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Sensors (Basel, Switzerland)2021; 21(11); 3792; doi: 10.3390/s21113792

The Protraction and Retraction Angles of Horse Limbs: An Estimation during Trotting Using Inertial Sensors.

Abstract: The protraction and retraction angles of horse limbs are important in the analysis of horse locomotion. This study explored two methods from an IMU positioned on the canon bone of eight horses to estimate these angles. Each method was based on a hypothesis in order to define the moment corresponding with the verticality of the canon bone: (i) the canon bone is in a vertical position at 50% of the stance phase or (ii) the verticality of the canon bone corresponds with the moment when the horse's withers reach their lowest point. The measurements were carried out on a treadmill at a trot and compared with a standard gold method based on motion capture. For the measurement of the maximum protraction and retraction angles, method (i) had average biases (0.7° and 1.7°) less than method (ii) (-1.3° and 3.7°). For the measurement of the protraction and retraction angles during the stance phase, method (i) had average biases (4.1° and -3.3°) higher to method (ii) (2.1° and -1.3°). This study investigated the pros and cons of a generic method (i) vs. a specific method (ii) to determine the protraction and retraction angles of horse limbs by a single IMU.
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Publication Date: 2021-05-30 PubMed ID: 34070859PubMed Central: PMC8199102DOI: 10.3390/s21113792Google 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 work focuses on determining and analyzing the protraction and retraction angles of horse limbs during trotting using an Inertial Measurement Unit (IMU).

Objective and Methods

The authors aimed to identify and compare two diverse methods to estimate the protraction and retraction angles of horse limbs during trotting. These methods involved using an IMU positioned on the horse’s canon bone. The approaches based on certain hypotheses were:

  • Method (i): The first method hypothesized that the canon bone is in a vertical position at 50% of the stance phase. The stance phase refers to the period when the horse’s foot is in contact with the ground.
  • Method (ii): The second method suggested that the verticality of the canon bone corresponds to the moment when the horse’s withers (the highest part of a horse’s back, located between the shoulder blades) reach their lowest point.

Study Design And Participants

The researchers carried out the experiments with eight horses on a treadmill, trotting at a steady speed. The recorded measurements from the IMU were then compared with a gold standard method based on motion capture technology to ascertain the effectiveness and accuracy of the two tested methods.

Findings

  • For the maximum protraction and retraction angles, Method (i) presented average biases of 0.7° and 1.7°, which were less than the biases (-1.3° and 3.7°) found in Method (ii).
  • For the assessment of the protraction and retraction angles during the stance phase, Method (i) had average biases (4.1° and -3.3°) higher than Method (ii) (2.1° and -1.3°).

Conclusion

The study proffers an evaluation of the strengths and weaknesses of using a generic method (Method i) versus a specific method (Method ii) to estimate the protraction and retraction angles of horse limbs using a single IMU during a trot. This investigation could help determine more effective ways to monitor equine locomotion and diagnose potential equine locomotion disorders.

Cite This Article

APA
Sapone M, Martin P, Ben Mansour K, Chateau H, Marin F. (2021). The Protraction and Retraction Angles of Horse Limbs: An Estimation during Trotting Using Inertial Sensors. Sensors (Basel), 21(11), 3792. https://doi.org/10.3390/s21113792

Publication

Sensors (Basel, Switzerland)
ISSN: 1424-8220
NlmUniqueID: 101204366
Country: Switzerland
Language: English
Volume: 21
Issue: 11
PII: 3792

Researcher Affiliations

Sapone, Marie
  • Université de Technologie de Compiègne, UMR CNRS 7338 BioMécanique et BioIngénierie, Alliance Sorbonne Université, 60200 Compiègne, France.
  • Ecole Nationale Vétérinaire d'Alfort, USC INRAE-ENVA 957 BPLC, CWD-VetLab, 94700 Maisons-Alfort, France.
  • LIM France, Chemin Fontaine de Fanny, 24300 Nontron, France.
Martin, Pauline
  • Ecole Nationale Vétérinaire d'Alfort, USC INRAE-ENVA 957 BPLC, CWD-VetLab, 94700 Maisons-Alfort, France.
  • LIM France, Chemin Fontaine de Fanny, 24300 Nontron, France.
Ben Mansour, Khalil
  • Université de Technologie de Compiègne, UMR CNRS 7338 BioMécanique et BioIngénierie, Alliance Sorbonne Université, 60200 Compiègne, France.
Chateau, Henry
  • Ecole Nationale Vétérinaire d'Alfort, USC INRAE-ENVA 957 BPLC, CWD-VetLab, 94700 Maisons-Alfort, France.
Marin, Frédéric
  • Université de Technologie de Compiègne, UMR CNRS 7338 BioMécanique et BioIngénierie, Alliance Sorbonne Université, 60200 Compiègne, France.

MeSH Terms

  • Animals
  • Biomechanical Phenomena
  • Exercise Test
  • Gait
  • Horses
  • Locomotion
  • Torso

Conflict of Interest Statement

The authors declare no conflict of interest.

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Citations

This article has been cited 6 times.
  1. Crecan CM, Peștean CP. Inertial Sensor Technologies-Their Role in Equine Gait Analysis, a Review. Sensors (Basel) 2023 Jul 11;23(14).
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