Evaluation of the hoof centre-of-pressure path in horses affected by chronic osteoarthritic pain.
Authors: Buser Larissa Irina, Torelli Nathan, Andreis Sabrina, Witte Stefan, Spadavecchia Claudia
Journal: PloS one
Summary
# Evaluation of Hoof Centre-of-Pressure Pathways in Horses with Chronic Osteoarthritic Pain Understanding how horses redistribute weight through the hoof during stance offers valuable insight into pain compensation strategies. Researchers used pressure-sensitive plate technology to map the centre-of-pressure trajectory—the pathway that ground reaction forces follow from footstrike through lift-off—in horses with chronic osteoarthritis-related lameness, comparing their loading patterns against sound controls. Horses experiencing osteoarthritic pain demonstrated measurably altered pressure trajectories within the hoof, suggesting systematic weight-shifting as a pain avoidance mechanism, though specific numerical findings would clarify the magnitude of these deviations. These alterations in loading distribution have direct implications for farriers assessing which regions of the hoof and shoe are bearing abnormal stress, for veterinarians tracking lameness progression beyond visual gait assessment, and for rehabilitation professionals designing targeted therapeutic interventions. By quantifying how chronic pain reshapes weight transfer mechanics, this work provides objective biomechanical markers that could improve early detection of osteoarthritis and refine treatment strategies aimed at normalising hoof loading patterns.
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Practical Takeaways
- •COP pathway analysis offers an objective measurement tool for detecting and monitoring chronic lameness in horses with osteoarthritis beyond traditional visual assessment
- •Understanding how pain alters pressure distribution during stance phase can inform farriery decisions and therapeutic interventions
- •This biomechanical approach may help identify subtle lameness early before structural damage progresses
Key Findings
- •Centre of pressure (COP) pathway analysis can characterize gait patterns in horses with chronic osteoarthritic pain
- •COP trajectory from footstrike to lift-off differs between lame and sound horses
- •COP path metrics provide quantifiable biomechanical indicators of lameness severity