The influence of equine limb conformation on the biomechanical responses of the hoof: An in vivo and finite element study.
Abstract: Hoof conformation plays a key role in equine locomotion. Toe-in conformation is an abnormal condition characterized by inward deviation of the limb from its frontal axis. Several studies have documented differences in hoof deformation and hoof kinematics in horses with toe-in and normal hoof conformations. However, the reason behind this has yet to be understood. The present study hypothesizes that a different center of pressure (COP) path underneath the hoof is the cause of different deformation patterns and hoof kinematics in toe-in hooves. In vivo measurements and finite element (FE) analysis were conducted to test the hypothesis. A normal and a toe-in limb were considered for in vivo strain measurements. Strains were measured at three different sites on the hoof wall, and the stride characteristics were investigated using video recording. The magnitude of the minimum principal strain measured at the medial aspect of the toe-in hoof was much lower relative to the normal hoof. Furthermore, the toe-in hoof had a different movement pattern (plaiting) compared to the normal hoof. In the second study, an entire hoof model was simulated from computed tomography (CT) scans of an equine left forelimb. The Neo-Hookean hyperelastic material model was used, and the hoof was under dynamic loading over a complete stride at the trot. Two different COP paths associated with normal and toe-in conformations were assigned to the model. The FE model produced the same in vivo minimum principal strain distributions and successfully showed the different kinematics of the toe-in and normal hooves.
Copyright © 2021 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.
Publication Date: 2021-08-28 PubMed ID: 34482223DOI: 10.1016/j.jbiomech.2021.110715Google Scholar: Lookup
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- Journal Article
Summary
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The research article is about a study that examined the impact of equine limb conformation, particularly the abnormal toe-in conformation, on hoof biomechanics. The article suggests that variations in the hoof’s center of pressure path may explain the different deformation patterns in toe-in hooves, with the findings based on in vivo measurements and finite element analysis.
Introduction and Hypothesis
- The researchers began by drawing attention to the effect of hoof conformation on equine locomotion.
- Toe-in conformation is defined as an abnormal condition where the limb deviates inward from its frontal axis. This has distinct effects on hoof deformation and kinematics (movement).
- The study hypothesizes that these differences may be due to a differing center of pressure (COP) path underneath the toe-in hoof.
Method
- To verify these propositions, the researchers combined in vivo (within a living organism) strain measurements and a method of mathematical analysis called finite element (FE) analysis.
- The team monitored two situations: a normal limb and a toe-in limb, measuring strains at three different points on the hoof wall.
Results
- The lowest principal strain measured at the medial (middle) aspect of the toe-in hoof was significantly less than that of the normal hoof.
- Additionally, the toe-in hoof displayed a distinct movement pattern, referred to as plaiting, compared to the normal hoof.
Finite Element Analysis
- The team also used computed tomography (CT) scans of an equine left forelimb to complete a full hoof model simulation.
- They implemented a Neo-Hookean hyperelastic material model, placing the hoof under dynamic loading throughout a complete trot.
- The researchers placed two different COP paths, each representing a normal and a toe-in conformation, onto the model.
Conclusion
- The FE model successfully replicated the in vivo minimum principal strain distributions.
- It also effectively demonstrated the differences in kinematics between toe-in and normal hooves, supporting the study’s hypothesis.
Cite This Article
APA
Akbari Shahkhosravi N, C R Bellenzani M, M S Davies H, Komeili A.
(2021).
The influence of equine limb conformation on the biomechanical responses of the hoof: An in vivo and finite element study.
J Biomech, 128, 110715.
https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jbiomech.2021.110715 Publication
Researcher Affiliations
- Department of Veterinary Biosciences, The University of Melbourne, Melbourne, VIC, Australia; Department of Mechanical Engineering, The University of Melbourne, Melbourne, Parkville, VIC 3010, Australia. Electronic address: akbarishahkh@unimelb.edu.au.
- School of Veterinary Medicine, Catholic University of Minas Gerais (PUC-MG), Poços de Caldas, MG, Brazil.
- Department of Veterinary Biosciences, The University of Melbourne, Melbourne, VIC, Australia.
- Department of Mechanical and Manufacturing Engineering, University of Calgary, 2500 University Dr NW, AB, T2N 1N4, Canada.
MeSH Terms
- Animals
- Biomechanical Phenomena
- Extremities
- Finite Element Analysis
- Forelimb
- Gait
- Hoof and Claw
- Horses
- Locomotion
Citations
This article has been cited 4 times.- Harrison SM, Whitton RC, Stover SM, Symons JE, Cleary PW. A Coupled Biomechanical-Smoothed Particle Hydrodynamics Model for Horse Racing Tracks. Front Bioeng Biotechnol 2022;10:766748.
- Stachurska A, Wnuk E, Łuszczyński J, Donderowicz W. Preliminary Biometric Study on Symmetry of Hoof Solear Aspect in Forelimbs in Four Horse Breeds. Animals (Basel) 2025 Nov 21;15(23).
- Takahashi Y, Takahashi T, Mukai K, Ebisuda Y, Ohmura H. Changes in muscle activation with graded surfaces during canter in Thoroughbred horses on a treadmill. PLoS One 2024;19(6):e0305622.
- Li G, Zhang R, Luo Y, Liu Y, Cao Q, Song J. Foot Bionics Research Based on Reindeer Hoof Attachment Mechanism and Macro/Microstructures. Biomimetics (Basel) 2023 Dec 12;8(8).
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