Abstract: Objective lameness assessment is gaining more importance in a clinical setting, necessitating availability of reference values. Objective: To investigate the between -path, -trial and -day variation, between and within horses, in the locomotion symmetry of horses in regular use that are perceived sound. Methods: Observational study with replicated measurement sessions. Methods: Twelve owner-sound horses were trotted on the straight line and on the lunge. Kinematic data were collected from these horses using 3D optical motion capture. Examinations were repeated on 12 occasions over the study which lasted 42 days in total. For each horse, measurements were grouped as five replicates on the first and second measurement days and two replicates on the third measurement day. Between measurement days 2 and 3, every horse had a break from examination of at least 28 days. Previously described symmetry parameters were calculated: RUD and RDD (Range Up/Down Difference; difference in upward/downward movement between right and left halves of a stride); MinDiff and MaxDiff (difference between the two minima/maxima of the movement); HHDswing and HHDstance (Hip Hike Difference-swing/-stance; difference between the upward movement of the tuber coxae during swingphase/stancephase). Data are described by the between-measurement variation for each parameter. A linear mixed model was used to test for the effect of time, surface and path. Intraclass correlation coefficients (ICC) were calculated to access repeatability. Results: Mean between-measurement variation was (MinDiff, MaxDiff, RUD, RDD): 13, 12, 20, 16 mm (head); 4, 3, 6, 4 mm (withers) and 5, 4, 6, 6 mm (pelvis); (HHDswing, HHDstance): 7 and 7 mm. More between-measurement variation is seen on the first measurement day compared to the second and third measurement days. In general, less variation is seen with increasing number of repetitions. Less between-measurement variation is seen on hard surface compared to soft surface. More between-measurement variation is seen on the circle compared to the straight line. Between-horse variation was clearly larger than within-horse variation. ICC values for the head, withers and pelvis symmetry parameters were 0.68 (head), 0.76 (withers), 0.85 (pelvis). Conclusions: Lunge measurements on a hard surface were not performed. Conclusions: Between-measurement variation may be substantial, especially in head motion. This should be considered when interpreting clinical data after repeated measurements, as in routine lameness assessments.
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This study aims to increase the accuracy of lameness assessments in horses by evaluating the variances in their gait parameters at a trot on straight and curved paths using a 3D optical motion capture system. The research shows substantial variance in some measurements, particularly head motion, which should be considered in lameness assessments.
Study Methodology
The research was an observational study, conducted over twelve sessions in 42 days, using twelve horses perceived as sound by their owners.
The horses’ movements were analyzed while they trotted on a straight path and a circular one using a 3D optical motion capture system.
The measurements were repeated five times in the first two days and twice on the third day of measurement.
A gap of at least 28 days was given between the second and third measurement days.
The study used existing symmetry parameters to calculate the differences in the horses’ movements such as RUD and RDD (Range Up/Down Difference), MinDiff and MaxDiff (difference between the two minimum and maximum points of the movement), and HHDswing and HHDstance (the difference in upward movement of the horse’s hip bone during different phases of movement).
Findings
The average differences between measurements for each symmetry parameter were 13, 12, 20, 16 mm for the head; 4, 3, 6, 4 mm for the withers (the area between the shoulder blades); and 5, 4, 6, 6 mm for the pelvis. For the HHD symmetry parameters, the differences were 7 mm for both swing and stance phases.
Increased variance was observed on the first measurement day as compared to the second and third days, meaning the consistency improved with more repetitions.
Differences were lower on hard surfaces compared to softer ones and lower when the horse was on a straight line compared to a curved path.
Variations between different horses were found to be considerably larger than variations within individual horses.
The Intraclass Correlation Coefficients (ICC), which measure the reliability of ratings within the same class or group, were 0.68 for the head, 0.76 for the withers, and 0.85 for the pelvis.
Conclusions
The study did not include lunge measurements on a hard surface.
The researchers concluded that there is significant variation in repeated measurements, particularly in the head motion. These findings suggest that variations in measurements should be taken into consideration when performing routine lameness assessments in horses.
Cite This Article
APA
Hardeman AM, Serra Bragança FM, Swagemakers JH, van Weeren PR, Roepstorff L.
(2019).
Variation in gait parameters used for objective lameness assessment in sound horses at the trot on the straight line and the lunge.
Equine Vet J, 51(6), 831-839.
https://doi.org/10.1111/evj.13075
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