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Sensors (Basel, Switzerland)2021; 21(4); 1286; doi: 10.3390/s21041286

The Feasibility of Equine Field-Based Postural Sway Analysis Using a Single Inertial Sensor.

Abstract: (1) Background: Postural sway is frequently used to quantify human postural control, balance, injury, and neurological deficits. However, there is considerably less research investigating the value of the metric in horses. Much of the existing equine postural sway research uses force or pressure plates to examine the centre of pressure, inferring change at the centre of mass (COM). This study looks at the inverse, using an inertial measurement unit (IMU) on the withers to investigate change at the COM, exploring the potential of postural sway evaluation in the applied domain. (2) Methods: The lipopolysaccharide model was used to induce transient bilateral lameness in seven equines. Horses were monitored intermittently by a withers fixed IMU over seven days. (3) Results: There was a significant effect of time on total protein, carpal circumference, and white blood cell count in the horses, indicating the presence of, and recovery from, inflammation. There was a greater amplitude of displacement in the craniocaudal (CC) versus the mediolateral (ML) direction. A significant difference was observed in the amplitude of displacement in the ML direction between 4-12 h and 168 h. (4) Conclusions: The significant reduction in ML displacement during the acute inflammation period alongside greater overall CC displacement may be a compensatory behaviour for bilateral lameness.
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Publication Date: 2021-02-11 PubMed ID: 33670238PubMed Central: PMC7916957DOI: 10.3390/s21041286Google 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 discusses a feasibility study on the use of postural sway analysis in horses using a single inertial sensor. The aim of the study was to investigate the value of the metric in horses in comparison to previous studies that are frequently applied to humans.

Research Background

  • The researchers noted that postural sway has often been used to quantify and assess human postural control, balance, injury, and neurological deficits.
  • However, they pointed out that significantly lesser research has been conducted to understand the value of the metric in equines.
  • Existing studies on horses usually employed force or pressure plates to scrutinize the centre of pressure in reference to changes at the centre of mass (COM).
  • In contrast, this study investigated the inverse, by leveraging an inertial measurement unit (IMU) placed on the withers (the ridge between the shoulder blades of a horse) to study changes at the COM. This approach offered a new perspective in the context of postural sway evaluation.

Research Methods

  • For the study, the researchers introduced bilateral lameness in seven equines using the lipopolysaccharide model.
  • An IMU was fixed onto the withers of the horses and the animals were intermittently monitored over a period of seven days.

Research Results

  • The findings indicated a significant effect of time on total protein, carpal circumference, and white blood cell count in the horses, suggesting the presence of and recovery from inflammation.
  • There was a larger amplitude of displacement in the craniocaudal (CC: front to back) direction compared to the mediolateral (ML: side to side) direction.
  • A considerable difference was noticed in the displacement amplitude in the ML direction between 4-12 hours and 168 hours.

Research Conclusions

  • The study concluded that the significant reduction in ML displacement during the acute inflammation period, paired with a greater overall CC displacement, may represent a compensation mechanism for bilateral lameness.
  • The findings of this feasibility study demonstrate the potential for the strategic use of a single inertial sensor, applied to postural sway analysis in equines.

Cite This Article

APA
Egan S, Brama PAJ, Goulding C, McKeown D, Kearney CM, McGrath D. (2021). The Feasibility of Equine Field-Based Postural Sway Analysis Using a Single Inertial Sensor. Sensors (Basel), 21(4), 1286. https://doi.org/10.3390/s21041286

Publication

Sensors (Basel, Switzerland)
ISSN: 1424-8220
NlmUniqueID: 101204366
Country: Switzerland
Language: English
Volume: 21
Issue: 4
PII: 1286

Researcher Affiliations

Egan, Sonja
  • Institute for Sport and Health, School of Public Health, Physiotherapy and Sports Science, University College Dublin, Dublin D04 V1W8, Ireland.
Brama, Pieter A J
  • Section Veterinary Clinical Sciences, School of Veterinary Medicine, University College Dublin, Dublin D04 V1W8, Ireland.
Goulding, Cathy
  • The Insight SFI Research Centre for Data Analytics, University College Dublin, Dublin D04 V1W8, Ireland.
McKeown, David
  • School of Mechanical and Materials Engineering, University College Dublin, Dublin D04 V1W8, Ireland.
Kearney, Clodagh M
  • Section Veterinary Clinical Sciences, School of Veterinary Medicine, University College Dublin, Dublin D04 V1W8, Ireland.
McGrath, Denise
  • Institute for Sport and Health, School of Public Health, Physiotherapy and Sports Science, University College Dublin, Dublin D04 V1W8, Ireland.
  • The Insight SFI Research Centre for Data Analytics, University College Dublin, Dublin D04 V1W8, Ireland.

MeSH Terms

  • Animals
  • Feasibility Studies
  • Horses
  • Lameness, Animal / chemically induced
  • Lameness, Animal / diagnosis
  • Postural Balance
  • Pressure
  • Torso

Grant Funding

  • GOIPG/2017/1611 / Irish Research Council
  • n/a / Insight Centre for Data Analytics
  • 204844/Z/16/Z / University College Dublin
  • 204844/Z/16/Z / SFI-HRB-Wellcome Biomedical Research Partnership

Conflict of Interest Statement

The authors declare that the research was conducted in the absence of any commercial or financial relationships that could be construed as a potential conflict of interest.

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