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Home / Equine Research Bank / Equine Vet J / Upper body movement analysis of multiple limb asymmetry in 3...
Equine veterinary journal2020; 53(4); 701-709; doi: 10.1111/evj.13367

Upper body movement analysis of multiple limb asymmetry in 367 clinically lame horses.

Abstract: Compensatory lameness is common in horses and evaluation can be challenging. Objective: To investigate patterns of compensatory movements in clinical cases with fore- or hindlimb lameness before and after diagnostic analgesia. Methods: Retrospective clinical study. Methods: Multiple limb lameness of 367 horses was characterised by type (push-off, impact or mixed), limb (fore- or hindlimb in predominant lameness) and side (ipsi- or contralateral in concurrent lameness) using a body-mounted inertial sensor (BMIS). Diagnostic analgesia was performed until the percentage improvement of the vector sum in forelimb lameness and the mean difference of the maximum or minimum pelvic height (PDmax or PDmin ) in hindlimb lameness was ≥50%. Linear mixed model and post-estimation of effects were performed by contrast command with multiple comparisons adjusted by Bonferroni method. Correlation of pre- and post-analgesia of all head and pelvis asymmetry parameters was tested with Spearman's rank correlation. Results: Improvement in vector sum per mm after diagnostic analgesia in forelimb impact lameness positively correlated with decrease in PDmax in contralateral mixed lameness (0.187 mm, r = .58, P < .05). Improvement in PDmin per mm after diagnostic analgesia in hindlimb mixed and PDmax in hindlimb push-off lameness decreased vector sum in ipsilateral forelimb impact lameness by 0.570 and 0.696 mm, respectively (P < .05), with no positive correlation. Conclusions: A variety of cases with inhomogeneous distribution of lameness patterns was investigated retrospectively, therefore, it is impossible to distinguish between true multiple limb lameness and compensatory lameness in this clinical material. Conclusions: Various asymmetry patterns of concurrent lameness were seen in horses with naturally occurring primary forelimb impact lameness with contralateral compensatory hindlimb lameness with a mixed component being the most common. In horses with hindlimb lameness, compensatory movements were seen in ipsilateral forelimbs, mostly as an ipsilateral impact lameness during straight line trot.
© 2020 The Authors. Equine Veterinary Journal published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd on behalf of EVJ Ltd.
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Publication Date: 2020-11-02 PubMed ID: 33031613DOI: 10.1111/evj.13367Google Scholar: Lookup
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Summary

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This research explores the patterns of compensatory movements in horses with multiple limb lameness, using a body-mounted inertial sensor (BMIS) and examining changes before and after diagnostic analgesia. The study finds a correlation between improvements in lameness with analgesia and changes in body movement, but also notes the complexity of distinguishing between true multiple limb lameness and compensatory lameness.

Understanding the Research

  • The research aimed to study the patterns of movement in horses dealing with multiple limb lameness, that is, horses showing signs of difficulty or pain in moving due to issues with more than one limb.
  • The team used a body-mounted inertial sensor (BMIS) to measure the movements of these lame horses before and after the application of diagnostic analgesia, a process meant to block pain and identify the location of discomfort.
  • The lameness of each horse was characterised based on its type (push-off, impact or mixed), primarily affected limb (fore- or hindlimb), and the side on which concurrent lameness appeared (ipsi- or contralateral).

Methodology and Results

  • Multiple statistical tests including a linear mixed model and post-estimation of effects were used to analyse the data, with adjustments made for multiple comparisons using the Bonferroni method.
  • A significant improvement (≥50%) in the vector sum for forelimb lameness and in the difference of maximum or minimum pelvic height for hindlimb lameness was the prerequisite for diagnostic analgesia.
  • Improvements in the vector sum of impact lameness in the forelimb after analgesia correlated with a decrease in the maximum pelvic height in contralateral (opposite side) lameness, showing a link between reduced pain and improved movement capability.
  • Improvement in the pelvic difference for mixed and push-off lameness in the hindlimb after analgesia corresponded with decreased vector sums in the same (ipsilateral) side forelimb, indicating a pattern in compensatory movements.

Conclusions and Scope

  • The research concluded that the horses’ compensatory movement patterns varied based on the nature of their lameness. The most common pattern found in horses with primary forelimb impact lameness was contralateral compensatory hindlimb lameness with a mixed component.
  • For those with hindlimb lameness, compensatory movements were seen in the ipsilateral forelimbs, majorly appearing as ipsilateral impact lameness while trotting in a straight line.
  • Due to the varied nature of the lameness patterns observed, the researchers noted that it could be challenging to distinguish between horses suffering from true multiple limb lameness and those exhibiting compensatory lameness.

Cite This Article

APA
Phutthachalee S, Mählmann K, Seesupa S, Lischer C. (2020). Upper body movement analysis of multiple limb asymmetry in 367 clinically lame horses. Equine Vet J, 53(4), 701-709. https://doi.org/10.1111/evj.13367

Publication

Equine veterinary journal
ISSN: 2042-3306
NlmUniqueID: 0173320
Country: United States
Language: English
Volume: 53
Issue: 4
Pages: 701-709

Researcher Affiliations

Phutthachalee, Suphannika
  • Equine Clinic, Department of Veterinary Medicine, Freie Universität Berlin, Berlin, Germany.
  • Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Khon Kaen University, Khon Kaen, Thailand.
Mählmann, Kathrin
  • Equine Clinic, Department of Veterinary Medicine, Freie Universität Berlin, Berlin, Germany.
Seesupa, Suvaluk
  • Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Khon Kaen University, Khon Kaen, Thailand.
Lischer, Christoph
  • Equine Clinic, Department of Veterinary Medicine, Freie Universität Berlin, Berlin, Germany.

MeSH Terms

  • Animals
  • Biomechanical Phenomena
  • Forelimb
  • Gait
  • Hindlimb
  • Horse Diseases / diagnosis
  • Horses
  • Lameness, Animal / diagnosis
  • Movement
  • Retrospective Studies

Grant Funding

  • ProjektDEAL

References

This article includes 31 references
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Citations

This article has been cited 3 times.
  1. de Chiara M, Montano C, De Matteis A, Guidi L, Buono F, Auletta L, Del Prete C, Pasolini MP. Agreement between subjective gait assessment and markerless video gait-analysis in endurance horses. Equine Vet J 2026 Jan;58(1):60-67.
    doi: 10.1111/evj.14516pubmed: 40257418google scholar: lookup
  2. Blum S, Gisler J, Dalla Costa E, Montavon S, Spadavecchia C. Investigating conditioned pain modulation in horses: can the lip-twitch be used as a conditioning stimulus?. Front Pain Res (Lausanne) 2024;5:1463688.
    doi: 10.3389/fpain.2024.1463688pubmed: 39512387google scholar: lookup
  3. Pedersen A, Hyytiäinen HK, Rhodin M, Forterre F, Penell J, Bergh A. Effect of Transcutaneous Electrical Nerve Stimulation on Gait Parameters in Dogs with Osteoarthritis. Animals (Basel) 2024 May 30;14(11).
    doi: 10.3390/ani14111626pubmed: 38891673google scholar: lookup
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