequencies, while added trunk support limited head and trunk responses to perturbations and altered timing characteristics in all three planes.

Conclusion

The study concluded that frontal plane motion was under a high level of control, and the results support the idea that specific head and trunk postural responses can be elicited from a complex three-dimensional stimuli, like the one found in hippotherapy. These results are useful not only for researchers but also for clinicians. They can now better interpret variability, implement mechanical adjustments to stability, and assess responses in pathological populations, thus improving treatments like hippotherapy.

Cite This Article

APA
Goodworth AD, Barrett C, Rylander J, Garner B. (2018). Specificity and variability of trunk kinematics on a mechanical horse. Hum Mov Sci, 63, 82-95. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.humov.2018.11.007

Publication

Human movement science
ISSN: 1872-7646
NlmUniqueID: 8300127
Country: Netherlands
Language: English
Volume: 63
Pages: 82-95
PII: S0167-9457(18)30331-2

Researcher Affiliations

Goodworth, Adam D
  • University of Hartford, 200 Bloomfield Avenue, West Hartford, CT 06117, United States. Electronic address: goodworth@hartford.edu.
Barrett, Cody
  • Baylor University, One Bear Place #97356, Waco, TX 76798, United States.
Rylander, Jonathan
  • Baylor University, One Bear Place #97356, Waco, TX 76798, United States.
Garner, Brian
  • Baylor University, One Bear Place #97356, Waco, TX 76798, United States.

MeSH Terms

  • Adolescent
  • Adult
  • Animals
  • Biomechanical Phenomena / physiology
  • Equine-Assisted Therapy
  • Female
  • Head Movements / physiology
  • Healthy Volunteers
  • Horses
  • Humans
  • Male
  • Pelvis / physiology
  • Postural Balance / physiology
  • Posture / physiology
  • Sensitivity and Specificity
  • Torso / physiology
  • Young Adult

Grant Funding

  • R03 DC013858 / NIDCD NIH HHS

Conflict of Interest Statement

Conflict of interest. Dr. Brian Garner is the inventor and developer of the mechanical horse-riding simulator that was used in this study. In consultation with the technology transfer and business acceleration resources of Baylor University, Dr. Garner has founded a company, Chariot Innovations, Inc., with the mission of making the mechanical horse and similar technologies available in the broader marketplace. For the remaining authors, no conflicts of interest, financial or otherwise, are declared.

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Citations

This article has been cited 1 times.
  1. Collado-Mateo D, Lavín-Pérez AM, Fuentes García JP, García-Gordillo MÁ, Villafaina S. Effects of Equine-Assisted Therapies or Horse-Riding Simulators on Chronic Pain: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis. Medicina (Kaunas) 2020 Aug 31;56(9).
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