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Home / Equine Research Bank / Equine Vet J / Vertical movement symmetry of the withers in horses with ind...
Equine veterinary journal2018; 50(6); 818-824; doi: 10.1111/evj.12844

Vertical movement symmetry of the withers in horses with induced forelimb and hindlimb lameness at trot.

Abstract: The main criteria for lameness assessment in horses are head movement for forelimb lameness and pelvic movement for hindlimb lameness. However, compensatory head nod in horses with primary hindlimb lameness is a well-known phenomenon. This compensatory head nod movement can be easily misinterpreted as a sign of primary ipsilateral forelimb lameness. Therefore, discriminating compensatory asymmetries from primary directly pain-related movement asymmetries is a prerequisite for successful lameness assessment. Objective: To investigate the association between head, withers and pelvis movement asymmetry in horses with induced forelimb and hindlimb lameness. Methods: Experimental study. Methods: In 10 clinically sound Warmblood riding horses, forelimb and hindlimb lameness were induced using a sole pressure model. The horses were then trotted on a treadmill. Three-dimensional optical motion capture was used to collect kinematic data from reflective markers attached to the poll, withers and tubera sacrale. The magnitude and side (left or right) of the following symmetry parameters, vertical difference in minimum position, maximum position and range-up were calculated for head, withers, and pelvis. Mixed models were used to analyse data from induced forelimb and hindlimb lameness. Results: For each mm increase in pelvic asymmetry in response to hindlimb lameness induction, withers movement asymmetry increased by 0.35-0.55 mm, but towards the contralateral side. In induced forelimb lameness, for each mm increase in head movement asymmetry, withers movement asymmetry increased by 0.05-0.10 mm, in agreement with the head movement asymmetry direction, both indicating lameness in the induced forelimb. Conclusions: Results must be confirmed in clinically lame horses trotting overground. Conclusions: The vertical asymmetry pattern of the withers discriminated a head nod associated with true forelimb lameness from the compensatory head movement asymmetry caused by primary hindlimb lameness. Measuring movement symmetry of the withers may, thus, aid in determining primary lameness location.
© 2018 The Authors. Equine Veterinary Journal published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd on behalf of EVJ Ltd.
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Publication Date: 2018-05-17 PubMed ID: 29658147PubMed Central: PMC6175082DOI: 10.1111/evj.12844Google 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.

This research article focuses on understanding the relationship between the head, withers and pelvis movements in horses with induced forelimb and hindlimb lameness. It suggests that monitoring the symmetry of the withers movement can help discern real lameness in the forelimb from compensatory head movements due to hindlimb lameness.

Methods

  • The study was conducted on 10 clinically healthy Warmblood riding horses who were made to suffer from induced forelimb and hindlimb lameness via a sole pressure model.
  • The horses were made to trot on a treadmill post-induction of lameness.
  • Data regarding the horses’ movements were collected using three-dimensional optical motion capture, with reflective markers placed on the poll, withers, and tubera sacrale (the uppermost dorsal point of the hipbone).
  • The team looked at three key parameters to assess symmetry: the vertical difference in minimum and maximum position, and the range up for head, withers, and pelvis movement.
  • Mixed models were deployed to analyze data from the cases of induced forelimb and hindlimb lameness.

Results

  • The study found that an increase in pelvic asymmetry due to hindlimb lameness resulted in an increase in withers movement asymmetry by 0.35-0.55 mm, albeit towards the opposite side.
  • Similarly, with induced forelimb lameness, each millimeter increase in head movement asymmetry was accompanied by a 0.05-0.10 mm increase in withers movement asymmetry. The direction of both types of asymmetries indicated lameness in the induced forelimb.

Conclusions

  • Although these results need validation through clinically lame horses trotting overground, they do provide useful insights.
  • The vertical asymmetry pattern of the withers can help distinguish a true forelimb lameness-related head nod from a compensatory head movement asymmetry caused by primary hindlimb lameness.
  • Therefore, measuring the movement symmetry of the withers may have practical applications in determining the location of primary lameness in horses.

Cite This Article

APA
Rhodin M, Persson-Sjodin E, Egenvall A, Serra Bragança FM, Pfau T, Roepstorff L, Weishaupt MA, Thomsen MH, van Weeren PR, Hernlund E. (2018). Vertical movement symmetry of the withers in horses with induced forelimb and hindlimb lameness at trot. Equine Vet J, 50(6), 818-824. https://doi.org/10.1111/evj.12844

Publication

Equine veterinary journal
ISSN: 2042-3306
NlmUniqueID: 0173320
Country: United States
Language: English
Volume: 50
Issue: 6
Pages: 818-824

Researcher Affiliations

Rhodin, M
  • Department of Anatomy, Physiology and Biochemistry, Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences, Uppsala, Sweden.
Persson-Sjodin, E
  • Department of Anatomy, Physiology and Biochemistry, Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences, Uppsala, Sweden.
Egenvall, A
  • Department of Clinical Sciences, Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences, Uppsala, Sweden.
Serra Bragança, F M
  • Department of Equine Sciences, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Utrecht University, Utrecht, The Netherlands.
Pfau, T
  • Department of Clinical Science and Services, The Royal Veterinary College, University of London, North Mymms, Hatfield, Hertfordshire, UK.
Roepstorff, L
  • Department of Anatomy, Physiology and Biochemistry, Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences, Uppsala, Sweden.
Weishaupt, M A
  • Department, Vetsuisse Faculty, University of Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland.
Thomsen, M H
  • Department of Veterinary Clinical Sciences, Faculty of Health and Medical Sciences, University of Copenhagen, Taastrup, Denmark.
van Weeren, P R
  • Department of Equine Sciences, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Utrecht University, Utrecht, The Netherlands.
Hernlund, E
  • Department of Anatomy, Physiology and Biochemistry, Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences, Uppsala, Sweden.

MeSH Terms

  • Animals
  • Biomechanical Phenomena
  • Forelimb / physiopathology
  • Gait / physiology
  • Head / physiopathology
  • Hindlimb / physiopathology
  • Horse Diseases / physiopathology
  • Horses
  • Lameness, Animal / physiopathology
  • Male
  • Sports

Grant Funding

  • H1247074 / Swedish-Norwegian Foundation for Equine Research
  • 2014-12003-28225-26 / The Swedish Research Council Formas

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Citations

This article has been cited 22 times.
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